BART loves to see transit fans speedrun our system for time. So much so, we have set up this webpage to track speedruns and their records.
A speedrun is the total time it takes to travel through all BART stations.
In 2024, several graduate students from UC Berkeley successfully applied to the Guinness World Records (GWR) to make it an official category. Strict requirements and rules were set including having official witnesses, timestamped photographic and video evidence, a log book, and more. The guidelines clarify what counts and factors in scenarios such as closed stations and such. View the Official Guinness World Records Guidelines Pack (courtesy Ameen DaCosta).
Even if someone doesn't follow the official Guinness World Record guidelines, BART still acknowledges all speedruns as long as there is documentation of the route and proof the speedrun took place.
The current BART speedrun record is 5 hours, 9 minutes, and 35 seconds.
The current Guinness World Record is 5 hours, 47 minutes, and 42 seconds (currently in the process of being certified).
We've also spotlighted some of our most prolific speedrunners in a podcast.
BART Speedruns That We Know About (in chronological order)
In December 2024, big sister Kate took nine-year-old Ben on a BART speedrun, which was his Christmas wish. Ben planned the entire trip, which started at Berryessa and ended in Antioch. Check out the video. We love their outfits, Ben's dances, and the impressive fun facts he drops while riding. Their time was 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds (minus the lunch pit stop, and it is worth noting, BART was running trains at reduced speed that day because of wet weather). Ben is the youngest person to complete a BART speedrun (that we know of!). The future is bright.
- In November 2024, 16 year old Henry did a speedrun beginning in Millbrae and ending in Antioch. Due to missed connections from minor BART delays, his time was 6 hours, 37 minutes and 51 minutes. Henry hopes to keep trying to break the record in 2025 and when communicating with BART staff about his trips he noted, "I love BART’s commitment to support this community and I hope it motivates more people to ride BART and attempt these sort of things."
In October 2024, youtuber Adam partnered up with Enzo Wu, both who had done previous BART speedruns, and they did it in 5 hours, 9 minutes, and 35 seconds! That is now the new record. Enzo planned the record breaking route and Adam filmed it. They followed the official Guinness World Records rules, though they do not plan to submit it for certification from GWR. Watch the thrilling video they put together showing a few failed attempts and then the successful trip. The OAK transfer continues to be a nail-biter and they were faced with hot temperatures and the threat of heat related speed restrictions. The (terrifying) bike ride from Powell to Caltrain to Millbrae BART to finish the Red line was a fun twist. Ameen DaCosta, who was part of the previous Guinness World Records speedrun, even joined them for the final leg of the trip (and yes he was wearing the MTA subway shirt iykyk).
Enzo (seated) and Adam (stretching) on their speedrun. In September 2024, a team of transit-enthused editors from San Francisco State University's student-led newspaper Golden Gate Xpress (GGX)—including Neal Wong, Hannah Straily, Sean Young and Dan Hernandez—were inspired by Adam's August speedrun (see below) and completed their own speedrun in 6 hours, 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Watch their Instagram Reel documenting their day and the unfortunate missed connections at MacArthur and BART to OAK. SF State has long been a leader in providing unlimited transit to and from school for students and encouraging transit trips. The school recently expanded their Gator Pass to provide unlimited trips on all transit through the Clipper BayPass program.
Editors from SF State's student newspaper Golden Gate Xpress on their BART speedrun. - In August 2024, Bay Area resident and youtuber Adam did it in 5 hours, 50 minutes, and 14 seconds. Watch his entertaining YouTube video documenting his speedrun and his ice cream treat at the end.
- In May 2024, Enzo Wu and Sabi did it in 5 hours, 30 minutes, and 26 seconds. Watch their awesome explainer video of all the work (and practice) they put into lining up their speedrun (it all comes down to BART to OAK timing!).
- In March 2024, a group of seven UC Berkeley students and friends accomplished a speedrun in 5 hours, 47 minutes, and 42 seconds. This is currently in the process of being approved as the official Guinness World Records certified BART speedrun. The students were part of The Transportation Graduate Students Organizing Committee (TRANSOC) which is a graduate student organization at UC Berkeley composed of students from engineering, planning, public policy, and other related disciplines specializing in transportation.
- The TRANSOC members who were part of the BART World Record event are:
- Winnie Zhuang (co-president)
- Melody Tsao (co-president)
- Ameen DaCosta
- Paul Liu
- Jacob Champlin
- Mike Santos
- and their cameraman Chance Wen
- The TRANSOC members who were part of the BART World Record event are:
Watch their livestream on YouTube.
- In January 2024, Sabi did it in 5 hours, 49 minutes, and 8 seconds. Watch their YouTube video.
- In July 2022, Hayden Miller (aka HaydenM16) did it in 6 hours, 4 minutes, and 54 seconds. Check out their Twitter thread.
- In July 2021, (BART had 50 stations), Miles Taylor (aka Miles in Transit) accomplished a speedrun in 6 hours, 9 minutes, and 51 seconds. Read our story about his adventure. And check out his twitter thread. Noteworthy comment, this was when BART had 30 minutes headways.
- In July 2012, when BART had 44 stations, Jim Yu did it in 5 hours and 37 minutes. Read his blog post outlining his journey and the path he took.
Did you do a BART speedrun with documentation that isn't listed? Even if it doesn't break a record, email us at [email protected] to be listed on this page.
