Post by James Fujita on Oct 17, 2009 20:52:33 GMT -8
Earlier this month, I took a trip to San Francisco. Before I left, I ordered a TransLink card online, which was cheap and easy. They delivered the card to my mailbox, and I had the AutoLoad function set up so it would connect to my checking account and I wouldn't have to keep reloading the card.
When my train arrived at Jack London Square, I took the ferry across the bay to San Francisco. It was a little slower than taking BART, but it was a fun ride. (I paid cash, but the TransLink Web site says that eventually they want all transit organizations in the Bay Area, including ferries, to accept the card.)
A friend of mine was waiting at the Ferry Building, and we took an F-Line trolley down Market Street. I really like the PCC Cars. They are smooth and comfortable; historic and classy but still quite useful as public transportation. Our PCC car was crowded. (I paid cash because I hadn't activiated my TransLink card yet).
She showed me around the Mission District and the Castro. We had dinner and she dropped me off at Church Street Station. I activated my TransLink card, walked through the turnstiles, and soon I was on a Muni Metro LRV headed for the Embarcadero. I took the ferry to my hotel in Oakland.
The next day, I took BART through the Transbay Tube (using TransLink again) and met my friend for breakfast. She had to get to work, but that's okay... I was more than capable of exploring on my own. I won't bore you with the details, but:
F-Line along the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf.
walking, and random Muni bus from the Marina District to Fillmore Street
Trolleybus from Japantown to Union Square. I loved that trolleybus. So smooth, so fast, so clean, so quiet...
Muni Metro from Powell to AT&T Park and back up the Embarcadero.
(walked to Pier 39.... a bad idea because I was already worn out, but I got to take the same PCC trolley I took yesterday back down to the Ferry Building...
where I caught BART back to Oakland and my train home.
When I got home, I asked TransLink for an audit of my TransLink card use, which gave the day and time, the station (if BART or Muni Metro, otherwise it just said "SFM Bus" even for the trolley) and how much I spent.
=
I won't say my trip was perfect... the TransLink reader was broken on one bus, so the driver let me on free. BUT!
I was not harassed for taking pictures and video inside subway stations, on light rail trains, on the bus, on Amtrak or on the ferry.
I used my TransLink card 11 times in two days (!) and it worked flawlessy 10 out of 11 times. I used my card on the bus, trolleybus, PCC, LRV and BART. I paid a flat fee on Muni and paid by distance on BART with no problem. My magic green card opened entrance and exit gates and the amount was automatically deducted from my account.
I didn't have to stand in line to buy tickets on BART. I didn't have to carry exact change or even know the fare. Stations had manned information booths, but I didn't need it.
Tthe turnstiles and fare gates didn't try to kill me or cut me in half. ;D
In locations without turnstiles or faregates, the TransLink readers were on the trolley, not on the platform. Made a lot of sense to me because you couldn't walk onto the train without seeing them.
When my train arrived at Jack London Square, I took the ferry across the bay to San Francisco. It was a little slower than taking BART, but it was a fun ride. (I paid cash, but the TransLink Web site says that eventually they want all transit organizations in the Bay Area, including ferries, to accept the card.)
A friend of mine was waiting at the Ferry Building, and we took an F-Line trolley down Market Street. I really like the PCC Cars. They are smooth and comfortable; historic and classy but still quite useful as public transportation. Our PCC car was crowded. (I paid cash because I hadn't activiated my TransLink card yet).
She showed me around the Mission District and the Castro. We had dinner and she dropped me off at Church Street Station. I activated my TransLink card, walked through the turnstiles, and soon I was on a Muni Metro LRV headed for the Embarcadero. I took the ferry to my hotel in Oakland.
The next day, I took BART through the Transbay Tube (using TransLink again) and met my friend for breakfast. She had to get to work, but that's okay... I was more than capable of exploring on my own. I won't bore you with the details, but:
F-Line along the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf.
walking, and random Muni bus from the Marina District to Fillmore Street
Trolleybus from Japantown to Union Square. I loved that trolleybus. So smooth, so fast, so clean, so quiet...
Muni Metro from Powell to AT&T Park and back up the Embarcadero.
(walked to Pier 39.... a bad idea because I was already worn out, but I got to take the same PCC trolley I took yesterday back down to the Ferry Building...
where I caught BART back to Oakland and my train home.
When I got home, I asked TransLink for an audit of my TransLink card use, which gave the day and time, the station (if BART or Muni Metro, otherwise it just said "SFM Bus" even for the trolley) and how much I spent.
=
I won't say my trip was perfect... the TransLink reader was broken on one bus, so the driver let me on free. BUT!
I was not harassed for taking pictures and video inside subway stations, on light rail trains, on the bus, on Amtrak or on the ferry.
I used my TransLink card 11 times in two days (!) and it worked flawlessy 10 out of 11 times. I used my card on the bus, trolleybus, PCC, LRV and BART. I paid a flat fee on Muni and paid by distance on BART with no problem. My magic green card opened entrance and exit gates and the amount was automatically deducted from my account.
I didn't have to stand in line to buy tickets on BART. I didn't have to carry exact change or even know the fare. Stations had manned information booths, but I didn't need it.
Tthe turnstiles and fare gates didn't try to kill me or cut me in half. ;D
In locations without turnstiles or faregates, the TransLink readers were on the trolley, not on the platform. Made a lot of sense to me because you couldn't walk onto the train without seeing them.