San Francisco Transportation Tips by Agraichen

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Bay Area Rapid Transit created in the late 60's/early 70's and expanded over the last 30 plus years is the main transportation to the communities outside of San Francisco on the "East Bay" side of the Bay.

The "story" of BART actually began in 1946 but it took until 1964 for construction to begin and it wasn't until 1972 when the first passengers took a ride to become a reality.

I started using the system when I moved to CA in 1974 and have found it safe, convenient, and relatively on time.

Recently extended, today, travelers arriving at SF Airport, can take the terminal loop train to the "airport extension" of BART and ride to any of SF much quicker than relying on bus, or other local transportation.

I live almost at the end of one of the East Bay routes and it takes 1 hr 15 min to get to the airport. Add to that the $5.00 extended parking cost at BART some stations as opposed to $20 or more for parking at the airport and it's a great deal.

AND for anyone with a Palm or Pocket PC BART has an application to help you plan your trip...just download and install at http://www.bart.gov/stations/quickPlanner/overview.asp It works great.

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Phone: 415 989-2278
Website: http://www.bart.gov/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: The SF MUNI, famed for it's cable cars (made even more famous by Tony Bennet), Street Cars and buses allows residents and commuters to get to most any street in SF with relative ease. Now that the "old" street cars are being used it's even more fun to get around the city.

I say relative as you do have to have some sense of where you are going (not that it matters sometimes) and when you want to get there as bus transportaion in the city can be slow.

If you can take the "underground MUNI" (as oppose to BART another "floor" below the trip is a bit faster as that line tends to have it's own "space" once it comes above ground.

A route guide can be found at http://www.sfmuni.com/php/routelist.php to help plan trips but the sfmuni.com site actually has a trip planner to help even more.

Prices are $1.25 per ride or $12.00 per week or $45.00 per month (with 3 days of "grace" so if you live in the city or commute, it's quite inexpensive.

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Phone: 415-673-6864
Website: http://www.sfmuni.com/home/home50.htm

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Hornblower Cruises have been around for over 20 years. Starting small, they have expanded to a number of small ships that cruise SF bay and now are in other parts of CA (San Diego, Marina Del Ray, Newport Beach, Berkeley)

Dinner cruises at sunset, "gambling" (only for fun) with Kareokee, corporate events, or just a 3 hour relaxing cruise on the bay.

They now have it all.

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Phone: 1-888-467-6256
Website: http://www.hornblower.com/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Parking in the touristy area of Pier 39 can be "iffy" at best during the off season, let alone during peak toursit season in the summer. Sill, if you can find a spot in the Pier 39 garage, the link below will provide a coupon for 2 free hours of parking while you wander through the shops and watch the sea lions that have taken over the dock area.

http://www.pier39.com/funpack.html

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Website: http://www.pier39.com/funpack.html