Throw away your screen scraper: BART has official schedules, fares and other data in the open Google Transit™ Feed Specification (GTFS). If you want to use it, we have a few requests:
- Keep your work up to date
Subscribe to the RSS feed or the opt-in email list and we'll let you know when the data changes, and please don't distribute the raw files: we've had problems with people misinforming our customers by distributing old versions of our Mobile QuickPlanners and System Map. We want to avoid that. - Don't use the BART logo
Only we get to use official BART trademarks and copyrighted works to let customers know when they're getting info directly from BART versus someplace else. - Don't forget about us
Give us a mention and a link back and drop us a line to tell us how you're doing. - Read the License Agreement then download the files (last update: Mon, 08 Jun 2009)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you publishing schedules this way?
We want to foster innovative new applications, reach a broader audience and encourage more people to choose BART. And frankly, we just can't justify spending time on some of the things our customers have asked for (like a QuickPlanner for Newton). Maybe you can give that a shot.
Why use this format?
GTFS is a lightweight, open format that provides a common, easy way to exchange transit data. You don't have to be Google™ to use it.
Will you help me troubleshoot?
If we help you, it's only fair that we help everyone else, too. We simply don't have the resources for that. Thoroughly compare your work with the schedules, fares and trip plans on the BART website and tweak your output accordingly. We expect you to provide accurate information to our customers.
What are your plans for developing the feed?
We're supporting this project on what we call "BART one percent time." It's like 20 percent time only it's way fewer people and 19 percent less time. That being said, we'll do our best to keep information up-to-date as the spec develops.
Google™ and Google Transit ™ are trademarks of Google, Inc.
