The information below applies to San Francisco. Last updated on 6/1/20.
With things changing every day, it can be hard to keep up with your options for getting around San Francisco. And some of us do need to travel during this time. To help, 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: to get food/medicine, to get medical care, to go to an essential job, to provide care, to engage in permitted outdoor activities, or to go to an outdoor business or pick up goods curbside.
Staying Safe While Traveling
- You must now wear a face covering whenever you are outside and within 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.
Walking
- You should always have a face covering with you, because you must wear one whenever you are outside and within 30 feet of someone not from your household.
- Walk alone or with members of your household.
- Ways to keep walking fun:
- Five Ideas for Solo Walks in Your Neighborhood from Walk San Francisco.
- Use this Bear Map to find all the bears and rainbows in your neighbors’ windows!
San Francisco Muni
- The following are the only routes in service, running from 5am to 10pm daily with some modifications: L Taraval Bus, M Ocean View Bus (shortened), N Judah Bus, T Third Bus, 1 California, 5 Fulton, 8 Bayshore (modified route), 9 San Bruno, 9R San Bruno Rapid, 12 Folsom (shortened), 14 Mission, 14R Mission Rapid, 19 Polk, 22 Fillmore, 24 Divisadero, 25 Treasure Island, 28 19th Avenue (shortened), 29 Sunset, 38 Geary, 38R Geary Rapid, 44 O’Shaughnessy (shortened), 49 Van Ness/Mission (longer route), 54 Felton (shortened), 714 BART Early Bird Shuttle. Since the SFMTA is shortening routes and relocating some stops, make sure to check the SFMTA website or call 311 for details before you ride.
- Muni Metro trains are not running and stations are closed.
- Passengers are required to board through the back door, except for those with accessibility needs.
- Night Owl Service is beginning at 10:00 pm (instead of 1:00 am). Lines 5 and 48 are not in service.
- 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).
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 more details.
- For more information, call 311 or 415-351-7000 (the Paratransit office).
New! SFMTA Essential Trip Card (ETC)
- 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).
- To apply, call 311 and mention the “Essential Trip Card.”
- For more information, visit the ETC webpage or call 311 (or 415-701-2311 outside of SF).
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.
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.
New! 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).
BART
- Monday-Friday: Service from 5am to 9pm with trains running every 30 minutes; Red and green line direct service to/from SF ends earlier in the evening.
- 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.
- For more information, visit the BART website or call 511.
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.
Driving
- You are not required to wear a face covering when driving alone or with household members.
- The SFMTA is suspending parking enforcement for: street cleaning, 72-hour limit, time limit parking, and peak hour tow-away zones. Colored curb zones, bike/transit lanes, fire hydrants, etc. are still enforced. Check the SFMTA website for details.
- Resources for staying safe:
Taxis, Lyft & Uber
- Taxis and other ride-hail services are operating with practices to minimize virus transmission.
- Lyft and Uber have suspended ride sharing options.
- Avoid handling cash by using Flywheel (for taxis), Lyft, and Uber apps.
- 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.
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
- 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.