October saw highest average weekday ridership since the pandemic
BART ridership continued its steady recovery in October, posting the highest weekday average since the pandemic began.
Ridership was 10.7% higher than October 2024, with an average of nearly 200,000 weekday riders. In total, passengers took more than 5.3 million trips during the month. On Saturday, October 18, BART recorded 150,000 trips—the highest Saturday ridership since the pandemic.
Usage of the new Tap and Ride payment system continues to grow. Nearly 10% of all trips in October used Tap and Ride, which allows riders to pay directly at the fare gates with a contactless bank card. Tap and Ride is now the second most-used payment method after Clipper Adult, with usage up 23% from September.
Special fare programs are also expanding. Clipper START, which offers a 50% fare discount to qualifying low-income riders, saw a 40% increase in usage over last October. Meanwhile, usage of Clipper BayPass, the all-in-one Bay Area transit pass, rose 13.4% in October alone and 138% compared to a year ago.
BART has been investing in system improvements based on rider feedback, prioritizing safety, cleanliness, and customer experience enhancements. Earlier this year, BART completed installation of stronger, more secure fare gates at all 50 stations and became the first Tap and Ride agency—a system that will soon expand to other local transit agencies through the Next Generation Clipper program.
These enhancements are making a visible impact. Riders are noting cleaner trains and stations and an increased safety presence throughout the system.
Despite encouraging ridership gains, BART continues to face a $375 million budget deficit. To close that gap solely with fare revenue, current ridership would need to more than double. BART’s most recent budget forecast projects a 4% ridership increase in 2026.
BART’s gradual recovery is closely tied to work-from-home trends in the region. While more riders are returning to the system, they are generally taking fewer trips due to remote and hybrid work schedules.
Additional ridership information is publicly available and posted monthly at this location: https://www.bart.gov/about/reports/ridership