BART - Bay Fair Station

I used this BART station for the first time two weeks ago at the beginning of my road trip down to L.A. I know, I know. Why take BART when you're going on a road trip? Well, my ride down the 5 was in the East Bay, and I couldn't very well drive out there--where would I park my car?

The platform itself reminds me a lot of the Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station's platform, which isn't a good thing. Still, looks can be deceiving, and the bottom part of the station itself isn't too shady. That part reminds me of the San Leandro Station.

What I don't like about this station is how complicated the parking lot is. One would think the best way to lay out a BART parking lot would be to make the station itself close to the nearest major street, with the parking lot behind it. This station is right in the middle of two parking lots. Some of the driveways approaching the station itself are one-way; others are bus-only. Good luck trying to explain to anyone picking you up where to meet you.

It's also kind of shady that you have to walk through the parking lot and across a pedestrian bridge to get to the Target parking lot. I realize that a lot of this was probably built out of necessity for the space involved, but if I were a criminal, I'd hang out right at the pedestrian walkway and go after people as they walked to BART.

It has been years since I caught BART from downtown Oakland to the BART Bay Fair Station. My brother and I took a train ride to this station to meet up with my friends for lunch at Harry's Hofbrau.

In the past, it was my go to station for shopping at the Bay Fair Shopping Mall. The location was okay and convenient for shopping needs and the movie theater. I don't even know what businesses are left at the shopping mall.

Then there is no telling when I will catch a train from downtown Oakland to Bay Fair.

When Going To This Bart Station From Balboa Park Bart Station The One Thing That I like most about Bay Fair Bart Station.....

Is Shopping area once you get off the Bay Fair Bart Station!!!!!

November 2022 Update. I am very surprised at the wheel chair accessibility at this station for those who need to get off and on at this station. They must have recently installed a system at this station at the end of the platform which has a place to tag clipper on it and Tag off so you don't have to walk to the main fare gates anymore to "check out"

Just tap your card, the plastic gate opens, go out the elevator and you're all set. Go back in, Go up the elevator, tag your card to get back in, the gate opens, you're all set as well.

"No cocktail service"

This is my usual transfer point if I'm on the Fremont train and need to transfer to Dublin.

It's pretty much what you might expect. Reasonably well maintained, but not all that great. There are plenty of covered seating areas with reasonably comfortable benches.

"Help us to keep a BART safe and clean, and also avoid a $250 fine." Comforting messages were piped in every few minutes.

The station seems to be pretty well maintained. There were no overflowing trash cans.

I've personally never had any issues - but people don't feel safe taking bart. Not that clean and going in an underground tunnel to San Francisco in Earthquake territory never sat well with me.

I would recommend not having so many haircuts. Keep them guessing crazy homeless or hipster. I wear beat up skate shoes and believe that a once a year haircut is plenty. No tattoos necessary to look tough.

Really - if you travel with a friend or two Uber is cheaper. Why take bart unless its last resort.

Of all the stations I use, this one seems to have the least discipline.
Fare jumpers get away with it because there is no one to stop them.
The 2 restrooms are non-functional half of the time, and if they are open, they are very dirty inside.
Teenagers are always riding their skateboards *on the platform*, station agent does nothing even though they see everything in surveillance videos in their booth.

Transfer trains here.

But don't put your clipper card in the "insert card here" slot. It's got an RFID chip in it, so you place it on top of the turnstile deal and the silly plastic looking things spread for passage. (sound dirty enough yet?)

...and you actually have to pay attention to the trains when transferring.

I have never ridden BART before, and I live out of area. This is the absolute worst excuse for public transit I have ever seen. There are no directions on how to get where I want to go anywhere. All of the audible information that plays periodically is not loud enough to hear. And I'm supposed to be looking for a blue line at a station where the only distinguishing color that matches any of the routes is green. Yeah. Whoever designed this please rethink your occupation.

Would rather have horses available to ride to my destination than this crap.

In between 2-3 stars. I get harassed here from time to time and parking can be a beast after 745am. Make sure you pay for the spot when you get into the station.

My feelings about this station can be put like this: " three stars because I have not been accosted here but also only three stars because I feel like it might happen one day."
I definitely do not come to this station by myself at night.

Even though the San Leandro Bart Station is closer to home by a mile or so, I drive to the Bay Fair Station to take Bart as the fare from here is a $1.30 cheaper than the fare from SL. The parking is also about 50 cents cheaper. Parking fees have been going up every few months or so though, so the Bay Fair parking fee may catch up to San Leandro's in no time.

This is not the cleanest station. It's not unusual to find empty food and drink containers on the floor or benches at 7:30 in the morning. It's a transfer station, so it probably gets more riders passing through it compared to other stations.

The station has two parking lots. The one to the east of the station (Bay Fair Mall side) fills up by 7:45 am and the one to the west fills up around 8 am. Do not leave any valuables in plain sight, as my car has been broken into here once!!! The thieves took my car stereo!

If you need to grab something to eat and don't have a lot of time, there is a kiosk selling donuts, hot dogs, chips, etc by the fare gates.

Because the platform is elevated and open to the elements, I've seen many a beautiful sunrise at this station. Downside is it can get pretty cold especially if it's a windy day.