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Getting to Bay Area Maker Faire 2009 by Rail, Bus, or Bike
It’s easy to come to Maker Faire by Caltrain, BART, bus, and bike. There’s a free shuttle (ADA accessible) from the Caltrain Hayward Park station, free bike valet parking for 2,000 bikes, even a $10 Maker Faire ticket discount for bike riders! Here’s how to beat traffic and take alternative transportation to the San Mateo County Event Center:
View Rail, Bus, or Bike: Getting to Maker Faire 2009 in a larger map
FROM SAN FRANCISCO AND THE NORTH BAY
Caltrain + Walk
Take Caltrain to the Hillsdale station. Cross the platform and go down the steps to the parking lot, on the east side (you’ll see debris from the old Bay Meadows racetrack). Walk left (north) along the fenced-off bike/pedestrian path, continuing north to the Event Center. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk. You must have a ticket before you board the train, we recommend that you purchase a round-trip ticket at the station. For further information, fares and schedules: www.caltrain.com or 1-800-660-4287.
Caltrain + Free ADA Shuttle
Take Caltrain to Hayward Park station. Exit east side of track. Free, ADA-accessible shuttle to Event Center runs continuously from 1/2 hour prior to event, until 1/2 hour after event ends. From downtown San Francisco (4th and King St.) it’s about 33 minutes to Hayward Park Station.
BART + Caltrain
Take BART to the Millbrae station. At the Millbrae station transfer to Caltrain and take Caltrain to the Hillsdale or Hayward Park stations, as above. BART information at: www.bart.gov
SamTrans (Bus)
Route KX from downtown San Francisco is a 50-minute ride. Schedule at:
http://www.samtrans.com/pdf/Schedules/Route_KX_12-21-08.pdf
Route 292 from downtown (Mission Street) San Francisco is an 80-minute ride. Schedule at:
http://www.samtrans.com/pdf/Schedules/Route_292_02-01-09_revise_A.pdf
Route 387 from downtown San Francisco is an 80-minute ride. Schedule at:
http://www.samtrans.com/pdf/Schedules/Route_297-397_02-01-09.pdf
Get off the bus as close to 25th Avenue in San Mateo as possible. Walk to 25th Avenue and then turn east (toward the bay) and walk about 2 blocks to the Event Center.
Bicycle
Ride your bike and you’ll get free valet parking plus a $10 discount on your Maker Faire ticket!
To ride from San Francisco: Try out the San Mateo County North-South Bicycle Route. This is a flat route, which closely follows the Caltrain route. It starts on Tunnel Avenue, then uses Bayshore Boulevard through Brisbane and then a series of different streets through South San Francisco to get to Delaware Street in San Mateo. Follow Delaware Street south to the Expo Center. It takes about 1.5 hours to ride this route at an easy pace.
Get a map of the route at
http://bikesiliconvalley.org/files/nsroute/nsroutemap.pdf. NOTE: This is a schematic map to define the route; use it with a good local street map if you're not familiar with this area.
Drivers coming from the north can also park in Burlingame (it’s only $1 to park at the Caltrain station) and then follow the North-South Bike Route to the Event Center.
First Annual Dolores Park to Maker Faire Social Ride with Rock the Bike: Meeting at 8:30 a.m. and departing at 9:00 a.m. Saturday only, this ride is about 19 miles over mostly flat terrain, and will take a leisurely pace, cruising with great music on party bikes! Arrives at Maker Faire at approximately 11:00 a.m. Everyone’s invited; RSVP at http://rockthebike.com/node/10277.
Rail + Bike:
Use Caltrain and/or BART to cover most of the distance, and then bike the final leg.
Caltrain allows bikes on board. Take your bike on board Caltrain and get off at the Hillsdale station; then bike the short route described above at "Caltrain."
BART allows bikes on board, however, not in the first car. Get off at the final Millbrae station; from there it's a 5-mile (30-40 minute) ride to the Expo Center (or you can board Caltrain for a connecting ride to the Hillsdale station). Exit on the west side of Millbrae station, onto California Avenue. Bike south on California, which becomes San Mateo Drive in San Mateo. At Tilton turn left, ride about 3 blocks on Tilton, and then turn right on Delaware Street. Continue south on Delaware for about 2 miles to the Event Center.
For more information on using your bike on Caltrain and BART go to:
http://www.bikesmc.org/id47.htm
Bicycle Valet
FREE, secure valet bicycle parking is located next to the Employee Parking lot on Delaware Street (north of the West Gate near 25th Ave.). Bicycle locks are encouraged. Valet service provided by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
Bike valet hours:
- Saturday May 30th 9:00 a.m. -- 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, May 31st 9:00 a.m. -- 6:30 p.m.
Maker Faire Ticket Discount for Bike Riders
Buy your adult Maker Faire ticket for just $15 (a $10 discount) at bike valet – cash only.
FROM THE EAST BAY
BART + Caltrain + Walk
Ride BART to the Millbrae station. At Millbrae, transfer to Caltrain, and ride Caltrain to the Hillsdale station. Cross the platform and go down the steps to the parking lot on the east side (you’ll see debris from the old Bay Meadows racetrack). Walk left (north) along the fenced-off bike/pedestrian path, continuing north to the Event Center. It’s a 10-15 minute walk. BART and Caltrain information at: www.bart.gov and www.caltrain.com
You can also take your bike on BART and ride from Millbrae station to the Expo Center (see "By Bike" below). Or take BART to the Hayward station and transfer to the AC transit M line bus (see below).
BART + Caltrain + Free ADA Shuttle
Take BART to Millbrae, then take Caltrain to Hayward Park station. Exit east side of track. Free, ADA-accessible shuttle to Event Center runs continuously from 1/2 hour prior to event, until 1/2 hour after event ends. You must have a ticket before you board Caltrain, we recommend that you purchase a round-trip ticket at the station. For further information, fares and schedules: www.caltrain.com or 1-800-660-4287.
AC Transit Bus
AC Transit's M line runs across both the San Mateo and Dumbarton bridges. These buses leave from Union City to cross the Dumbarton Bridge and from Castro Valley to cross the San Mateo Bridge. Schedule at: http://www2.actransit.org/maps/schedule_results.php?version_id=7&quick_line=m&maps_line=m¤t_schedule=ALL
Get off at the Hillsdale stop, on El Camino Real. Directly across El Camino Real is the Hillsdale Caltrain station. Walk to the station and then cross the tracks to get to the bike/pedestrian path on the east side of the tracks. Turn left (go north) for a short walk to the Event Center.
The M line bus also connects to the Hayward BART station.
Bus + Bike:
AC Transit's M line buses can carry up to six bikes, so you could bike to catch this bus. Take the bus across the bay and get off at the Hillsdale stop. See directions above to get from the bus stop to the Event Center.
Rail + Bike:
Take your bike on BART and Caltrain to cover most of the distance, and then bike the final leg.
BART allows bikes on board, however, not in the first car. Get off at the final Millbrae station. From here, you can either board Caltrain for a connecting ride to the Hillsdale station, or take a 5-mile (30-40 minute) bike ride to the Event Center. Exit on the west side of Millbrae station, onto California Avenue. Bike south on California, which becomes San Mateo Drive in San Mateo. At Tilton turn left, ride about 3 blocks on Tilton, and then turn right on Delaware Street. Continue south on Delaware for about 2 miles to the Event Center.
For more information on using your bike on Caltrain and BART go to:
http://www.bikesmc.org/id47.htm
To ride to the Event Center: The Dumbarton Bridge has a bike/pedestrian path on the south side of the bridge. After crossing the Dumbarton Bridge, follow the bike path to Willow, cross Bayfront Expressway to the bike trail on the east side (toward the Bay) which parallels Bayfront Expressway. Follow this bike trail (which is a section of the Bay Trail) north to Marsh Road. Turn left on Marsh Road and go west on Marsh over the 101 freeway. Marsh Road ends on Middlefield. Turn right (north) on Middlefield.
You’re now on the San Mateo County North-South Bicycle Route; use this route to ride north to the Event Center. Get a map of the route at
http://bikesiliconvalley.org/files/nsroute/nsroutemap.pdf. NOTE: This is a schematic map to define the route; use it with a good local street map if you’re not familiar with this area.
Bicycle Valet
FREE, secure valet bicycle parking is located next to the Employee Parking lot on Delaware Street (north of the West Gate near 25th Ave.). Bicycle locks are encouraged. Valet service provided by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
Bike valet hours:
- Saturday May 30th 9:00 a.m. -- 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, May 31st 9:00 a.m. -- 6:30 p.m.
Maker Faire Ticket Discount for Bike Riders
Buy your adult Maker Faire ticket for just $15 (a $10 discount) at bike valet – cash only.
FROM SAN JOSE AND THE SOUTH BAY
Caltrain + Walk
Take Caltrain to the Hillsdale station. Go down the steps to the parking lot, on the east side (you’ll see debris from the old Bay Meadows racetrack). Walk left (north) along the fenced-off bike/pedestrian path, continuing north to the Event Center. It’s about a 10-minute walk. Caltrain information at: www.caltrain.com
Caltrain + Free ADA Shuttle
Take Caltrain to Hayward Park Station. Exit east side of track. Free, ADA-accessible shuttle to Event Center runs continuously from 1/2 hour prior to event, until 1/2 hour after event ends. You must have a ticket before you board the train; we recommend that you purchase a round-trip ticket at the station. For further information, fares and schedules: www.caltrain.com or 1-800-660-4287.
SamTrans Bus
Route 390 from Palo Alto is a 40-minute ride. Schedule at: http://www.samtrans.com/pdf/Schedules/Route_390_02-01-09.pdf
In San Mateo, get off the Hillsdale Caltrain station. Walk north to 25th Avenue and walk east (toward the bay) and walk about 2 blocks to the Event Center.
Santa Clara VTA Bus
Route 22 runs from San Jose to Palo Alto where you could transfer to SamTrans.
Route 22 schedule at:
http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_22.html
NOTE: We recommend using Caltrain for a faster, easier trip.
Bicycle
Ride your bike and you’ll get free valet parking plus a $10 discount on your Maker Faire ticket!
Rail + Bike:
Ride to the nearest Caltrain station (www.caltrain.com), and take your bike on board. Get off at the Hillsdale station and ride north to the bike valet parking at the Expo Center (see directions at "Caltrain" above).
To ride to the Event Center:
From San Mateo County cities south of San Mateo:
We suggest the San Mateo County North-South Bicycle Route. Get a map of this route at:
http://bikesiliconvalley.org/files/nsroute/nsroutemap.pdf NOTE: This is a schematic map to define the route; use it with a good local street map if you're not familiar with this area.
From Mountain View and Palo Alto:
Starting in Mountain View (Castro Street ), go north (it’s mostly westerly) on California Street. When California Street ends at Medio Avenue, turn left on Medio Ave. Turn right on Miller Avenue. Follow Miller to a bicycle/pedestrian bridge, which connects to Wilkie Way. Continue north (mostly westerly agains) on Wilkie Way to West Meadow Drive. Turn right on West Meadow Drive for six blocks. Turn left on Bryant Street. Follow Bryant Street through Palo Alto. (If you’re starting in Palo Alto, start on Bryant Street. It’s an official bicycle boulevard and a great street for bicycles.) When Bryant Street ends at Palo Alto Avenue, turn right. In about 1 block, turn left onto the bicycle/pedestrian bridge to Willow Place. Turn right off Willow Place onto Willow Road. Then turn left onto Middlefield Road.
At this point you're on the San Mateo County North-South Bicycle Route. Use the map referenced above to ride north to the Event Center.
From Sawyer Camp Trail:
At the south end of the trail, take Crystal Springs Road east (this road is directly opposite the gate at the south end of the trail). Turn left at the first stop sign on Crystal Springs Road. After a few miles, there’s a four-way intersection of Stonehedge on the left, and West Third Avenue on the right. At the stop sign, right onto West Third Ave. Follow West Third through downtown San Mateo. Turn right on Delaware Street and follow Delaware Street to the Event Center.
For a lower-traffic route, turn right on Claremont Street (1 block before Delaware Street), then when Claremont ends at 16th Avenue turn left to get back to Delaware Street.
Drive + Bike:
From the south, you could drive to San Carlos or Belmont (it's only $1 to park at the Caltrain stations) and then bike down Old County Road to the Faire. From the north, you could drive to the Burlingame station and then follow the North-South Bike Route (use the map referenced above) to the Event Center.
Bicycle Valet
FREE, secure valet bicycle parking is located next to the Employee Parking lot on Delaware Street (north of the West Gate near 25th Ave.). Bicycle locks are encouraged. Valet service provided by the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
Bike valet hours:
- Saturday May 30th 9:00 a.m. -- 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday, May 31st 9:00 a.m. -- 6:30 p.m.
Maker Faire Ticket Discount for Bike Riders
Buy your adult Maker Faire ticket for just $15 (a $10 discount) at bike valet – cash only.
