Living & Visiting San Francisco Without A Car: How To Get Around
How To Visit San Francisco Without A Vehicle, How To Get Around San Francisco Without Taxis, Ubers & Lyfts, Is San Francisco Doable Without A Car?
Getting Around SF Without A Vehicle
Whether visiting San Francisco for work or vacation or weighing options about getting/keeping a vehicle for a move, below are helpul tips, questions to ask yourself and what to consider when in San Francisco. The city is quite small relative to other more spreadout cities and larger populations but some areas are easier to navigate than others. Similarly, depending on things like available time, budget, commutes and neighborhoods, recommendations will vary.
Things To Do in San Francisco Without A Vehicle
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How To Visit San Francisco Without A Vehicle
If planning a trip to San Francisco, you may be wondering whether you need a vehicle in San Francisco. Some things to consider are:
how large your party is
what you plan to do, where you plan to go
how much time you have
time of year (major events, conferences)
type of vehicle you are considering
Parking in San Francisco is limited in many areas where people visit. It can get expensive depending on where you stay. Some garages don’t allow for in and out privilages, street parking signs can often be confusing (and corresponding tickets and tows expensive), and types of vehicles people bring or rent are often targeted for break-ins at alarming rates.
If you do decide to rent a car or bring your vehicle, avoid things like SUV’s, hatchbacks, out of state plates, leaving things in car (anywhere or anytime, even for a few seconds or in the trunk), parking in touristy areas or next to others who don’t follow these guidelines. Break-ins have come down quite a bit but are not zero and can cause headaches if you leave valuables in our vehicle, lose passports or have to spend precious time filing reports, getting a replacement, fixing windows etc.
Most of the city is quite accessible through MUNI/bus and most of your adventures are during the morning til evenings, it makes sense to take the bus. That said, it’s helpful to coordinate plans and visiting adjacent neighborhoods (vs crossing back and forth), starting early (to minimize crowds), and prioritizing weekdays as much as possible for activities.
Places To Stay In San Francisco Without A Car
Some people opt for Union Square to be in the middle of things and access the most attractions easily. Others prefer nearby Nob Hill to be nearby but with less noise and crowds but have to deal with more hills.
Some folks love the idea of the Presidio as they can be in nature and use the PresidioGo shuttle to get downtown, be near the water and places like Marin. Those with families tend to opt for Fisherman’s Wharf area for amenities, attractions and family activities as it is super walkable, near attractions like Pier 39, Fort Mason, Chrissy Field, Embarcadero and more.
Solo travelers like hostels as they can reduce costs and spend more on other activities, dining and daytrips.
Living In San Francisco Without A Car
San Francisco can be very manageable without a car if you don’t have to zig-zag across the city at random times, have a set schedule or don’t need your vehicle that often. Most folks in the city don’t leave the city limits (or their neighborhoods that often), and if they do, they usaully stick with renting a car or end up making friends with someone who becomes the designated driver in the group.
Schedules and jobs can change so even if you plan well, things can easily change, requiring you to ditch your car or get a car as commutes can fluctuate. The other thing to consider is your living situation. Things happen: break-ups, psycho rommates, greedy landlords evicting tenants, new developments making life a pain and aging out of certain neighborhoods.
Where you live will dictate where you spend your time, who you see, where you go and more and cannot be understated. Similarly, neighborhoods can vary block to block in terms of available parking, designated parking permits, street sweeping schedules and even break-in frequencies. People often overestimate how often they go on weekend trips and even then, figuring out how and where to store vehicles when out of town can be a pain.
There is a lot to do all over San Francisco without a car, but the options will depend based on interests and lifestyles. Some people prefer to live near major parks or near water. Others want to prioritize shops, restaurants and nightlife. Others want to be near the middle of the city without being in the thick of things in terms of noise and crowds. These wishes are definitely possible, but ultimately, who you spend time with, what your hobbies and interests are will provide some guidance on where you go.
How To Get Around San Francisco Without A Car
Getting around San Francisco can vary depending on where you live, where you work, the amount of traveling you do, and your schedule. There are a number of great services to get around the city, like the Presidio Go Shuttle as well as express bus lines to get to/from locations.
There is also lot of change happening across the city and more housing is expected to make parking more competitive in addition to improved safety and visibility measures that will reduce parking spaces around corners of streets by 5-10 feet or more.
San Francisco is a super walkable city, if you plan accordingly, and it’s a great way to stay in shape. The biggest deterrences for going out in San Francisco are usually cost, distance, access to public transportation, hills, fog, wind and cold.
Mapping out routes, places of interests and neighborhoods you plan to frequent will help make the decisions on where to live, work and whether you need a vehicle. This can be a lot of work but individual experiences will vary and one can’t rely on generic, broad advice as circumstances change, needs vary and schedules become unpredictable.
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