Getting from Point A to Point B on the Bay

[Mike C]

Getting there in the San Francisco area isn't at all a challenge, if you know where you're going and know how to get there. Here are a few ways and examples on how residents of the bay area get from place to place:

The MUNI Bus, Cable-car and metro system is downtown SF's main transit provider:
Transit Bus


Metro (Underground)


Metro (Street car)


Cable Car


For more visual examples of mass-transit in the bay-vicinity, visit Transit on the Bay

[Mike C]

Also, a few sites for the transit-enthusiasts:

www.bart.gov

transit.511.org/

www.sfmta.com/cms/mhome/home50.htm

[Retrovision]

Yes, San Francisco is quite a transit lover's dream; thanks for reminding us of their fine example of how to do transit right, Michael.

It's interesting to note a striking comparison between their BART (longer distance than those metro cars shown) - Bay Area Rapid Transit - rapid transit system and our similar SkyTrain in that they utilize proprietary technology. This is probably the number one reason why Vancouver has veered away from continuing to use the same technology for new lines starting with the Canada Line to Richmond, under construction now, as going with a proprietary single technology for the entire line represents a significant cost increase.

The Bay Area (San Francisco) is a great example in the world of why not to go with a single non-interchangeable proprietary technology...

This from Wikipedia.org
( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit )

BART comprises 104 miles (167 km) of track and 43 stations. The system uses a 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad rail gauge, as opposed to the 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) standard gauge predominantly found in the United States. The broad gauge was selected to provide greater stability in part due to the planned Golden Gate Bridge route and to provide wider seats, aisles , and a smoother ride for the lightweight aluminum and fiberglass cars. Others allege political, regulatory and economic considerations. Some critics point out that the broad gauge has very little technical merit, but does act as a very effective barrier to use for any other rail system, freight or passenger. However, dual gauge axles would allow both passenger trains and freight trains built to the BART loading gauge to run on both track gauges.

Most heavy and light rail systems in North America operate with lightweight cars on standard gauge track (some exceptions: Philadelphia Market–Frankford Line & Toronto subway and RT). The non-standard gauge makes new fleet procurement extremely expensive because the trains (and even the track-building equipment) must be custom-built instead of using common designs for standard gauge; for example, it is 40 percent less expensive to procure a TGV trainset (which includes additional amenities such as restrooms and a cafe) than it is to procure a proprietary BART trainset of the same capacity.

You be the judge ;D

[Mike C]

That's true, Graham. There are many forms of rapid transit in the bay area - including CalTrain, the San-Franciscan counterpart of our West Coast Express; the BART; San Mateo county's SamTrans; Golden Gate Transit, an much more.