Community Living Campaign

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.

Cathy DeLuca

ESSENTIAL TRIP CARD: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

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Woman on a bench, wearing a mask, holding up an Essential Trip CardMany of you are signed up for the Essential Trip Card — a great low-cost taxi program for seniors (65+) and people with disabilities in San Francisco. We get a lot of questions about the card, so we wanted to share some common questions and answers here.

Q: When is the program ending? My card has an expiration date of 12/31/22.
A: The City has funding for the program through at least June 2023. Don’t worry about the expiration date. They do not send new cards, so just keep using yours!

Q: Can I use the card to go to my doctor in Daly City?
A: Unfortunately, no. The card can only be used for trips within San Francisco.

Q: How do I know how much money is on my card?
A: You can check your balance 24 hours a day using the City’s automated system: 877-738-2941.

Q: The receipt from my last trip says I only have $75 on my card, but I thought I had more money than that on there.
A: If you have more than $75 on your card, your receipt will only show a balance of “$75+.” So don’t worry! And remember, you can always call to check your balance (see question above).

Q: The $60 monthly limit doesn’t cover the cost of my essential trips. What can I do?
A: You can call the City and ask for an increase in your monthly allotment: 415-351-7053. An increase isn’t guaranteed, and CLC may not be able to cover the full amount if you do get the increase. But many people have had their monthly cap raised.

Q: The driver said the card reader couldn’t read my card, and I had to pay out of pocket. Is that how it’s supposed to work?
A: No! You should never have to pay out of pocket if you have money on your card. If you are sure you have enough money on the card but the card reader won’t read your card, the driver is supposed to fill out a manual receipt. Then they call an authorization number to confirm the charge, and you should be good to go!

Q: If I don’t have enough money on the card to cover the trip I’m on, can I use up the amount on the card and pay the balance with cash or another card?
A: Yes! A taxi driver shouldn’t reject your card if it doesn’t contain enough funds for the trip you’re taking. But you are obligated to pay the rest of the fare yourself.

Q: Should I tip the taxi driver?
A: Yes! You can tip up to 10% of the fare using the Essential Trip Card. If you have the means and the desire to go above 10%, you can use cash for the rest of the tip.

We hope these answers have been helpful. If you have a question we didn’t cover, feel free to contact Cathy DeLuca, CLC’s Transportation Program Manager, at 415-638-9183.

For more information about the Essential Trip Card, visit www.sfmta.com/etc.

Speak Up For The MUNI Services You Need!

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SPEAK UP FOR THE MUNI SERVICE YOU NEED!

On December 7, the SFMTA Board of Directors will vote on a Muni Service Plan for 2022. Their current proposal brings back a lot of service, but it does not restore Muni to pre-pandemic service levels, as the community has been asking for. The current proposal for 2022 Service includes the following:

  • The 3 Jackson and 47 Van Ness would remain suspended.
  • The 2 Clement would be restored with a modified route and would operate every 15 minutes all day on weekdays.
  • The 6 Haight/Parnassus would return every 20 minutes, and the 52 Excelsior and 66 Quintara would return to their past routes.
  • The 10 Townsend would be restored, but it would end at Sansome and Montgomery streets and run along 16th Street in Potrero Hill.
  • The 21 Hayes would be restored with a modified route and would run every 15 minutes.
  • The 31 Balboa would be rerouted to 5th Street, Townsend Street, 3rd Street and Harrison Street, with a terminal at the 4th and King Caltrain Station.

More details here.

Please ACT BEFORE DECEMBER 7 if this is not the Muni service you need!

  1. Call 415-646-2005
  2. Email TellMuni@sfmta.com and MTABoard@sfmta.com (cc your Supervisor and cathy@sfcommunityliving.org)

 

JOIN SDA’S CAMPAIGN FOR BUS SHELTERS: GIMME SHELTER!

From our partners at Senior & Disability Action: For years, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has been denying requests from neighborhood public transit riders to install a bus shelter with seating at bus stops that are without seats. Prior to the pandemic, the SFMTA has been removing numerous bus shelters as a solution to deal with the homeless and street drug trafficking issues. We at Senior & Disability Action find that those actions are in conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act. People with disabilities and seniors need seating and shelter while waiting for the next bus. At this time, only 34% of current bus stops have seating, and these are distributed inequitably, with the northern half of the city twice as likely to have shelters as the southern half, particularly Bayview/Hunters Point.SFMTA really needs our (transit riders who are seniors and people with impairments) help in creating a Muni Service Network that really addresses our needs.

SDA has developed a survey and petition for the new Gimme Shelter campaign. The task of both is communicate to the SFMTA the need for all bus stops to have a shelter with seating. Please take and share with others:

The Survey
English: https://tinyurl.com/Gimme-Shelter-Survey
Chinese: https://forms.gle/1UCFGrheqXfdbEqc7
Spanish: https://forms.gle/deT4ZWP1v8AngZGY8

The Petition
English: https://forms.gle/bJqUsRpTYyCAPFEJ8
Chinese: https://forms.gle/QgExKtE5xXSWEoAMA
Spanish: https://forms.gle/YRNffsyUPGiK6G7s9

If you’d like a hard copy of the survey and petition, please contact Pi Ra at srira@sdaction.org.

HOW SHOULD THE CITY SPEND TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REVENUE?

San Francisco has a half-cent sales tax that funds transportation projects. The City plans to renew the sales tax soon, so it’s currently developing a spending plan for the expected revenues. The spending plan doesn’t identify specific transportation projects to fund, but rather outlines the percentage of tax revenue that will be dedicated to different transportation program categories.To help develop this spending plan, the City is asking the public to share feedback on what transportation programs are most important to them.
 
Take the SFCTA survey to make your voice heard:
https://www.research.net/r/transportation-sales-tax
 

CLC is urging residents to mark the following programs as “Very Important,” so we make sure that older adults and adults with disabilities are prioritized:

  • Paratransit Service for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
  • Neighborhood and Equity Priority Community Planning

More details at https://www.sfcta.org/ExpenditurePlan.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Dec 6 @ 1:30 pm; Land Use & Transportation Committee
Supervisor Peskin is calling a hearing on electric-powered scooters, after Nicole Bohn, the Director of the Mayor’s Office on Disability, was seriously injured after being hit by someone riding a scooter on a sidewalk.

Dec 13 @ 1:30 pm: Land Use & Transportation Committee
Supervisor Melgar is calling a hearing on the City’s responsibilities in maintaining safe and accessible sidewalks, as well as being accountable to public requests for sidewalk improvements. We’ll keep you updated, or stay tuned here: https://sfbos.org/meetings/land-use-and-transportation-committee.

LOWER SPEED LIMITS COMING TO SF STREETS

Thanks to a new state law, San Francisco now has more authority to set speed limits on our streets! That’s great news, since speed is a major factor in whether someone hit by a car lives or dies. Considering that older adults make up half of all pedestrians killed in San Francisco each year, lower speed limits could help us reduce this number.As early as January 2022, the SFMTA will lower speed limits by 5 mph (from 25 mph to 20 mph, or 30 mph to 25 mph) in key business activity districts (streets where at least half of the property uses are dining or retail). These speed limit changes require SFMTA Board approval, and the first seven corridors being brought to the Board for speed limit reductions from 25 to 20 mph include:

  • 24th Street, from Diamond to Chattanooga streets and from Valencia to San Bruno Avenue;
  • Fillmore Street, from Chestnut to Union streets and from Jackson to McAllister streets;
  • Haight Street, from Stanyan Street to Central Avenue and from Webster to Steiner streets;
  • Polk Street, from Filbert to Sutter streets;
  • Ocean Avenue, from Geneva Avenue to Victoria Street and from Junipero Serra Boulevard to 19th Avenue;
  • San Bruno Avenue, from Silver to Paul avenues; and
  • Valencia Street, from Cesar Chavez to Market streets

The SFMTA also plans to reduce speed limits on San Francisco’s high-injury corridors, where most traffic crashes are concentrated. You can learn more here about all the important speed limit changes that SFMTA is planning. In the meantime, let’s all slow down!

For more information about any of these transportation updates, please contact CLC’s Transportation Program Manager: Cathy DeLuca, cathy@sfcommunityliving.org, 415-638-9183.

The New Year Brings New Muni Service Increases

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We know that getting around San Francisco is hard right now, with Muni cuts and with COVID. But the great news is that Muni is increasing service in January! Last year’s resumption of the J Church train, which can carry more riders than the substitution bus, freed up drivers and buses for other routes. Here are the increases that will take effect on Saturday, January 23rd:

Trains:
  • The T Third line will resume service, running from Sunnydale to Embarcadero.
  • (The J Church began service last year. All other Metro lines are running as buses.)

Buses:

New Bayview-Hunters Point 15 Express

  • The eastern segment of the 22 Fillmore route is shifting to serve Mission Bay. (The new 55 Dogpatch—details below—will cover the 22’s previous route to Potrero Hill and Dogpatch.)
  • The 27 Bryant will resume with a modified route, with service between the Mission and Russian Hill.
  • The 33 Ashbury-18th Street will resume (full route).
  • The 37 Corbett will go from a shortened route back to a full route.
  • NEW ROUTE! The new 55 Dogpatch will be added between 16th and Mission and 20th and 3rd to replace the eastern segment of the 22 Fillmore.
  • NEW ROUTE! The new 15 Bayview-Hunters Point Express will connect the city’s southeastern areas with downtown. Read more in this Examiner article.

Visit the SFMTA website for all the details.

Navigating San Francisco’s Transportation System During COVID-19

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The information below applies to San Francisco. Last updated on 1/23/22.

We’ve gathered the latest transportation updates and resources, and we put them all in one place for you.

San Francisco Munielectric bus icon

  • COVID Precautions:
    • All passengers must wear masks, per federal law.
    • As of 6/15/21, physical distancing on vehicles is no longer required.
  • Muni Metro:
    • In service:  J Church (shortened; Balboa Park Station to Church/Duboce streets),  KT Ingleside-Third, N Judah,  M Ocean View.
    • Not in service, bus substituion: L Taraval (SF Zoo to Embarcadero)
  • Muni Buses:
    • The following bus lines are in service: 1 California, 5 Fulton, 5R Fulton Rapid, 7 Haight/Noriega, 8 Bayshore, 9 San Bruno, 9R San Bruno Rapid, 12 Folsom/Pacific, 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid, 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express, 18 46th Avenue, 19 Polk, 22 Fillmore, 23 Monterey (Shortened), 24 Divisadero, 25 Treasure Island, 27 Bryant (Rerouted), 28 19th Avenue, 29 Sunset, 30 Stockton, 31 Balboa (Shortened), 33 Ashbury/18th Street, 35 Eureka, 36 Teresita, 37 Corbett, 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid, 39 Coit, 43 Masonic (Shortened), 44 O’Shaughnessy, 45 Union/Stockton, 48 Quintara/24th Street, 49 Van Ness/Mission, 52 Excelsior, 54 Felton, 55 Dogpatch, 56 Rutland, 57 Parkmerced (Shortened), 58 Lake Merced (NEW), 66 Quintara, 67 Bernal Heights, 90 San Bruno Owl, 91 3rd Street/19th Avenue Owl, 714 BART Early Bird. Since the SFMTA has modified some routes and relocated some stops, make sure to check the SFMTA website or call 311 for details before you ride.
    • The following lines are currently NOT in service: 2 Clement, 3 Jackson, 6 Parnassus, 10 Townsend, 21 Hayes, 41 Union, 47 Van Ness, Express/peak only buses, 76X Marin Headlands
    • 2022 Planned Service Restoration (to be phased between March 2022 and June 2022):
      • Restored in full: 6 Haight/Parnassus, 8AX Bayshore A Express, 8BX Bayshore B Express, 28R 19th Avenue
      • Restored, but shortened & with less frequency to start: 2, 10
      • Routes extended: J Church (back in the tunnel!), 12, 23, 28, 31, 43, 56, 57
      • Increased frequency (by June): 1, 2, 5, 10, 12, 21, 29, 30, 38R
      • No Restoration planned: 3, 47
  • Street cars: F Market and Wharves in service. (E Embarcadero is not in service.)
  • Cable cars: Relaunched in August 2021.
  • For more information, visit the SFMTA COVID-19 webpage or call 311 (or 415-701-2311 outside of SF).

SFMTA Essential Trip Card (ETC)

  • The Essential Trip Card is a new discount taxi program for seniors (65+) and people with disabilities to take essential trips.
  • Registered customers pay 20% of regular taxi fare using a prepaid debit card ($6 gets you $30 credit; $12 gets you $60 credit).
  • To apply, call 311 between 9am and 4:45pm and mention the “Essential Trip Card.”
  • For more information, visit the ETC webpage.

SF Paratransit

  • Paratransit is a door-to-door van or taxi service for people who cannot take Muni some or all of the time due to a disability.
  • Paratransit shuttles are currently operating for essential travel with 2 people per van.
  • Registered users pay $2.50 each way.
  • Now is a great time to apply! Visit the Paratransit website for details.
  • For more information, call 311 or 415-351-7000 (the Paratransit office) between 9am and 4:45pm.

Shop-a-Round

  • Shop-a-Round is a group van service that takes seniors (65+) and people with disabilities to grocery stores.
  • Vans are currently limited to 2 people per van.
  • Registered users pay $2.50 each way.
  • Now is a great time to apply! Visit the Shop-a-Round website for the scheduled and applications materials.
  • For more information, call 311 or 415-351-7000 (the Paratransit office) between 9am and 4:45pm.

Free Muni for Seniors and People with Disabilities

  • A program that allows low-income seniors (65+) and people with disabilities to ride Muni for free.
  • Income requirements can be found on the Free Muni for Seniors webpage and the Free Muni for People with Disabilities webpage.
  • To apply, you can fill out the online application or print and mail this application.
  • You must have a Senior Clipper card or Regional Transit Connection (RTC) card to access use your Free Muni benefit.
    • To apply for a Senior Clipper card, download the application from the Clipper Card website.
    • The RTC Discount ID Office is closed until the shelter-in-place order is lifted. Customers who need to renew or replace their RTC card and must travel for essential needs may still ride transit without being cited.
  • For more information, call 311 or 511.

Ride Hailing (Taxis, etc.)

  • Taxis and other ride-hail services are operating with practices to minimize virus transmission. The SFMTA has provided taxi drivers with masks, disinfectant, and barriers to install in their vehicles.
  • Lyft and Uber have suspended shared rides.
  • SilverRide (415-861-7433) and Onward (510-771-7171) provide rides specifically to older adults, and no app is needed to use the service. Drivers can accompany riders. Expensive.

Driving

  • You are not required to wear a face covering when driving alone or with household members.
  • DMV Information:
    • All DMV offices are open, but the DMV is attending to backlog of appointments and not taking new appointments.
    • REAL ID deadline has been pushed to May 3, 2023. People are encouraged to delay applying. If you must apply, you can begin your application online, and then go in to the DMV office to complete it.
    • Driver License renewals: If your driver license expired since 3/1/20, you can renew online or via mail (if no changes)
    • ID renewals: You can renew online or via mail if you’re not changing the type of ID or any personal information on the card.
    • DMV is accepting same-day appointments for limited services, outlined on this page.
    • Always visit the DMV website for the latest information.

BART

  • BART returned to near-regular service on August 2, 2021. Hours: M-F: 5am-midnight; Sat: 6am-midnight; Sun: 8am-9pm
  • For more information, visit the BART website or call 511.

SFMTA Slow Streets Program

  • The SFMTA’s new Slow Streets program limits through-traffic on certain residential streets to allow them to be used more as a shared space for people walking and biking.
  • For more information, visit the Slow Streets webpage or call 311 (or 415-701-2311 outside of SF).

Shared Spaces Program

  • The Shared Spaces Program allows businesses to apply to use sidewalk or parking lane for seating, dining, pickup.
  • Businesses must maintain a 6-foot-wide path of travel on the sidewalk.
  • To give feedback on a Shared Space, call 311 or use the 311 app to submit a photo.

New! Essential Worker Ride Home Program

  • A new program of the SF Department of the Environment, the Essential Worker Ride Home Program will cover the cost of taxi rides home for essential employees in San Francisco, up to ten (10) rides per month, per person, and up to $70 per ride.
  • To be eligible for the free trip home, you must commute to work via a sustainable mode of transportation, such as taking public transit, walking, biking, or carpooling.

Golden Gate Transit

  • Will pick up/ drop off Muni passengers at local stops in SF.
  • Golden Gate Transit fares will apply, and Clipper customers will need to both tag on and tag off at the end of their trip.
  • Discounted fare for seniors / people with disabilities: $2.25 (not accepting Free Muni).
  • For more information, visit the Golden Gate Transit website or call 511.

Transportation Questions or Concerns?

  • Muni, driving, parking, walking, biking: Call 311 (or 415-701-2311 outside of SF)
  • Paratransit, Shop-a-Round, Essential Trip Card: Call 311 or 415-351-7000 (M-F, 9-4:45pm)
  • BART, Golden Gate Transit, other regional transportation questions: Call 511
  • Accessibility concerns about transportation options: Contact the Mayor’s Office on Disability at 415-554-6789 or email mod@sfgov.org.