F-Line and other San Francisco, CA Transportation Tips

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Historic Streetcars -- Part One, History and Basics

Nearly as fun as a cable car, but a lot less hassle, the historic streetcars of the F-Line will take you where you will likely want to go. The F-Line is you best transportation link between downtown (or Market Street or BART) and Fisherman's Wharf. The old streetcars have the authentic look and feel of the past. In fact, some of the cars have been operational in San Francisco since the 1940's.

They cruise the entire stretch of Market Street, travel The Embarcadero, and turn back at Fisherman's Wharf. Along Market Street you can see the commercial heart of the City.

The workhorses of the historic streetcars are the streamlined PCCs. They are named after the Electric Railway Presidents’ Conference Committee, a group of rail company executives that assembled in the early 1930s hoping to modernize the look and technology of streetcars. Their goal was to compete more effectively with the growing threat from private automobiles. The resulting PCCs were extremely successful. Over 4,500 were built and they operated in 33 North American cities and also served in Europe. PCCs were the primary streetcar used in San Francisco before the fleet was modernized in the 1970s.

The PCC cars currently in the F-line fleet come from either San Francisco or Philadelphia. They are painted to represent some of the cities that originally ran the PCC car.

Some Peter Witts cars from Milan are also used and till carry the Milan markings. These cars date back to the late 1920s.

Hold on and enjoy the ride!

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Website: http://www.streetcar.org/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Historic Streetcars -- Part Two, The Ride

Starting where the old rail portal once emerged at Market Street, you travel along and see the Castro District, the Civic Center area, the retail area near Powel Street, and the Financial District. At the end of Market Street, you'll slip through Don Chee Way to The Embarcadero.

Along The Embarcadero you pass the Ferry Building (which withstood the 1906 earthquake and fire), Harry Bridges Plaza, the Herb Caen Promenade, the historic waterfront, before eventually moving on to Fisherman's Wharf.

The fare is only $1.50. You can even use a transfer from a prior MUNI ride. Collect a transfer from the driver. On only is it your proof of payment, it is good for your return trip (or other MUNI ride) within about a two hour time frame. Feel free to collect a coupon from a vending machine at BART for a $0.25 discount on the fair. Be sure to have exact change as none will be provided from the driver. Dollar bills are accepted.

The Market Street Railway, a non-profit organization of rail enthusiasts, is the driving force behind the restoration efforts and return to service of these historic streetcars. Although not original to their original design, the streetcars in services have been modified to be accessible to people with disabilities as part of the restoration process.

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Website: http://www.streetcar.org/

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: If you don't have a car, you'll need to use MUNI while in S.F. The Municipal Railway operates a network of buses and light rail vehicles thought out the City. Be sure to get a transfer when boarding. It is your proof of purchase and provides free transfers within the allotted time -- usually about 2 hours. You can even use it for your return trip.

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Website: http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/frame.asp?u=http://www.sfmuni.com/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Cable cars are still used daily by San Franciscans for transportation. They are not just a tourist ride. They are also a bit of fun...

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'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: BART or Bay Area Rapid Transit serves most of the San Francisco Bay Area. In the East Bay it branches off and extends to Richmond, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, and Fremont. It serves both the San Francisco and Oakland International Airports. Although for Oakland, a shuttle is provided to transport you between the airport and the trains. On the Peninsula, it terminates at Millbrae just beyond the airport. It does not serve Marin to the north.

If you plan to head into the City from the East Bay during commute hours, BART is a good choice if your destination is near a station or served my a MUNI line. The alternative drive over the Bay Bridge is a snarl!

Discounted or free transfers to local bus systems are available inside the stations. In San Francisco, a voucher for $0.25 off a MUNI fare is available at dispensing machines. The BART website offers schedules plus a trip planner.

One word of caution, try to be extra aware of your surroundings outside the 16th and 24th Street Stations as these locations have higher amounts of street crimes than most parts of the City. This is especially true in the late evenings or into the night.

Be aware that BART stops running around Midnight. So if you have taken a train into the City and closed down the bars, you might find yourself stranded after last call.

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Phone: (510) 464-6000
Website: www.bart.gov

'Mode': TO,AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTA) maintains a web site and phone service that provides up to date traffic information for the major freeways in the San Francisco Bay Area. The site has a color coded map of the current traffic conditions. It shows if traffic is light, moderate, heavy, or gridlocked. The site will also estimate driving times. This information is invaluable for determining the traffic conditions before attempting to cross the Bay Bridge.

The information used for the site is gathered by a series of data collectors that captures the location of cars that have the Fast Track toll collection transponders. This enables the MTA to track vehicles equipped with Fast Track as they traverse along the major routes. The time a vehicle travels between the collection points is relied back to the MTA and the information is reflected in updates to the traffic maps on the web site.

On a local news report the MTA stated that it does not keep the data collected for more than one day. However, the system does raise some privacy issues. Users of the transponders can place them in a protective envelope when not at a tollbooth and the MTA will not track their movements or use the information on their updates.

The service is also available by phone by dialing 511. A series of menus will lead the user to the traffic information.

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Phone: 511
Website: www.511.org

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Taxies are fairly abundant on the downtown and popular commercial and nightspots, but can be fairly scarce in some less traveled or residential districts.

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Other Contact: Just hail them down.

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: CalTrain operates a train service up and down the San Francisco Peninsula between the City and San Mateo. They are a good way to avoid the rush hour traffic if you happen to be going to or from one of the stops. In San Francisco, you can depart at 4th and Townend Streets where MUNI service is available.

You are also a short walk from the AT&T Park (formerly known as Pac Bell Park, formerly known as a bunch a warehouses on Berry Street), the Metreon, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Moscone Center.

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Website: http://www.caltrain.com/

'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Golden Gate Transit runs bus and ferry service between San Francisco and the North Bay. Both Sonoma and Marin Counties to the north are serviced by a network of bus routes. The bus routes are primarily designed to provide commuters form the North Bay an alternative to driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, but they might prove useful to visitors. The ferries offer an excellent opportunity to get out on the Bay and visit places like Sausalito. Check on-line for their schedule and routes. Golden Gate Transit is highly subsidized by the Golden Gate Bridge's tolls.

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Website: http://goldengatetransit.org/