Transit services ramp up for Bay to Breakers

Runners and spectators should have no trouble getting to the oldest consecutive footrace in the world Sunday in San Francisco, since transit service will be as ubiquitous as the number of participants.

The Zappos.com Bay to Breakers race from San Francisco Bay on the city’s east side to the Pacific Ocean on the city’s west side starts at 8 a.m. Runners launch their heals at Howard and Beale streets and come to a stop at the Great Highway near Fulton Street.

Runners have been racing across San Francisco since 1912, according to race organizers.

Organizers said that alcohol and controlled substances are prohibited at this year’s race. Runners must wear clothing that is clean, made and worn so that it’s not objectionable to others.

The San Francisco Municipal Railway is running express service from 4:45 to 6:30 a.m. on the 5 Limited bus, N Judah Express bus, Muni Metro between the West Portal and Embarcadero stations, and the N Judah Metro line.

Post race service begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. for the 5 Fulton Express bus, 5 Fulton Rapid bus, 5 Fulton bus and the N Judah Express bus.

The SFMTA expects travel times after the event to be longer than normal.

Runners and spectators from the South Bay can ride Caltrain from the Palo Alto station starting at 6:30 a.m. and arrive at San Francisco’s Fourth and King streets station at 7:13 a.m. Three other trains will leave from the South Bay at about 6:30 a.m. and arrive in San Francisco before 8 a.m.

After the race, runners can catch three express trains leaving San Francisco for San Carlos at 1:10, 2:10 and 3:10 p.m., making regular weekend stops from San Carlos to the San Jose Diridon station.

BART will open at about 6 a.m. Sunday, two hours earlier than regularly scheduled. BART is encouraging riders to pay with a Clipper card. The agency is asking subway riders from San Francisco and the Peninsula to disembark at Montgomery station and East Bay riders to disembark at Embarcadero station because of the number of people expected to arrive by BART.

The San Francisco Bay Ferry will also have special morning service from Vallejo at 5:30 a.m., from Oakland at 5:45 a.m. and from Alameda at 6 a.m. The boats get into San Francisco at 6:30 a.m., 6:25 a.m. and 6:25 a.m. The ferry service will also operate regular morning and afternoon service.