Helpful tips for your travel to San Francisco and for your urban trek.

Shortcuts: For Tavel to SF, For Urban Trek, Other Tips

Helpful tips for your travel to San Francisco:
Shortcuts: Public Transportation, Food, Places to avoid, Self-guided urban treks

In case your trip to San Francisco will be your first, I am providing you with some helpful tips to assist you and make your visit a very pleasant one.

Public Transportation:

The cheapest way to get from San Francisco International Airport to downtown San Francisco is taking BART. Here is a link to BART's website for more information about BART stations, fare calculator, and more: http://www.bart.gov/index.aspx

When you get to the city, San Francisco has a pretty good public transportation system. The fare is $2.00 for everything except for the cable cars. The fare for the cable cars is $5.00. The buses, trolleys, and metro trains provide transfers that are good for at least 90 minutes. The transfers can be used for any direction and for any bus, trolley, and metro train but not for cable cars. Riders should obtain a transfer upon boarding the bus or trolley after paying the fare. Transfers automatically print at the fare gates at the metro stations after paying the fare.

If you intend to take the cable cars and other public transportation often, it might save you money if you purchase a "passport." There are three different passports: 1-day, 3-day, and 7day. Passports can be purchased at the Visitors Information Center before the urban trek and at other locations (refer to link below).

Here's a link to basic fare information: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/basic.htm

Here's a link to passport information: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

Here's a link to the metro map: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/metromaps.htm

Here's a link to public transportation and road maps: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/official.htm

You can purchase a full road and public transportation map of San Francisco for $3.00 (at this time). Printing the system map online might come out too small to read.

If you have a Blackberry, iPhone, or other types of device that have internet access, you can get Muni (San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency) schedule information via this website: http://www.nextmuni.com/

You can also get public transportation departure information, among other things, by calling 511 (when you are in San Francisco). Simply follow the voice activated instructions to get the information you need.

Food:

1. Here's a link to "Bargain Bites" which will list places to eat that are relatively inexpensive: San Francisco Chronicle's Bargain Bites 2009 List

2. Authentic Chinese food is one of San Francisco's attractions. One must try dim sum when visiting San Francisco. Here's a link to a San Francisco Chronicle article, which will give you almost everything you want to know about dim sum and the best places to have dim sum: "Good things in small packages"

Places to avoid:

Like all urban cities, San Francisco has certain areas that people who are not used to dealing with the ills of city living should avoid. The "tenderloin" area bounded by Market, Leavenworth, Ellis, and Taylor Streets is one area. Another is part of south of Market (SOMA) bounded by Market, Sixth, Howard, and Seventh Streets.

If you are aware of your surroundings and do not act like a target you will be safe for the most part. Here are some things to keep in mind:
1. Do not have a map visible or read a map. It is best to write down directions on a piece of paper instead of reading a map in those areas.
2. Do not have your camera showing in those areas.
3. If you have an expensive mobile/cell phone, it is best not to use it in those areas.
4. Do not show your wallet or money in those areas.

Please note that the warnings apply only when you are in the areas noted above. Most other places tourist visit in San Francisco are very safe.

Self-guided - On Your Own Urban Trek 5:

Urban Trek USA had added "On Your Own Urban Trek," which is a self-guided urban trek you can do on your own using the instructions that you can download:
Click on this link to On Your Own Web Page: On Your Own Urban Trek
Click on this link to On Your Own Urban Trek 5 page: On Your Own Urban Trek 5

If you and your companions are into hiking, you might enjoy the On Your Own Urban Trek and do it at your own pace.

Helpful tips for Urban Treks:

The Urban Trek for San Francisco is done in a way to make it as easy as possible for anyone to complete the Urban Trek. Most walks are done at a normal pace for approximately 15 minutes before a rest period. Uphill walks are made as infrequent as possible. However, most parks like Alamo Square are atop a small hill to get the benefit of the best views of the City. Lunch break is about an hour to give the group time to enjoy a relaxing meal and some time to window shop. Most stops have public rest rooms available.

What to bring for the Urban Trek:

Exact change for the MUNI fare. The MUNI fare is $2.00. Dollar bills are not accepted at the MUNI Metro fare gate but change machines are available.
Money for snacks and/or a meal.
Your mobile/cell phone, if you have one.
Snack or fruit in case you get hungry before lunch.
Sunscreen and a small bottle of water.

What to wear for the Urban Trek:

Comfortable and sensible walking shoes because there will be a lot of walking.
Dress in layers. San Francisco weather can vary greatly from morning to afternoon and from neighborhood to neighborhood. You can remove or add a layer as needed.

Other helpful tips:

Have a good breakfast before the Urban Trek
Anything you carry should not be too heavy that it will become a burden over the duration of the Urban Trek.

Physical Requirements:

To be able to complete the Urban Trek for San Francisco, you must be in good enough physical condition to do all of the following without assistance:

Walk at a normal pace (approximately 106 steps per minute) for at least 20 minutes before resting.
Walk uphill (10-18% grade) for at least 1 City block.
Must be at least 18 years old. Minors should be accompanied by an adult.