Planning Your Trip
Before starting any transit journey, it's important to know where you're going and how you're getting there. We highly recommend downloading the Transit App, which provides real-time departures for every bus and rail line (Bear Transit, AC Transit and BART) that reaches campus. The app also offers detailed trip planning tools, which will show every step involved in getting you to your destination.
If you are taking the bus for the first time, you can start by familiarizing yourself with the routes near your point of origin and seeing where they can take you. Once you have selected your origin point and destination, the Transit App will tell you exactly how long you can expect the journey to take.
Clicking on a bus line in the Transit App will show the estimated arrival times for the next three trips, as well as a map that displays the live location of the buses on the route in the direction you select. (Note that buses occasionally do not appear on the live map due to technical difficulties or other circumstances; in this case, go off of the schedule for when your bus should arrive.)
Tip: When getting directions to your destination on the Transit App, you can select "Leave Now" in the top left corner to change your search results to reflect a specified departure or arrival time in the future. This is super helpful for planning out journeys well in advance!
Example bus stop for Bear Transit and AC Transit
Getting On the Bus
Once you've planned out your trip, it's time to make your way to the bus stop! Every AC Transit and/or Bear Transit bus stop will have a metal sign listing the lines that stop there (see left). Wait by the sign for the bus.
It's helpful to signal to the driver that you want the bus so that they do not inadvertently pass you up. It's also useful to signal to the driver that you do not want their bus if you are waiting for a different line; that way they may pass by without stopping. You can make an "X" symbol with your arms as the bus approaches to signal this.
Make sure to stand back as your bus pulls into the stop! You don't want to risk getting into contact with a moving bus. That would really hurt. Give the driver plenty of space to line up the bus without interference.
If you have any questions about how to get to your final destination, you can always ask the bus driver and they will provide guidance on how to get where you're going.
When on the bus, be sure to pay attention to your surroundings so that you don't miss your stop. If you'd like detailed instructions for when to get off your bus, press the "GO" button on the Transit App and select the name of the stop you want to get off at. With location enabled, the app will notify you exactly when to disembark the bus.
How to Request a Stop
Buses do not automatically stop at all stops. To save time and avoid unnecessary stops, bus drivers will only pull into a stop if someone is visibly waiting for the bus or a passenger requests a stop.
How you request a stop depends on what bus you're on. Most buses in AC Transit's fleet have a series of silver cords that run along the horizontal and vertical length of the windows. A few buses will have buttons placed on the metal bars and window bases, usually labeled with a "STOP" text, in lieu of cords. In both cases, pulling the cord or pressing the button will produce an audible "BEEP" and the "Stop Requested" text will flash on the digital display in the front of the bus. A light will also illuminate on the driver's dashboard, indicating that a passenger has requested a stop. The driver will pull into the next stop accordingly.
You may exit the bus once it comes to a complete stop. If possible, please exit through the rear doors so that you are not in the path of passengers boarding in the front.
Courtesies to Practice
- Have your Clipper card/other fare payment ready before boarding the bus. Waiting to pull out your fare once already on the bus can delay service!
- Always follow your driver's instructions in any situation. They're there to keep you safe!
- In a crowded bus with standing room only, move as far to the back of the bus as you can. This ensures that passengers boarding through the front door will have the space to get on.
- If you have a backpack or other large carrying bag, place the bag between your feet on a crowded bus so that more passengers can squeeze on.
- The seats in the front section of the bus are reserved for seniors and people with disabilities. If able, please offer these seats to those who need or request them.
- If able, always make room for mobility devices (e.g. wheelchairs, electric scooters). Ensure that the aisle is sufficiently cleared so that the person with a mobility device may park it in the appropriate spot and the driver can access the wheelchair restraints.
- Be aware of when you request a stop. Pulling the cord or pressing the button too early can lead the driver to pull into an earlier stop that you did not intend to disembark at; requesting it too late forces the driver to either brake harshly or skip the stop. It's best to request at least one block in advance of your stop so that the driver has ample time to slow down and pull in safely.