BART is frequently used by people across the bay, seeing approximately 180,00 riders every weekday in June 2025. Riders regularly used the Clipper cards to pay fares, either with a physical card or using their phone. Now, BART recently announced a new update, introducing Tap and Ride, where riders can tap a credit card to pay for their fare. This means you will not need a Clipper card to access BART.
“Tap and Ride follows the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates, running only Fleet of the Future trains, boosting cleaning, and increasing our visible safety presence as efforts that are transforming the BART experience,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “This is an especially important innovation for out-of-town visitors and infrequent riders who may not have a physical or digital Clipper card and want a simple way to use our service.”
While a Clipper card isn’t necessary, it’s not going anywhere. You can still use the Clipper card to pay for your fare, just as you would in the past. Tap and Ride will accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover Network, and if you are using a physical card, you will need to enable contactless payment. Riders with discounts enabled, such as youths or seniors with ticket prices, will need to continue to use their Clipper card, as all tap and ride fares will be charged full price for adults.
Other major metropolitan areas have introduced Tap and Ride, notably the New York City subway system. Tap and Ride makes it easier for first-time or infrequent riders who may not already have set up a Clipper card, as BART stopped issuing paper tickets in 2019.
You can learn more about the new Tap and Ride payment option for BART here.