San Francisco has often stood out with its unique public transport system. With its historic streetcars and colorful Muni buses, they're as much a tourist attraction as the city's famous landmarks. But they're also still very efficient, more than able to cater to the hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists in the Bay Area. This is also why San Francisco's public transport can get a bit complicated at times, especially when it's crowded during rush hours. So how do you go about it? Well, it's worth following a few tips, such as buying a Clipper Card, wearing comfy footwear, and more.
Know When the Rush Hours are
First things first, learn when the rush hours are in San Francisco. In weekday mornings, it's from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, while in evenings, it's about 16:30 (4:30) pm to 18:30. (6:30) pm. The former is when people are going to work/school, and the latter is usually when most of the city goes back home. And though it varies on weekends, it's usually from mid-afternoon to early evenings. So if you can, you'd do well to avoid any
public transport in San Francisco in these hours. It's not worth braving the crowds when you can still commute at a different time instead.
Buy a Clipper Card
As far as transit cards in San Francisco are concerned, a Clipper Card is an absolute must! Not only can you use it in most of the city's public transport systems, but it's also an easier way to pay for your ride. It only costs $3.00 each, and you can simply fill it up with money, scan it when you commute, and you're good to go. You no longer have to queue up to buy a one-way ticket and risk missing your bus/train/cable car. And since you can simply tap to pay, you save so much time on your commute in San Francisco.
Get the MuniMobile App
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency operates most of the city's public transport systems, and luckily, they have an app to help you out. Downloading the MuniMobile App is the best thing you could've ever done as a commuter in the Bay Area. This one digital platform has everything you'll ever need with regard to San Francisco's public transport. The app shows the system’s timetables, notifies with real-time updates, and even provides a way for you to pay for your ride online! Talk about convenience, right? No matter which
neighborhood in San Francisco you need to be, the MuniMobile App will help you get there with little to no trouble at all!
Leave the Cable Cars to the Tourists on Weekends
Admit it! You want to ride San Francisco's cable cars, right? It's alright. No one can (and should) fault you since they truly are pretty novel and look like a lot of fun! Whether you're just visiting or
moving to San Francisco altogether, no stay in the Bay Area is complete without a ride in a cable car. But on weekends, when more locals are outside for leisure and tourists are flooding the central areas, you can leave them to the latter. There are many other ways to get around, so you don't have to contend with the tourist crowds in San Francisco's cable cars on weekends.
Consider Biking Instead
If you're not that ecstatic to commute in such a bustling metropolis but you can't afford a car to drive yourself, why not consider biking instead? San Francisco is often so busy and crowded that many tend to forget that it's a walkable city. Hence, you can easily ride your bike to get around here. The hills may pose a challenge, but overall, it's not that bad. Some would even say it's more fun to bike up and down the hills. The former gives you ample exercise, while the latter is pretty exhilarating on a sunny day out.
Download Ride-Sharing Apps
When all else fails, download a transportation app! Fortunately, popular ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft operate in San Francisco, providing another alternative to get around. These days, they've even become the most popular ways to get from one place to another; it's just that it's still pretty expensive compared to other transportation
costs in San Francisco. It's cheaper to commute via the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Muni buses, cable cars, and the like, so most people still do all of that. But if transportation apps won't make that big of a dent on your bank account, then it's undoubtedly the more convenient option.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
Don't underestimate how long the Bay Area will have you on your feet! Even if you're
renting an apartment in San Francisco that's near the station, there isn't always a guarantee that you'll get a seat in the subway, bus, cable car, or the like. So be good to your feet and wear comfy shoes when you commute! Even if you're a woman in corporate who's required to wear heels at the office, you can always pack a pair of flats with you for when you commute. Your feet will thank you for it!
Keep Your Eyes to Yourself
Now, when you're finally on the subway, bus, or cable car, especially if you're on your own, you'd do well to keep your eyes to yourself. San Franciscans may be a lot nicer than, say, New Yorkers, but it's still a big city with all sorts of characters lurking about. It only takes one accidental look at someone else's eyes, and you never know what will happen. If you're lucky, you make a new friend or possibly even meet the love of your life. But life doesn't always work that way, does it? Real life is often far from a rom-com, so to stay safe when you commute in San Francisco, keep your eyes to yourself!
You’d be surprised at how simple it is to navigate public transport in San Francisco. The Bay Area may boast one of the biggest cities in the US, but it’s not that hard to get around this bustling metropolis.
