Discussion: transit/foot/hybrid event: how to work the system
in: Discover the Bay (Mar 24, 2012 - San Francisco, CA, US)
Feb 14, 2012 9:55 PM
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A new kind of event, so here's some strategy information, and I would love your clarifying questions, so I can make sure good information is put out well in advance. Also, signups are open at the bottom of the event page. Thanks, Rex
6 hrs or 12 hrs, up and down the San Francisco Peninsula, the East Bay, and the southern tip of Marin County. Dozens of named checkpoints such as "The Fountain of Youth" and the "Train to Nowhere" - all the names will be released in advance, and the exact locations will be revealed at the event. The element of public transit makes this course quite different than your standard foot or bicycle map adventure. Personal motorized transport is not allowed - personal vehicles, cabs, other vehicles for hire. These event details and tips should help you plan for the event.
What you can bring: Anything - phones, tablets, laptops, any maps, GPS, atlases, encyclopedias. Full Internet access allowed. Pinpoint your location by GPS. Prepare maps ahead of time.
These maps will be provided with checkpoints labeled: You may preview them by following the web links!
1. A Bay-area transit map (http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/MTS/index.htm)
2. SF Muni system (http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/official.htm)
3. AC Transit system (http://www.actransit.org/maps/)
4. SamTrans system (http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/maps.html)
5. Golden Gate transit (http://goldengatetransit.org/services/#maps)
Also, a Google map of all the locations will be published and made available at the opening of registration for each course. You can even use Google maps' transit planner while on your course with your "smart" device. http://511.org also has a transit planner.
It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with these maps and figure out which lines run on Saturdays and which lines have more frequent or rapid service. Usually for buses, those lines will serve busier streets such as El Camino Real and San Pablo Ave.
Crossing the Bay: BART trains run most frequently between San Francisco and West Oakland - four different lines. Two different lines each go to MacArthur BART and south on the Fremont line. Only line from San Francisco goes to Ashby and the north and Rockridge and the east (although, the course does not go east of the Oakland Hills.) AC Transit runs bus lines over the Bay Bridge such as the O to/from Alameda and the NL to/from Oakland. You can also use transbay buses as local buses. There is no bus service across the San Mateo Bridge on Saturdays. You may also use the ferry service between Pier 41 and Alameda and Jack London Square in Oakland.
Transit agency links:
BART http://bart.gov
Caltrain http://www.caltrain.com/
Amtrak http://capitolcorridor.org/
AC Transit http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php
SamTrans http://www.samtrans.com/
SF Muni http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php
Golden Gate Transit http://goldengatetransit.org/
Alameda/Oakland Ferry http://www.eastbayferry.com/
Paying Fares: Not included in the event entry fee! A Clipper Card is highly recommended if you plan to use buses - it works on all of them. You can get one at Embarcadero BART or the bay crossings store in the San Francisco Ferry Building or from the Clipper Website. If you're just planning on 2 bay crossings with BART, then get a $20 BART ticket and you'll be good. Of course, Clipper works on BART too... and Caltrain... and the ferries... the only system Clipper doesn't work on? Amtrak. Clipper Website: https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/index.do
Bicycles: Amtrak, CalTrain, and BART should all be easy to use with bikes. With the buses, you are limited by the 2 or 3 slots on the rack in the front of the bus. I've been turned away from buses before that had full racks.
Not biking? There is a foot division for the results. I'm thinking it's possible for the best foot team to outscore the best bike team. A good strategy for the course is to look for clusters of checkpoints you can get to on foot, and find the one that is closest to a frequently running transit line.
How do I record each checkpoint?
1. Digital video clip with the feature (and your teammates - if you are solo, just the feature will suffice.)
or 2. Digital photo with the feature (and your teammates - if you are solo, just the feature will suffice.)
and 3. A multiple choice question and answer - required for all teams, as a backup for technical issues. Sample question: what's the first word of the last line of the plaque? "The" or "To" or "For."
When finishing, you will have some time to upload your photos and videos to a website or transfer the files by card reader or USB cable to my event laptop. You will also turn in your multiple choice questions answers.
6 hrs or 12 hrs, up and down the San Francisco Peninsula, the East Bay, and the southern tip of Marin County. Dozens of named checkpoints such as "The Fountain of Youth" and the "Train to Nowhere" - all the names will be released in advance, and the exact locations will be revealed at the event. The element of public transit makes this course quite different than your standard foot or bicycle map adventure. Personal motorized transport is not allowed - personal vehicles, cabs, other vehicles for hire. These event details and tips should help you plan for the event.
What you can bring: Anything - phones, tablets, laptops, any maps, GPS, atlases, encyclopedias. Full Internet access allowed. Pinpoint your location by GPS. Prepare maps ahead of time.
These maps will be provided with checkpoints labeled: You may preview them by following the web links!
1. A Bay-area transit map (http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/MTS/index.htm)
2. SF Muni system (http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/official.htm)
3. AC Transit system (http://www.actransit.org/maps/)
4. SamTrans system (http://www.samtrans.com/schedulesandmaps/maps.html)
5. Golden Gate transit (http://goldengatetransit.org/services/#maps)
Also, a Google map of all the locations will be published and made available at the opening of registration for each course. You can even use Google maps' transit planner while on your course with your "smart" device. http://511.org also has a transit planner.
It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with these maps and figure out which lines run on Saturdays and which lines have more frequent or rapid service. Usually for buses, those lines will serve busier streets such as El Camino Real and San Pablo Ave.
Crossing the Bay: BART trains run most frequently between San Francisco and West Oakland - four different lines. Two different lines each go to MacArthur BART and south on the Fremont line. Only line from San Francisco goes to Ashby and the north and Rockridge and the east (although, the course does not go east of the Oakland Hills.) AC Transit runs bus lines over the Bay Bridge such as the O to/from Alameda and the NL to/from Oakland. You can also use transbay buses as local buses. There is no bus service across the San Mateo Bridge on Saturdays. You may also use the ferry service between Pier 41 and Alameda and Jack London Square in Oakland.
Transit agency links:
BART http://bart.gov
Caltrain http://www.caltrain.com/
Amtrak http://capitolcorridor.org/
AC Transit http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php
SamTrans http://www.samtrans.com/
SF Muni http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php
Golden Gate Transit http://goldengatetransit.org/
Alameda/Oakland Ferry http://www.eastbayferry.com/
Paying Fares: Not included in the event entry fee! A Clipper Card is highly recommended if you plan to use buses - it works on all of them. You can get one at Embarcadero BART or the bay crossings store in the San Francisco Ferry Building or from the Clipper Website. If you're just planning on 2 bay crossings with BART, then get a $20 BART ticket and you'll be good. Of course, Clipper works on BART too... and Caltrain... and the ferries... the only system Clipper doesn't work on? Amtrak. Clipper Website: https://www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/index.do
Bicycles: Amtrak, CalTrain, and BART should all be easy to use with bikes. With the buses, you are limited by the 2 or 3 slots on the rack in the front of the bus. I've been turned away from buses before that had full racks.
Not biking? There is a foot division for the results. I'm thinking it's possible for the best foot team to outscore the best bike team. A good strategy for the course is to look for clusters of checkpoints you can get to on foot, and find the one that is closest to a frequently running transit line.
How do I record each checkpoint?
1. Digital video clip with the feature (and your teammates - if you are solo, just the feature will suffice.)
or 2. Digital photo with the feature (and your teammates - if you are solo, just the feature will suffice.)
and 3. A multiple choice question and answer - required for all teams, as a backup for technical issues. Sample question: what's the first word of the last line of the plaque? "The" or "To" or "For."
When finishing, you will have some time to upload your photos and videos to a website or transfer the files by card reader or USB cable to my event laptop. You will also turn in your multiple choice questions answers.
Feb 15, 2012 6:00 AM
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mmrj:
clipper also does not work on westcat (http://www.westcat.org, bus system in west contra costa), if you were planning to have folks go north/east of el cerrito.
Feb 15, 2012 9:40 AM
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It doesn't work on anything in CCC other than AC Transit... that's why the course doesn't go north of El Cerrito or east of Caldecott.
Feb 15, 2012 4:05 PM
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mmrj:
got it, thanks. as feedback, the description that the course is "east bay" but doesn't go "east of the Oakland hills" still has me assuming that west contra costa is likely to be part of the course.
Feb 17, 2012 11:03 PM
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Clipper will cover your needs for this event unless you decide on Amtrak.
Feb 21, 2012 9:19 PM
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All the checkpoints east of the bay are now set. Clipper will take you as near to any of them as you'll want to get. Unless you figure out the sneaky way to use Amtrak.
This discussion thread is closed.