San Francisco is a beautiful compact city with lots of ways to get to work. Most residents own a car, but others manage to piece together a combination of public transportation, bicycling and walking to complete their commutes. Owning and accommodating a car can be very expensive, so it's worth thinking about alternatives to driving to work.
Public transportation is generally good in the Bay Area. There are buses, streetcars, cable cars, trains, subways, and ferries to transport passengers between and within communities around San Francisco Bay. In addition, daytime shuttles operate between UCSF and SF General and the VA, although the hours of operation may not be convenient for early/late working housestaff.
A great general resource for those of your considering public transportation is http://511.org/, which is a nice overview of the transit options in the area. The Transit Trip Planner (available at http://transit.511.org/tripplanner/index.asp) will rapidly tell you which buses/trains are available to get you to any destination in the Bay Area.
Whatever way you choose to get around, this is a practical guide to what you need to get started.
Table of contents
Cars
Car Share Companies
UCSF Shuttles
MUNI (local bus)
BART (bay area train system)
Golden Gate Transit
Cal Train
Bicycling
CARS
For those of you who are planning on having a car, you’ll need to plan your steps carefully. A good online resource visit is the Department of Motor Vehicles website, available at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dmv.htm, which goes over many frequently asked questions related to owning a car in San Francisco.
1. DO A SMOG CHECK
You’ll need this before registering your vehicle. You can do it at most gas stations, look for an official “Emission Control” sign. Expect to pay between $35 and 50. If your car does not have a California emissions control system, you may have to pay $300 in fees or have your car retrofitted.
2. MAKE A DMV APPOINTMENT
At the DMV you can get THREE important things accomplished:
Get your license
Change your car title to your name
Get your Registration
You'll need SEPARATE DMV appointments for each of these steps, and the ideal is to schedule them back to back, but if that is not possible, you can often get them on the same day. One resident reported she took her license test in the morning, had lunch on Haight Street, and then came back in the afternoon for her registration. So plan on making a (extremely productive) day of it, either way.
You can make appointments ONLINE (https://eg.dmv.ca.gov/foAppt/Welcome.jsp) The DMV offices are located at:
1377 Fell Street
SF, CA 94117
(415) 557-1179
1500 Sullivan Ave.
Daly City, CA 94015
(650) 994-5700
a.) Get your California Driver’s License
Your out-of-state driver's license is valid for only 10 days after accepting employment here. If you come from another state, you will need to pass a written test for a California license. If you come from another country, you will need to pass a written test and a road test. (Bring your own car for the road test! If you want to do the test with a rented car, make sure you bring a letter from the car rental office saying the car is properly insured and you are allowed to use it for the test). Request copies of the Driver's and Vehicles Registration handbooks from the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and study for the required written examination.
Even if you do not drive, you may obtain a photo I.D. card ($6) that will be useful for financial transactions. Be advised it takes between four and six weeks to receive your California license. Your old license will be confiscated, so you will need to have other means of identification in the meantime to write checks (a temporary license will only meet driving needs.)
b.) Change your car’s title to your name
If you are driving mom and dad’s car, make sure you get them to change the title to your name. This will be important when trying to get a parking permit.
c.) Register your vehicle
You must register your car with the state within 20 days if you brought it with you from another state and within 30 days if you bought it here. Failure to do so can result in a penalty and other legal difficulties. Registration can be accomplished at DMV offices listed above.
3. GET CALIFORNIA CAR INSURANCE
Called your company, often will cost more, will prorate. Many residents recommend getting insurance that covers theft/breaking into your car. As one often hears in the Castro, You're Not in Kansas Anymore, Dorothy...
4. PARKING
Hospitals
Moffitt
1. public parking lot in front of hospital
Free: 4:45pm-8:00am if you show your badge. Also weekends (Friday 4:45p-8am on Monday) and UC holidays. Need to show your ID badge.
2. Permit lot on Parnassus
Entrance on
Irving under ACC bldg
$101/month, prorated if you purchase after the 1st of the month
Can enter 24hr/d
Buy pass by going to the parking office at G level of Milberry Union
3. Dayfloat
Free parking with passes handed out by the CR
4. 55 Laguna permit lot
Cheaper, but further away, need to depend on shuttle service
Cost: $41/mo
Buy pass by going to the parking office at G level of Milberry Union
SFGH
Cost: $100/mo
Park in parking structure 1st day, get your permit validated
Get your permit in parking structure on 23rd street
Can park on street and walk, use escort service (go to front desk and they drive to your car)
VA
cost 12.50/month
get parking permit at the cashier's office.
no cost for overnights
Neighborhoods
Most neighborhoods require permits to park long term. However, even with permits it's difficult to leave your car somewhere and forget about it for a week. Once or twice weekly street cleaning occurs on most San Francisco streets, and unless you have hundreds of dollars to spare, familiarizing yourself with your neighborhood's street cleaning patterns is well advised.
Permit parking
To get a residential permit to have preferential parking in your neighborhood, you can submit an application either by mail or in person at the Residential Parking Permit office at 1380 Howard Street. Applications and instructions are available online at http://www.sfgov.org/site/dpt_index.asp?id=13442#getpermit.
When going to purchase your yearly neighborhood parking permit, make sure you have
a copy of your car's registration
the car's title in YOUR name
another piece of documentation that proves you live at your current address (bank statement, cable bill)
Without these three pieces of documentation, they will not issue the permit. Trust residents who have learned the hard way. Bring all three!
The cost is generally around $60/year, and extends from November to November.
CAR SHARE COMPANIES
If you are someone who wants to avoid the hassle of owning a car but still wants the convenience of occasionally have a car available, car sharing may be a nice option. There are several car sharing companies in the city, which offer different combinations of hourly rates, monthly payments, and membership fees. Each company has "pods" where cars can be picked up and returned throughout the city.
City Car Share
http://www.citycarshare.org/about
Zip Car
http://www.zipcar.com/
Flex car
http://www.flexcar.com/
UCSF SHUTTLES
http://www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/shuttles/
The University of California San Francisco provides free shuttle services to the UCSF community between all major campus locations on a regular schedule Monday through Friday between 7 am - 8 pm (excluding campus holidays). Some shuttles pick up after hours and on weekends.
Most shuttles are equipped with a bicycle rack.
MUNI
http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/home/home50.htm
673-MUNI (673-6864)
TDD 923-6366
The MUNI system includes cable cars, electric and diesel buses, and streetcars. These are all surface lines except for streetcars which run under Market Street downtown. The basic fare is $1.50 (must have exact change). Transfers for two bus changes are valid for up to two hours in any direction.
Bus stops are marked by a brown and orange sign, a yellow band painted on a pole, or a white stripe painted on the street, labeled Coach Stop. Buses may be designated as express, limited or local. Most buses run frequently during daytime hours. Express buses run only during peak rush hour times and make very few stops. Owl lines run all night.
BART (BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT)
http://www.bart.gov/index.asp
BART is a subway-type system. It serves downtown San Francisco along Market Street and Mission Street as far south as Daly City. The main lines go under the Bay to East Bay cities such as Oakland and Berkeley, ultimately reaching Fremont, Richmond, or Concord.
BART runs seven days a week. Fares vary according to the distance to be traveled, and are determined from maps in each BART station. When you enter the BART station you must buy your ticket immediately from a ticket machine. You will receive a small card that you insert into a machine marked enter," keep it until you arrive at your destination. When you leave the BART station, you insert the card again in the machine marked "exit". If there is any money left on your card, it will be returned to you, otherwise, the machine will keep your card. MUNI Fast passes allow free use of BART within San Francisco City limits. Children 12 years old and under can use Special Discount tickets. Bicycles are allowed on certain cars during certain hours. For more information, see the front of the Yellow Pages of the phone directory.
BART and MUNI are designed to transport people to and from downtown San Francisco; none of the three hospitals is located downtown. Thus, although the system is better than that of most American cities, it may not be convenient from many residential areas to reach the hospitals.
All BART stations and trains are wheelchair accessible.
GOLDEN GATE TRANSIT
http://www.goldengatetransit.org/schedules/pages/bus-schedules.html
(415) 923-2000
Golden Gate Transit provides ferry and bus service between Marin County and San Francisco. Buses have limited stops and routes in San Francisco. The routes are in the Financial District, Civic Center area, and along 19th Avenue. The ferry service connects the Ferry Building (Market Street) to the Marin County cities of Sausalito and Larkspur. Request fare and schedule information from:
CAL TRAIN
http://caltrain.com/
1-800-660-4287 or (650) 508-6448
Cal Train, a high-speed diesel rail service, serves the peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose. The fare varies depending on distance traveled. Monthly passes are available and also are priced by zones. For daily commuters, the cost of a monthly pass represents a substantial saving. Holders of Cal Train monthly passes may purchase a Peninsula Pass Sticker for an additional $15.00. This sticker allows unlimited rides for the month on MUNI, Sam Trans, and County Transit buses. The San Francisco Cal Train terminal is at 4th and Townsend, and serves the peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose. The fare varies depending on distance traveled. Monthly passes are available and also are priced by zones. For daily commuters, the cost of a monthly pass represents substantial savings. Holders of Cal Train monthly passes may purchase a Peninsula Pass Sticker for an additional $15. This sticker allows unlimited rides for the month on MUNI, Sam Trans, and County Transit busses.
BICYCLING
Bicycling to work is a great way to avoid the expense and hassle of driving and build in meditation and exercise into your day. Some residents have managed to avoid owning/dealing with cars altogether throughout their residency, so know that it can be done!
A few great resources for bicycling in the city include the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (http://www.sfbike.org/) and the UCSF bicycling resource page (http://www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation/rideshare/bike/).
1. Where to Get a Bicycle (cheap)
Get your UCSF discounted San Francisco Bicycle Coalition membership to get discounts at local bike shops - often up to 10% off. (http://www.parking.ucsf.edu/transportation/rideshare/bike/pdf/SFBC_UCSFMembership.pdf)
American Cyclery
510 Frederick St @ Stanyan
& 858 Stanyan St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 664-4545
Pedal Revolution (Used)
3085 21st St
SF, CA 94110
(415) 641-1264
Valencia Cyclery
1077 Valencia St @ 22nd
SF, CA 94110
(415) 550-6600
Missing Link
1988 Shattuck Ave @ University
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 843-7471
2. Where to Park your Bike
SFGH
For Bike cage keys, see Resident Coordinator (206 8317) in 5H22.
UCSF
For Bike cage keys, you will need a photo ID, bike make, model, and serial number to REGISTER your bicycle (which can help you if it gets stolen). The serial number can be found between the two tires, or next to the wheel hub. (See http://www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/biking/find_serial.html for details)
Go to Milberry Union room G26 with this information, you will register your bicycle and receive a bike cage key for a three dollar deposit
VA
Outside, no bike cage.
3, Where to Wash off the Sweat
SFGH
The ED. Just kidding.
UCSF
Milberry Union.
VA
ICU call rooms, or women's locker room on the first floor.
4. How to Avoid the Hills
See the SF Bicycle Coalition topographic map (http://www.parking.ucsf.edu/transportation/rideshare/bike/pdf/bicycle_map_sf.pdf) to plan your trip and involve as many valleys as humanly possible.
The other option is to combine your bicycle commute with a helpful ride on public transit. See below for public transit's policies on bicycles.
MUNI
Muni welcomes and encourages bicycle riders to use the exterior bike racks provided on most of our lines. All newer diesel and trolley Muni buses have front-loading bike racks able to hold two bikes each. (except the 6 and 41 buses) Historic Streetcars, Cable Cars, and Muni Metro Light Rail Vehicles do not have bike racks, nor do some older vehicles; you may not bring bicycles on board those vehicles.
BART
Bikes allowed on all trains, on any car except the first of the train. Bicycles NOT allowed during peak commute hours (Weekdays approximately 7:05 to 8:50 am and 4:25 to 6:45 pm.), with exception of Embarcadero station for trips to the East Bay. Folded bicycles are allowed at all times.
Caltrain/Golden Gate Transit/Sam Trans
Allows bikes on all trains (first come, first served).
5. What if I need an Emergency Ride Home?
Take advantage of the "Emergency Ride Home" program, which provides a $50 subsidy for anyone who is commuting by public transport, bike or walking and not able to use that mode to go home because of an emergency. In these situations, you can ride a taxi, rent a car and have the cost of this trip reimbursed by the UCSF Rideshare program. Chris Weeks must approve all reimbursement requests at Transportation Services 415 475 1513.
