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

Navigating San Francisco’s Transportation System During COVID-19

by

The information below applies to San Francisco. Last updated on 8/25/20. 

We’ve gathered the latest transportation updates and resources, and we put them all in one place for you. Remember to only travel for essential / sanctioned trips.

Staying Safe While Travelingelectric bus icon

  • You must now wear a face covering whenever you are outside and within 6-30 feet of someone not in your household.  You must always wear a face covering when riding public transit, paratransit, or are in a taxi or other ride-hailing vehicle (e.g., Uber, Lyft.).
  • Wash your hands before and after traveling.
  • Be sure to keep a distance of at least 6 feet from others.

San Francisco Muni

  • IMPORTANT:
    • Beginning Tuesday, August 25, Muni Metro (which just resumed on August 22) will shut down again for approximately eight weeks. Metro buses will serve these routes:
      • J Church Bus will operate between Balboa Park and Church and Market streets approximately every 10-12 minutes
      • K Ingleside Bus will operate between Balboa Park and Embarcadero approximately every 12-15 minutes
      • L Taraval Bus will operate between the SF Zoo and Embarcadero approximately every 12-15 minutes
      • N Judah Bus will operate between Ocean Beach and 4th and King streets approximately every 10 minutes
      • TM Third-Ocean View Bus will stay combined and operate between Sunnydale and Balboa Park approximately every 12 minutes
    • Bus service increases that began on August 22 remain in effect:
      • The following lines returned: 37 Corbett (modified route), 45 Union/Stockton, 48 Quintara (modified route), and 67 Bernal Hts.
      • The 7, 44, and 54 are back to their full routes.
      • The 12 Pacific has been extended to Market.
      • The 30 Stockton now goes to the Presidio.
  • Reflecting the above changes, the following bus lines are in service, running from 5am to 10pm daily with some modifications: 1 California, 5 Fulton, 7 Noriega, 8 Bayshore (modified route), 9 San Bruno, 9R San Bruno Rapid (no weekend), 12 Folsom (to Market), 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid, 19 Polk, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 25 Treasure Island, 28 19th Avenue (shortened), 29 Sunset, 30 Stockton (to Presidio), 37 Corbett (modified), 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid, 43 Masonic (shortened), 44 O’Shaughnessy, 45 Union/Stockton, 48 Quintara/24th St (modified), 49 Van Ness/Mission, 54 Felton, 67 Bernal Heights, 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.
  • Muni Metro trains, street cars, and cable cars are not running. Metro stations are closed.
  • Passengers are required to board through the back door, except for those with accessibility needs.
  • For more information, visit the SFMTA COVID-19 webpage or call 311 (or 415-701-2311 outside of SF).

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.

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.

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.

Walking

  • You should always have a face covering with you, because you must wear one whenever you are outside and within 6-30 feet of someone not from your household.
  • As of June 15, small outdoor gatherings of up to 12 people are now allowed, so you can go on a walk with 11 other people! Just wear a mask and keep 6 feet part.
  • Ways to keep walking fun:

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.
  • Lyft is partnering with nonprofits to offer free rides to seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income community members. Nonprofits can apply here via the LyftUp COVID-19 Community Grants program.
  • 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

BART

  • Monday-Friday: Service from 5am to 9pm. Most trains run every 30 minutes. SFO/Antioch line trains run every 15 minutes during peak times.
  • Saturday & Sunday: Service from 8am-9pm with regular train schedules.
  • Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center: Station entrances on north side of Market Street are closed.
  • See BART’s Crowding Charts to learn when trains are most full (or empty!).
  • For more information, visit the BART website or call 511.

SFMTA Slow Streets Program

  • The SFMTA’s new Slow Streets program will limit 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.

Request a Temporary Loading Zone: Essential Businesses

The SFMTA is fast-tracking converting some street parking into temporary loading zones to address the increase in take-out/delivery service at many restaurants and essential businesses. Essential businesses can fill out this application to request a temporary loading zone.

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.