Friday Funny: Imagining Taco Bell-Oriented Rail Transit

A Reddit user created a transit map of the San Francisco Bay Area that connects Taco Bell locations, which, unlike rail public transit, have reached every corner of the region.

1 minute read

January 4, 2019, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Imaginary Maps

Jeff McGough (u/Epicapabilities) / Reddit

Reddit user u/Epicapabilities, actually 16-year-old Jeff McGough, a high school student from Minnesota, created a Taco Bell-connected fantasy map of rail transit in the San Francisco Bay Area and environs that won attention recently. The map spreads from Dixon to Rio Vista to Cloverdale to Manteca to Monterey, with all the Tracys, Gilroys, Redwood Citys, Santa Rosas, and Cordelias between included.

I grew up near the Clayton Rd station imagined on the map and frequented the Taco Bell in question before I knew any better, but I don't see an advertisement for bad fast food in this map. I see the fantasy transit map of the region I grew up in if cars had somehow skipped the 20th century. Sure, there are too many transfers on this map. I'm sure people in Vallejo and Benicia would love a one-seat ride into The City.

Still. Imagine such a world. Then again, it's hard to imagine Taco Bell being so ubiquitous in a world without cars. Is that a win-win?

McGough also created a similar map for Whataburger locations in Austin, Target in the Twin Cities, and Taco Bells in cities all over the country. Taco Bell picked up McGough's work for its blog.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019 in Reddit

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

7 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.

5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

3 hours ago - Inside Climate News

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

4 hours ago - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

5 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.