Moving from one place to another in San Francisco is fairly easy, but it is important to remember that it is a big city. In such cases, knowing where to go, how to get there, and what places to avoid are the keys to staying safe. Big cities have questionable areas as well as friendly areas, so if you are unsure of a particular street or area, your best bet is to steer clear just in case.
Keeping these tips in mind, walking is a great way of getting around. It allows you to take your time as you pass by little shops, smell the delicious foods cooking in delis and cafes, and appreciate the vibrancy of your surroundings and of the people. If you are in shape, then San Francisco’s large hills may not pose much of a problem. But these hills are steeper than anything you may have encountered before, so reaching the top may provide a fantastic view, but also could leave you out of breath. Not every street forces you to trudge up unassisted; some have stair walkways instead of a straight up and down incline. Picking up the right map can give you a great look at the grade pitch of all the streets (marked in color) and help you to best decide which streets will suit your abilities or what you are willing to attempt. Always make sure to bring plenty of water and use sunscreen, as even with the cool temperature, you may find yourself in the sun a great deal.
The Travel and Leisure Website named San Francisco as city with the best public transit in the country. For people who refuse to get on buses in their own town, even they will find that hopping onto a bus or cable car is a mini-attraction in itself. In fact, it is nearly impossible to ignore the call of the bell of the cable cars, which have become a symbol of San Francisco itself.
If you are unsure of where to go and what system to use to get there, purchase a map that includes lines and stops. You can find good maps online or purchase small pocket maps to carry with you.
San Francisco buses utilize both diesel and electric power and serve parts of the city that the Metro and cable cars do not. You can purchase tickets from the driver, or just show your pass or transfer ticket. Bus rides can last anywhere from a few minutes to up to 20 minutes, all depending upon where you are going and where you started from. However, don’t be surprised if the bus gets delayed for up to 30 minutes at a time. It can come in handy, though. The bus service operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and can get you to a few places that the other lines can’t. The late OWL service hooks up with the Metro lines late at night to offer safe transfer from location to location.
BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit and provides regional rail services throughout the Bay Area. It has eight stations located in San Francisco, which offers a great way to sneak through well-trafficked areas of the city. Serviced by 107 miles (172 km) of track lines and stopping at 46 stations, BART has plenty of room to move and to ferry people from across the Bay to Berkeley, Oakland, and to the airports of Oakland and San Francisco. It’s fast and efficient, soaring along at 80mph (120km/h) and running seven days a week, 4:30am to 12:30am. After 12:30am, overnight bus services pick up passengers at key BART stations until 6:00am. Maps show different lines in different colors, which you can find online or in many San Francisco shops. Plan out where you want to go and get your ticket in before you board a train.