Earlier this year, San Francisco announced that BART was now accepting tap-to-pay methods, which would not require riders to have a BART card, in order to board the train. The new form of contactless payment has now extended to SF Muni, meaning the next time you board a bus or Muni train, you can use contactless payment rather than a Clipper Card. Under the new system, you can use a physical credit or debit card, or a card added to Apple or Google Wallet, to pay your fare. The updated system is effective today, December 11.
“As a city, we are moving in the right direction, and our economy is coming back. But that progress relies on a stable transit system,” said Mayor Lurie in a recent statement. “With the launch of Muni Tap to Pay, our public transit will be more accessible than ever. This upgrade is a major win for San Francisco and the Bay Area as we gear up to host visitors for Super Bowl 60 and the FIFA World Cup.”
Clipper Cards will still be usable, of course, but the new method makes it easier for tourists and locals alike to use public transit. This comes as San Francisco prepares for an influx of tourists in 2026, due to numerous major events. In the past, riders had to load money onto a digital or physical Clipper Card or pay with cash to ride Muni.
“This regional upgrade makes riding Muni easier than ever,” said Julie Kirschbaum, SFMTA Director of Transportation. “Tapping to pay with a mobile device or physical card gives our riders more choice, more convenience, and eliminates the barriers created by older technology.”
Tap-and-ride payments are not new; other major cities, including New York City, use the system to make it easier to pay for public transit. Clipper is currently transferring users to a new system over the next several months, which will include several changes. Clipper users can expect a new mobile app, a fare-capping option for riders, and flexible fare policies designed to encourage off-peak travel. SFMTA also recently announced it would be adding 24 new hybrid buses to its fleet, another significant improvement for SF’s transit system.