Getting Around Safely on New Year's Eve: BART, Tipsy Tow, Broadway Shuttle

No designated driver? Or just don't want the hassle of driving on New Year's Eve? Here are options:

BART

BART is extending its service until 3 a.m. on New Year’s morning.

In addition to normal weekday service of trains running every 20 minutes, BART will release additional trains in and out of San Francisco on New Year’s Eve and morning.

The extra service was put in place to ease crowding at the Embarcadero and Montgomery Street stations, the result of the large number of people who pile in every year to see the fireworks show in downtown San Francisco. 

The show begins at 9:30 p.m. on Fisherman's Wharf, after which there will be extra BART trains departing from the Embarcadero and Montgomery Street stations. 

Trains departing from Fremont will not stop at the Montgomery Street station, only the Embarcadero station.

After the fireworks end, Fremont-bound passengers must use the Embarcadero Street station, as the Montgomery station will not run in that direction.

AAA's Tipsy Tow

AAA will offer its Tipsy Tow program on New Year's Eve from 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1. The service provides a free tow home — up to 10 miles — for drinking drivers and their vehicles.

The Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. You do not need to be an AAA Member to use the service.

During the period Tipsy Tow is available, drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for the free tow. Just tell the AAA operator, "I need a Tipsy Tow," and a truck will be on its way.

The service provides a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver's home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver's home as long is there is sufficient room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.

Broadway Shuttle and AC Transit Service

The Broadway Shuttle – known as the “Free B” – is Oakland’s free bus service running along Broadway, from Jack London Square to 27th Street in Koreatown/Northgate.

Thanks to special funding from AC Transit and the City of Oakland, the shuttle will run extended service from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. (as it does every Friday and Saturday night) on New Year’s Eve, Monday, Dec. 31.

If you’re connecting to BART, trains will run until 3 a.m., and if you’re really a night owl, you can connect to a number of AC Transit All Nighter bus lines, including lines 800, 801, 802, 805, 840, and 851 to destinations from Richmond south to Fremont, including downtown Berkeley. Click here for maps and schedules.

The shuttle will not operate on New Year’s Day.

Apart from the Broadway Shuttle, all AC Transit local and transbay lines will operate on regular schedules on Dec. 31. On Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, all lines will operate on Sunday schedules.

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