Our take
Riding BART with a live guide on your phone sounds pretty great. BART says it is piloting Aira, which connects blind and low-vision riders with trained visual interpreters by video call in the free Aira Explorer app. The pilot runs from October 6, 2026 through January 3, 2027. According to BART, interpreters can describe your surroundings, read signs and help you find entrances, fare gates, ticket machines and the right platform. BART also says it will cover the cost of calls related to a BART trip, with funding from a Federal Transit Administration grant. Riders create an account in the app, and it may not continue after January 3.
Who it may help: Blind and low-vision people who ride BART in the Bay Area.
Original published October 6, 2026 by BART news release.
This is our own plain-language summary of a news story, written from the original source. Company claims are the company’s own, and we have not tested the products. It is not an endorsement or medical advice.