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Q. Are there special holiday schedules for AC Transit bus lines? |
A. For 2009, all AC Transit Local and Transbay lines will run on a weekend schedule on the following days:
2009
New Year's Day, Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, observed Monday Jan. 19
President's Day, observed Monday Feb. 16
Memorial Day, observed Monday, May 25
Fourth of July, Saturday, July 4 (AC Transit will observe this day on Friday, July 3. We will be running a weekend schedule on Friday.)
Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7
Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26
Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25
To view weekend schedules, see any individual bus line.
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Q. What is a "Spare the Air" Day? |
A. The Spare the Air Program was established by the
Bay Area Air Quality Management District to educate people about air pollution and to encourage them to change their behavior.
To encourage Bay Area residents to "spare the air", AC Transit participated in the regional promotion in 2008 by offering free rides to all passengers all day on the first four non-holiday, weekday, Spare the Air days declared by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Spare the Air days are declared by 1:15 p.m. the day before ozone emissions are expected to exceed federal standards. For more Spare the Air information, visit www.sparetheair.org.
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Q. Do you provide service to San Francisco? |
A. There are 31 lines that provide transbay service to San Francisco and the peninsula from the East Bay. The service to San Francisco operates via the Bay Bridge to the Transbay Terminal at 1st and Mission streets. All transbay lines have letter rather than number designations.
In addition to this, we have All Nighter bus service to and from San Francisco. Line 800 operates between Market St. & Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco and Richmond BART, via downtown Oakland and downtown Berkeley during the overnight hours.
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Q. Can I bring my bike on the bus? |
A. All AC Transit buses are equipped with easy-to-use bicycle racks. Racks are mounted on the front of the bus and each holds two bikes. You can board a bicycle any time of day, without an extra fare or permit. You may only load and unload bicycles at AC Transit bus stops. Space on the rack is available on a first come, first-served basis. If the rack is full, please wait for the next bus. On MCI buses, the deep green-colored vehicles typically used for transbay routes, there are under carriage bike racks that can accommodate two additional bikes. From 5:30am to midnight, place all bicycles on bike racks or in the under carriage—bicycles are not permitted inside the bus. From midnight to 5:30am weekdays and midnight to 9:00am weekends and holidays, you may carry bikes inside buses with at least two doors if the rack is full and space is available inside the bus.
Bike racks can accommodate two wheeled bicycles (no tandems) with a wheelbase of
up to 44 inches and a wheel size of at least 16 inches. Cyclists must load and unload their own bikes. The bus driver cannot assist you with loading or unloading your bike. AC Transit is not responsible for loss of or damage to bicycles carried on bike racks or in the undercarriage. If you accidentally leave your bike on the bus, call AC Transit Lost & Found at (510) 891- 4706. All found bicycles are brought to 1600 Franklin Street in downtown Oakland, generally two days following loss, and are kept for 30 days thereafter.
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Q. Do you provide bus service to Dublin or Pleasanton? |
A. AC transit does not provide service to Dublin, Pleasanton or Walnut Creek. Please check BART, County Connection and/or WHEELS for transportation services in those communities.
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Q. I have a 31-day pass. Will I be reimbursed for my ride with Spare the Air? |
A. The 31-day pass is a discounted pass. You will not be reimbursed for your ride, but the District is looking at ways to thank 31-day pass holders for already doing the right thing by using public transit daily.
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Q. Is my ride home on AC Transit free as well on a Spare the Air day? |
A. For 2008, commutes were free all day long on AC Transit for the first four non-holiday weekday Spare the Air Days that were forecast. The Summer Spare the Air season runs from June through mid-October. For more Spare the Air information and to stay up to date on 2009 programs, visit www.sparetheair.org.
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Q. Who is funding Spare the Air days? |
A. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) are funding the promotion through federal transportation dollars allocated to the Bay Area.
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Q. I need more than one bus to get to my destination with Spare the Air. What about transfers? |
A. On Spare the Air days where AC Transit offers free rides, all bus rides will be free, regardless of how many times you board.
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Q. What is the goal of Spare the Air? |
A. The goal in offering free rides is to encourage Bay Area residents to commute to work using public transportation and to lessen dependence on motor vehicles, the Bay Area's number one source of air pollution. Other goals include reducing smog on days when air quality is expected to be unhealthy, and to protect billions of transportation dollars, which can be withheld if the Bay Area exceeds air pollution standards.
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