San Francisco Muni

The San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni as it is commonly known, is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. It operates buses and a streetcar/subway system, the Muni Metro, in addition to the famous cable cars.

During the late 1990s the system suffered from poor management and aging equipment, but recovered somewhat in the early 2000s. The system also runs a limited number of zero emissions buses on some routes. Most buses are diesel powered, but a few are electric trolleybuses powered by overhead electrical wires.

Fares are currently $0.35 for under 18 years and $1.00 for over 18. Faced with budget constraints during 2003, however, fares were scheduled to increase. Proof of purchase is handled through a transfer slip, either a flimsy piece of paper (buses and streetcar) or print on thicker, card-board-like paper (subway stations and a few outdoor stops such as San Francisco State University), all of which are randomly checked by police officers. Frequent riders can get a Fast Pass for every month. Combination options for tourists and Bay Area Rapid Transit users are also available.

Route information is available from any bus stop, Metro station, or by asking the driver or station agent.

External Link

• SF Muni Web site (http://www.sfmuni.com/)