Starting next year, BART riders will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets.
On January 1, fares on the train system will increase by 5.4%. It's part of a biannual increase the transit agency says is necessary to keep up with inflation. That amounts to about $0.40 for a long trip and 10 cents for short rides.
"I don't think it's worth it. I've already been harassed a couple times," said occasional passenger Sara Mendez.
She started taking BART when she moved to the East Bay from Southern California but says Uber and Lyft are often cheaper for her and provide other benefits.
"I don't have to deal with public spaces," said Mendez. "I don't have to deal with homeless people or robberies or stabbings."
And while $0.40 is affordable for most people, that can add up in the Bay Area where cost of living is already high.
"It can be tough on people's budgets when margins are really slim," said Darryl Perkins. "We should make it accessible to as many people as we possibly can and keep fares low."
BART says all the extra revenue from the fare hike will go to the agency's highest priority capital needs, including new train cars and a control system to provide more frequent service.
Officials say they are also working hard to make BART cleaner and safer with an increased police presence.
