How To Ride San Francisco MUNI
Cheapest methods, local tips, how to avoid delays, confusion. MUNI discounts, free bus rides and more San Francisco. How to pay for bus in San Francisco.
Last updated September 8, 2025
I made this guide to make it easier for folks to ride MUNI more efficiently and effectively. There is a lot of info scattered online and even then some of if is not easily available on official pages so I put this one-pager together for folks new to the city, new to taking the bus and more.
As with all my guides, I will post updates, add more details based on interest, feedback and more.
Related Reads on Eddie’s List
SF Etiquette Guide: Neighbors, Customers, Bus, Dog-Owners, Bicyclists, Walkers
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SFMTA MUNI Fares, Costs
How to pay for the bus in San Francisco
Muni App - $2.85
Clipper Card - $2.85
Metro Ticket Machine - $3.00
Cash - $3.00
San Francisco Muni Discounts, Free Rides
One and done: tag your Clipper card once after 8:30PM to ride until 5AM next day.
Free rides for ticket holders of Chase events.
How To Catch The Bus San Francisco
Be alert, be at the bus stop; I usually do a small wave and make eye contact with the driver
If running to bus, tap the circular buttons near the doors. Tapping on the door does nothing, especially if no one is near the exits.
Pay immediately as ticket fare inspectors may check immediately. Not checking your account balance, not having phone work etc is not a good excuse in their eyes (always have a backup)
Move to the middle of the bus, give up seats to elderly, pregnant, and mobility impaired.
How To Exit MUNI Bus San Francisco
Be ready to exit bus before it stops (move toward exit before if possible as it can be crowded at exits, people boarding bus).
Tap the red button on poles, pull the yellow cord along windows or tap strips along the doors.
How To Transfer On San Francisco Buses
Tap clipper card on transfers (except after 8:30PM; see not above on one & done)
How To Ride The Cable Car In San Francisco
Same payment options as above but there is a higher cost.
You can buy a pass just for the cable car or buy a pass that includes car
Single ticket to ride the historic cable car (no transfers) $9
Unlimited rides on Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars, and cable cars
via MuniMobile/Paper Passport/Clipper - $15.00
SF MUNI Bus Interruptions
Truncated Lines SFMTA
Some lines don’t go all the way to the end of the route. Look at the front of the bus to see last stop. Simiarly, take off your headphones for timely announcements from your bus driver.
MUNI Re-Routes
During major events like street fairs, festivals, block parties, races etc. MUNI may re-route stops. Check the alerts page for updates for accidents, weather related issues and such and travel updates for planned outages.
Missed Stop MUNI Bus Line
SF Muni Bus Drivers may skip stops on occasion. These are usually when:
buses are crowded/at capacity (rush hour, special events, rain etc)
no one signals the bus from the inside to stop (more likely to happen if no one appears at/near the bus stop as well).
Always go to the source. Look up your exact line and see where the bus is on the map. Sometimes 3rd party apps, maps can be off with timing.
MUNI Bus Stops, Signals
If you look at the boards at some stops, there is usually a figure with 1, 2 or 3 stick figures. This corresponds to how crowded bus stops are.
San Francisco MUNI Hacks
Get on earlier stops to avoid catching a bus when it is too crowded to stop or too busy for comfort to board. Know which areas are likely to de-board a lot of folks i.e. major intersections, transfers to BART, Caltrain, downtown stops, events etc.
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