[Published: November 20, 2024]

Earlier this month our Stanford Transportation team headed up to San Francisco where our goal was to use as many sustainable transit modes as we could to get around. We even popped over to Oakland.


If you use our itinerary, we'd love to hear about your adventures so drop us a line at commuteclub@stanford.edu.

 

Caltrain to BART to the Mission

muni 67 bus
The 67 Bernal Heights bus feels like a roller coaster. Kids on the bus shout, ‘Woooo!’” And so did we.
  • Morning start: Using their free Stanford-issued Caltrain GoPasses (and pre-tax commuter transit benefits), three of our teammates hopped on Caltrain close to their homes, switching to BART at Millbrae. Others took Muni or walked to the meeting spot: the Mission and 24th Street bus shelter. Of course we made an emergency stop for pastries and coffee at Arizmendi, kicking off the day with a much-needed caffeine boost.

 

Muni's 67 Bus – The Steepest Route in SF

  • A Steep Journey: The 67 bus, conquering San Francisco’s steepest grade (23.1 degrees), took us up a thrilling climb along Alabama Street. After the ride, we chatted with Randi, our bus driver, who has been driving for Muni for the past decade. She shared her favorite route — the 48 Quintara/24th St., which ends at Ocean Beach, where fresh air meets stellar views.
TDM Team with Randy
Our team fans out over Muni bus driver Randi Scott, who dominates the 67 Bernal Heights 25-minute loop.

 

Mini Mission Walking Tour

  • Local Guides: Mission District locals Anna and Erin led the way to these unique stops:
    • Juri Commons: A peaceful, green space tucked-away and ideal for a hiatus from the bustling city.
    • Balmy Alley Murals: Balmy Alley is a must-see, lined with vibrant murals reflecting themes of social justice and community stories. While taking in the art, we ran into a school group on a tour.

 

Biking to the Ferry Building

Renting Bay Wheels bikes is easy. Just download the app to find the nearest docking location. Don’t forget to BYOH. (Bring your own helmet.
Renting Bay Wheels bikes is easy. Just download the app to find the nearest docking location. Don’t forget to BYOH. (Bring your own helmet.)
  • Gear Check: We set out on Bay Wheels Bikes to the Ferry Building, opting for pedal bikes since e-bikes were in high demand. A more affordable option, pedal bikes offer a 30-minute ride for $3.99.
  • We opted for the scenic route, riding along 17th Street, which just benefited from a bicycle infrastructure quick build, and along a gorgeous portion of the Bay Trail. We made sure to stop to ooh and ahh at…
    • Chase Center, including the excellent bike valet service for event-goers.
    • Bayfront Park, a new 5.5-acre park along the easternmost edge of Mission Bay in San Francisco with beautiful views and a dock filled with colorful parade floats.
    • China Basin Park, a sandy, chair-studded mini-beach, the perfect spot to read a book.
    • Oracle Park: Home of the Giants and another bike valet for convenient game-day access.

 

Lunch at the Ferry Building

Riding along Bayfront Park is spectacular and safe.
 Riding along Bayfront Park is spectacular and safe.
  • Lunch at Lunette: After docking our bikes, we grabbed lunch at the recently-opened Lunette and enjoyed our Cambodian food at outdoor tables, with ferries gliding in the background.

 

A visit to the SF Railway Museum

  • Transit Time Capsule: After lunch, we headed to SF Railway Museum, a small yet insightful space dedicated to San Francisco’s streetcars – on top of that, it’s free. Visitors can learn about the history of SF’s streetcars. We also learned how to pilot a streetcar, since the museum contains a portion of a replica. Then we loaded up on transit swag, including historic bus magnets because we’re transit nerds.

 

SF Bay Ferry Ride
Refreshments on the Delphinus Ferry.

Ferry to Jack London Square

  • On the Bay: From the museum, we walked to Gate G to catch the SF Bay Ferry, where we rode on Delphinus, one of the fleet's newer ferries and took in breathtaking views on the 25-minute $4.70 ferry ride to Jack London Square. Did you know there are two major ferry operators in the Bay Area? The other is the Golden Gate Ferry. We of course had to stop by the East Bay Bike Coalition and Jack London’s Cabin, an original cabin from the Yukon, relocated to honor the writer’s Oakland roots. And we couldn’t resist checking out Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon, built from a whaling ship and famous for its tilted floor which was caused by the 1906 earthquake.

 

San Francisco Transit Mural
Vibrant mural in the Mission district.

Heading Back

  • Diverse Routes Home: The team caught the ferry back to SF, and then parted ways, each opting for different forms of transportation including BART, Muni, biking and Caltrain.
     

Our transit-themed day was full of camaraderie, exploration, and scenic moments — a perfect way for the team to celebrate their shared love for sustainable transportation and city adventures. We hope you’ll give it a try soon.