Bay Area

BART Will No Longer Accept Paper Tickets Starting Nov. 30

The transit agency is moving to a Clipper-only fare system and it is rolling out new fare gates that will not accept paper tickets. Riders can now buy a Clipper card without the usual $3 fee via their phones. Clipper is now available through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Published

3 years ago

November 4, 2023

Oakland Post

BART courtesy photo.

The Richmond Standard

Beginning Nov. 30, BART will no longer accept paper tickets.

The transit agency is moving to a Clipper-only fare system and it is rolling out new fare gates that will not accept paper tickets.

Riders can now buy a Clipper card without the usual $3 fee via their phones. Clipper is now available through Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Next year, a next generation of Clipper will be rolled out that includes open payment, providing the option to tag a credit/debit card at a BART fare gate, including Apple Pay or Google Pay, without setting up a card on your phone in advance.

“The next generation of Clipper also opens the door for new discount programs, promotions, and potentially fare-capping for BART riders,” transit agency officials said.

While paper ticket balances cannot be transferred onto a Clipper card, BART offers paper ticket refunds for tickets with a remaining value greater than $1. It can be multiple tickets that add up to $1 or more. Click here for directions to request a refund.

Pay by Phone

Clipper is now available through Apple Pay and Google Pay. Riders can get a new Clipper card on their phones for free (normally $3). Funds added using Apple Pay and Google Pay are immediately available for use.

Set up is easy and can be done on the spot or in advance while you are at home. Every rider needs their own digital card. For families travelling together, multiple cards can be added to an Apple phone, but users must turn off Express Transit mode to toggle between each card when tagging at the fare gate.

Next Generation Clipper

BART has moved to a Clipper-only fare payment system because the region has prioritized the use of Clipper as the Bay Area’s all-in-one transit card administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

In calendar year 2024, the next generation of Clipper will be rolled out including open payment which provides the option to tag a credit/debit card at a BART fare gate, including Apple Pay or Google Pay, without setting up a card on your phone in advance. The next generation of Clipper also opens the door for new discount programs, promotions, and potentially fare capping for BART riders.