San Francisco, Take Transit

Let’s all get to Net Zero.

SAN FRANCISCO | NET ZERO | TRANSPORTATION GOALS

  • By 2030, increase low-carbon trips to at least 80% of all trips and increase electric vehicles (EVs) to at least 25% of all vehicles registered.
  • By 2040, increase EVs to 100% of all vehicles registered.

At nearly 50% of total city emissions, the transportation system must be transformed to reduce overall reliance on cars and equitably and efficiently connect people to where they want to go by transit, walking and biking. All remaining vehicles must steadily transition to zero emissions.

Read San Francisco’s Net Zero Climate Action Plan with more on transportation goals starting page 72.

You can’t understand a city without using its public transportation system.

Erol ozan
Writer, scientist, thinker, futurist

San Francisco public transit tools & tips:

Within San Francisco

  • SFMTA: MUNI – San Francisco’s network of fuel-efficient Muni buses, light rail Metro trains, historic streetcars and iconic cable cars covers all corners of the city. Check out the SF Muni Trip Planner which leverages Google Transit providing real time information.
  • SFMTA: Cable Cars – No experience is more uniquely San Francisco than a ride on a cable car. Check out the underground cables and where they’re maintained at the Cable Car Museum. You can even charter your own historic MUNI or cable car for a transit-centric celebration.
  • San Francisco Railway Museum – San Francisco is one of the few places in the world where you can get the actual experience of riding vintage rail transit in its “natural habitat”. And the San Francisco Railway Museum is a nonprofit that’s instrumental in preserving SF’s historic streetcars and cable cars for all to enjoy. Big shout out to all their members for supporting this great cause.
  • Bikeshare – Bikeshare is great for stand-alone trips and is often the quickest, most affordable way to get around. It’s also ideal as a first- and last-mile option for longer trips by transit.

Beyond San Francisco, throughout the Bay Area

  • BART – Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connects the San Francisco Peninsula with communities in the East Bay and South Bay, including the San Francisco International Airport and Oakland Airport.
  • Caltrain – Caltrain is a commuter rail line that runs between San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose, and down to Gilroy. Caltrain connects with other transit services like BART, Muni, SamTrans, and VTA, as well as connections to San Francisco International Airport and San Jose’s Mineta International Airport.
  • SMART – Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is the North Bay’s passenger rail service. SMART extends 45-miles across Sonoma County with plans to grow to 70 miles of passenger rail service. SMART’s system also includes a bicycle and pedestrian pathway along the rail corridor. 
  • AC Transit – Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) serves the western portions of Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
  • Golden Gate Transit – Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry (together the Golden Gate Bridge Transportation District) operates busses and ferries connecting the counties of Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, and Contra Costa. 
  • SamTrans – San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) provides bus service throughout San Mateo County and into portions of San Francisco and Palo Alto.
  • VTA – Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) provides bus, light rail, and paratransit services throughout Santa Clara County.

Thank you for helping to make the world more sustainable by going low-carbon!