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How Do Panhandlers Get on BART?

Every so often there is a guy on my train who wanders from car to car asking for spare change. How does he get on to begin with? Does scratch together enough to get on, then spend it all on a ticket so he can beg for what he gave up? Di he sneak on? How do these folks manage to get on board?

They make more money than we

They make more money than we do; don't give them any money. It really bugs me when they are on the train; it's bad enough having them in the stations by the machines. Of course, they don't pay to ride and they get away with it too.

chrystalflanders's picture

Tell Panhandlers you have

Tell Panhandlers you have kids. It works everytime. If I have my kid with me, it makes it even better. Everyone knows you have to feed your kid first so it's understood.

-Chrystal Flanders
http://www.damnyouchrystal.com

BARTphotographer's picture

My house is under water, so I

My house is under water, so I actually have way less money then they do.

Master Chief's picture

It is very, very easy to

It is very, very easy to sneak into the BART system without paying.
At least half the stations have easy ways to bypass the fare gates, either by using elevators or hopping over low and unwatched fences.

The only system I've ever been on that's easier to sneak into than BART is MUNI, but at least MUNI has officers regularly checking for passes.