Program Benefits

• Unlimited rides anytime on all AC Transit lines — including Transbay service, for just $30 per month
• Great value: Cost savings of 75% over regular ticket price! Bear Pass pays for itself after just 7 roundtrip local rides.
• Pre-tax purchase provides an additional 12–46% savings.*
• Easy access: over 10 AC Transit lines serve the campus.
• Increased options: no need to forfeit your parking permit or pre-tax purchase of your BART ticket.
• Broad eligibility — more Faculty and Staff, regardless of area of residence
• Risk-free: cancel anytime.

* Actual savings are dependent upon your tax bracket

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Program Overview

The Bear Pass is the AC Transit unlimited ride bus pass for UC Berkeley Employees. A partnership between the Parking & Transportation Department and AC Transit, the pass offers cost savings and flexibility for campus bus access. Bear Pass holders receive unlimited AC Transit rides for just $30 per month.

Similar to the Class Pass program for UC Berkeley students and the Eco-Pass for City of Berkeley employees, the Bear Pass provides UC Berkeley faculty and staff extended transit benefits at a deep discount.

The Pass is valid from the date of purchase through June 30 each year. Employees who hold parking permits and those participating in a New Directions program can hold a Bear Pass concurrently.

Commute statistics indicate that over 1,000 faculty and staff members currently commuting by car to campus live within ¼ mile of an AC Transit bus stop providing direct service under 20 minutes to campus. 

Support Programs

To support your transit commute, the Parking and Transportation department offers other transportation programs for faculty and staff, including free Guaranteed Ride Home program and discount parking for days when you need to drive to campus. More information on these and other incentives is available at Transportation Alternatives. P&T's New Directions Program also provides benefits for faculty and staff who don't hold an Annual parking permit.

 

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Enrollment and Payment

Bear Passes are available for purchase only in the P&T Customer Services office. You cannot use the e-Parking online service to enroll in the Bear Pass program, renew your pass, or manage your contact information.

Eligibility

Faculty, staff, post-doctorates, visiting scholars, and other select UC employees are eligible to participate in the Bear Pass program. Employment status will be verified through HRMS and other methods as appropriate; if the employee's updated information is not in HRMS, the employee must ask his or her Payroll representative to complete and sign an Employment Verification Form.

See the FAQs below for more information on eligibility.

Payment Method

If you are a full time/career employee or on casual employment status through the end of the fiscal year, you are eligible for payroll deduction and you must use the automatic payroll deduction payment method. After you are enrolled, the Bear Pass fee will be deducted from your paycheck each month. If you do not qualify for payroll deduction you can pay by cash, check or credit.

Enroll by the 10th of the month. Due to payroll deduction deadlines, only enrollment on or before the 10th of the month can be processed for the current month. Enrollment forms received after the 10th will be processed in time for the following month's payroll deduction, so P&T will calculate and request a payment by cash, credit or check to cover your use of the pass until deductions begin.

If you are not eligible for payroll deduction, you must pay up-front for the annual Bear Pass by cash, check or credit. The Bear Pass fee will be pro-rated from the day of purchase.

How To Enroll For The First Time

To Apply for the Bear Pass

1. Download the Bear Pass Enrollment Change & Cancellation Form (PDF) from the Forms & Publications page.
2. Enter all required information. The form can be filled out online with your PDF reader and printed, or printed and filled out manually.
3. Select your payment method.
4. Sign and date the printed form.
5. Deliver the signed form and pick up your Bear Pass in person at the P&T Customer Services office. You will need to show your Cal 1 Card/Photo ID at the time of sale.
   

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Annual Renewal

Automatic Renewals

The Parking & Transportation Department makes it easy for you to renew your Bear Pass each fiscal year. We are offer automatic renewal of the pass to current customers using payroll deduction as their payment method. P&T will mail the new pass to the address on file during the annual automatic renewal period so customers have it in hand before July 1st.

See Bear Pass Renewals page for more information on this year's renewal.

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Cancellation & Refunds

Employees can cancel the annual Bear Pass if they no longer choose to participate in the program. The Bear Pass needs to be returned to Parking & Transportation in order to cancel payroll deduction or receive a refund.

1. Complete the Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 on the Bear Pass Enrollment Change & Cancellation Form available on the Forms & Publications page.
2. Return the Bear Pass to Parking & Transportation Office with the form.

Discontinuing Payroll Deduction

If you are paying by Payroll Deduction, your deductions will be cancelled when the form and pass are received.

Cancel before the 10th of the month. If you cancel on or prior to the 10th of the month, your next paycheck will not show a deduction for that month. If you cancel after the 10th of the month, your deductions cannot be cancelled for that month; deduction cancellations will take effect the following month. No cash refund can be provided for the time period between the 11th and the end of the month.

Refund on Credit Card Payment

If you have paid for the year up-front by credit card, your card will be credited for the remaining value.

Refund on Cash or Check Payment

If you have paid for the year up-front by cash or check, you will be refunded by check for the remaining value. The refund check takes 3 to 6 weeks for delivery to your home address.

Note: if you cancel the Bear Pass during the fiscal year and decide to re-purchase and be re-issued a pass during the same fiscal year there will be no charge the first time. There will be a charge to re-purchase and be re-issued a pass if requested more than once in any fiscal year.

Payroll Deduction for pass will continue unless cancelled

Payroll deduction for those who go out on disability or leave of absence from employment remains in effect until a signed Bear Pass form with the cancellation request is submitted to our office. A double deduction will be made the following month for any missed payroll deductions based on employee's absence.

NOTE: If you are on furlough during the summer months and do not want the pass during the time you are away from campus, come to the P&T office. You may re-enroll upon your return.

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Replacement

If you need a replacement Bear Pass:

1. Complete the Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 on the Bear Pass Enrollment Change & Cancellation Form.
2. Submit the form to Parking & Transportation Office.

Lost Bear Passes must be reported to P&T immediately so they can be de-activated. The first lost pass in a fiscal year can be replaced at no charge. The second replacement pass in a fiscal year can be replaced for a fee. No more than two replacement passes can be issued in any fiscal year.

Damaged Bear Passes should be returned to P&T for replacement. If the pass is determined to be defective, replacement passes will be issued at no charge. If the pass is damaged by the holder, the first pass in a fiscal year can be replaced at no charge; the second pass in a fiscal year can be replaced for a fee. No more than two replacement passes, for passes damaged by the holder, can be issued in any fiscal year.

Stolen Bear Passes must be reported to P&T immediately so they can be de-activated. With a Police report, the stolen Bear Pass can be replaced at no charge.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

• I live outside the AC Transit East Bay service district — can I buy a Bear Pass?
• Can visiting scholars or post-doctorates purchase a Bear Pass?
• What payment methods can I use for purchase?
• How long can I use the Bear Pass?
• Can I purchase the Bear Pass with pre-tax dollars?
• If I enroll in the Bear Pass Program, can I still purchase transit tickets sold at P&T such as BART, and receive the $10 per month transit subsidy?
• Can I apply the $10 per month transit subsidy toward my Bear Pass?
• What if I only need the Bear Pass for part of the year?
• If I enroll in the Bear Pass Program, can I still keep or purchase a parking permit?
• Can I purchase Occasional Use Parking if I have a Bear Pass?
• Is there a discounted Bear Pass price for senior or disabled employees?
• Can I get a refund for the pass if I don’t like the program after trying it?
• Where can I get information on AC Transit bus routes and coverage?

Q. I live outside the AC Transit East Bay service district — can I buy a Bear Pass?
A. Yes. All employees, regardless of where they live, can buy an AC Transit Bear Pass.

Q. Can visiting scholars or post-doctorates purchase a Bear Pass?
A. Yes. Select university affiliates are eligible. Contact P&T office to be sure. You must have a valid Cal ID Card to enroll. If you don't receive a paycheck, you must pay for the year up front by cash, check or credit.

Q. What payment methods can I use for purchase?
A. Participants eligible for payroll deduction will be required to pay by this method, which provides pre-tax benefits; all others pay up-front for the year by cash, check or credit card.

Q. How long can I use the Bear Pass?
A. The annual Bear Pass is valid from July 1st or date of purchase through June 30 each year.

Q. Can I purchase the Bear Pass with pre-tax dollars?
A. Yes. Employees purchasing The Bear Pass on payroll deduction will pay with pre-tax dollars. Depending on your tax bracket, pre-tax payment provides a 12–46% savings off the already discounted price.

Q. If I enroll in the Bear Pass Program, can I still purchase transit tickets sold at P&T such as BART, and receive the $10 per month transit subsidy?
A. No. The monthly Bear Pass fee pays for about half the cost for providing the Bear Pass. Roughly half the cost of the Bear Pass program is funded from New Directions moneys derived from parking permit holder surcharge and from the UC campus. In order to help make the Bear Pass program financially viable, Bear Pass holders are not eligible for any monthly subsidy of purchases of BART and other transit tickets.

If you are enrolled in the pre-tax transit payroll deduction program you still have the option to purchase BART tickets and other transit ticket types sold with the pre-tax benefit, but cannot apply any additional subsidy.

Q. Can I apply the $10 per month transit subsidy toward my Bear Pass?
A. No. The Bear Pass is already significantly subsidized, so this additional subsidy is not available.

Q. What if I only need the Bear Pass for part of the year?

A. Some employees use different transportation methods during the year. For example, some employees commute by bus during the rainy season and bicycle the rest of the time. While the Bear Pass is an annual transit pass (valid June–July), the fee is pro-rated monthly. Employees in the above circumstance could purchase the Bear Pass during the rainy season and cancel the pass when primarily commuting by bicycle, paying only for the months used. Please note: if you cancel the Bear Pass during the fiscal year and decide to re-purchase and be re-issued a pass during the same fiscal year there will be no charge the first time. There will be a charge to re-purchase and be re-issued a pass if requested more than once in any fiscal year.

Q. If I enroll in the Bear Pass Program, can I still keep or purchase a parking permit?
A. Yes. You can have parking permit AND a Bear Pass.

Q. Can I purchase Occasional Use Parking if I have a Bear Pass?
A. Yes. As long as you don’t have standard Annual campus parking permit you are eligible for New Directions program benefits and can purchase discounted “F” or “C” Occasional Use permits. For more information, see New Directions program page. For rates for these permits, see the Product Page.

Q. Is there a discounted Bear Pass price for senior or disabled employees?
A. No.

Q. Can I get a refund for the pass if I don’t like the program after trying it?
A. Yes. You may cancel the Bear Pass and receive a refund for unused months. Please refer to the “Cancellation” section of this page for detailed information.

Q. Where can I get information on AC Transit bus routes and coverage?
A. There are several ways to determine the bus line that will get you where you need to go. See Bay Area Transit Information below, for links to online sources.

The most convenient is to carry an AC Transit system and street map. There are four maps in the series covering the AC Transit service area and showing days and hours of operation:

1. Richmond/Berkeley
2. Oakland/Alameda
3. Hayward/San Leandro
4. Fremont/Newark.

All Berkeley public libraries and BART stations have display racks with bus schedules. UC Berkeley Parking & Transportation Department, at 2150 Kittredge Street, stocks AC Transit schedules and maps as well.

You can also dial 511 and say “AC Transit” to

1. order schedules and maps
2. get point-to-point trip-planning assistance.

On the Web, visit www.actransit.org and click “Maps & Schedules,” or click the “Trip Planner.”

The Bear Pass program provides unlimited rides on AC Transit buses within the district, including to the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco, the Night Owl service from Market Street to Berkeley, and service from the Fremont BART Station to Stanford University.

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Press from Bear Pass Launch 2004

P&T News
Bear Pass official Launch Event on October 28th, 2004

UC Berkeley News Center
“You’re either on the bus or off the bus.”
“New Bear Pass to help campus employees leave their cars at home.”

University of California News
Campus offers faculty/staff a new transit pass (Video)

P&T 2005 Analysis
Bear Pass Progress Report, Fall 2005 (PDF 240 KB)

P&T New Rider FAQ
Bear Pass FAQ's for new riders from AC Transit and P&T (PDF 84KB)

 

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Bay Area Transit Information

AC Transit Resources

www.actransit.org

AC Transit e-News

Subscribe to AC Transit's e-mail notification service. You can customize it so that you will receive emails about service changes to the particular lines you ride.

Customer Feedback to AC Transit about the Bear Pass

AC Transit is fielding feedback on the Bear Pass program

511 and 511.org

Dial 511 for automated information or to be connected with a representative to answer your questions about routes, time points, destinations, and trip planning.

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