With notoriously bad traffic and next-to-impossible parking, it’s best to avoid driving until it’s time to leave San Francisco. Fortunately, there are plenty of other ways to get around.
Most locals walk, bike, ride Muni (a network of buses and streetcars) or ride-share instead of taking a car or cab — unsurprising when faced with hills so steep, a ski jumper might reconsider shooting down one. The city also has a network of cable cars that are frequent, slow and scenic; riding one is a must for first-time visitors.
Here’s how to navigate San Francisco.
Walking
Regularly ranked as one of the most walkable cities in the US, most major sights in San Francisco are reachable on foot and walking is often the best way to explore a neighborhood.
Once a month, a section of San Francisco is closed off to cars as part of Sunday Streets, a program which gives the space to pedestrians and cyclists instead. Expect ad hoc music, wellness activities and streets given over for children to play.
The Sunday Streets team also organize Walkway Weekends in Chinatown where Grant Avenue, between California to Washington Streets, goes car-free between 11am-5pm every weekend.
Walking trails
Their epic, eponymous 17-mile trail from Candlestick Point to Lands End is divided into five sections, which can be tackled separately and give a great overview of the city.
![Cyclists on the Golden Gate Bridge An adult and a child cycle along the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.](https://traveltrade.xyz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/shutterstockRF_1470753383.jpg)
Bike
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has eyes on the city becoming the most bike-friendly in the US, and while many locals have already jumped on the saddle (some 82,000 trips are completed each day), there’s still plenty of work to do before the city is safe for all riders.
Still, San Francisco has an extensive bike network and most sights are reachable on two wheels. The network covers 448 miles, but only 19…