Past to Present (and Our Gift to You)

Do you have a favorite type of AC Transit service—Local, Transbay, Zero Emission Buses, or our newest, Tempo? Show your support by downloading and installing one of the below wallpapers to your smart phone. Just click on the name below the image and download the artwork.
_{Disclaimer: This artwork is authorized for personal use only. You do not have permission to utilize the art commercially, including but not limited to use on any website, printing such as the production of fliers, or other non-personal uses.}

¿Tiene un tipo de servicio favorito de AC Transit: Local, Transbay, Autobuses de Cero Emisiones o nuestro nuevo Tempo? Muestre su apoyo descargando e instalando uno de los fondos de pantalla anteriores en su teléfono inteligente.

_{Descargo de Responsabilidades: Este trabajo artístico está autorizado sólo para uso personal. No tiene permiso para utilizar el arte comercialmente, lo que incluye pero no se limita a su uso en cualquier sitio web, su uso para imprimir como la producción de volantes, u otros usos no personales.}

您是否有最喜欢的 AC Transit 服务类型：本地，跨湾，零排放巴士，或者我们最新的Tempo服务？ 通过下载并安装以上壁纸到您的智能手机，以示支持。

_{免责声明：本作品仅授权个人使用。您没有权利将这些艺术作品用于商业用途，包括但不限于在任何网站上使用、印刷（如制作传单）或其他非个人用途。}

1960	The launch of AC Transit service to the community gets extensive coverage in the Oakland Tribune.
1960	Bus Operators are paid $2.40 per hour.
1964	The “Shop-a-Round” pass is launched to encourage shopping in the central Oakland business district.
1964	A driving competition (called Bus-o-Rama) is begun and includes an obstacle course to test Operators’ skills. The competition continues to this day, but is now called the Roadeo.
1968	The classic Dustin Hoffman film “The Graduate” uses an AC Transit bus, but its recognizable paint scheme only momentarily ends up in the final cut of the film.
1970	An Oakland Tribune editorial story commemorating the 10th anniversary of AC Transit asserts that “Without AC Transit service, East Bay auto traffic perhaps would be at a virtual standstill” and that too many personal vehicles can “poison the air” with exhaust fumes.
1971	AC Transit’s “bicycle bus” goes into service to carry cyclists to San Francisco. Responding to many requests, half the seats were removed and bicycle racks were installed onboard.
1971	Demonstration of an electric bus (called “Electrobus”) is considered by the Board of Directors. Early vehicles of this type had a poor range per charge, so they were not purchased. But zero-emission vehicles were considered for AC Transit service 49 years ago — 31 years before they were eventually adopted.
1979	AC Transit issues its first monthly pass.
1980	The first busses are equipped with wheelchair lifts.
1989	When the Loma Prieta earthquake strikes, Operator Douglas Burghardt is amazingly able to come to a safe stop just feet from the collapsed section of the Bay Bridge, saving himself and 35 passengers onboard. After taking his passengers to a safer section of the span, heroic Mr. Burghardt returns to help pull motorists from their cars that where dangling over the San Francisco Bay.
1994	AC Transit is included in MC Hammer’s “Pumps and a Bump” video.
2002	AC Transit reveals its new logo and color scheme.
2002	Our first hydrogen fueling station is commissioned at the Richmond Division. At the time, we were only running a single hydrogen-fueled prototype bus.
2003	The first line of Rapid service (72R) is launched. Bus stops are spaced more widely apart and traffic signals are prioritized for the bus to expedite trips.
2007	Solar panels begin to be installed on our facilities to offset energy use.
2013	AC Transit is given the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), the highest environmental honor in the state of California.
2017	A bus painted like AC Transit (although it wasn’t an authentic AC Transit bus) was shown in the blockbuster film “Black Panther.” We’re assuming that local audiences cheered in theaters when they saw it onscreen.
2019	AC Transit introduces zero emission battery electric buses into its fleet.
2020	Tempo bus rapid transit service is launched featuring infrastructure improvements and safety upgrades to the area while expediting trips from downtown Oakland to San Leandro and everywhere in-between.

Special thanks to AC Transit employee and transit enthusiast Shirley Sachsen.