The world’s largest DIY festival. In other words a collection of people that have decided why wait for the next new invention to make our lives more easy when we could be making it ourselves. There will be all sorts of crazy happenings, from battle bots to Victorian steam punks. Or if you have ever thought to yourself, “I wonder what the game mousetrap would be like if it was made for human sized mice,” then this is the kind of faire for you, science meets tinkering. Tickets are $30 for both days in advance, $50 at the gate, $20 in advance for one day or $25 at the gate.
Though this fine event happens in San Mateo there are a few good ways to get there from the hostel: 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.
