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Babel's Bus System

2007-03-08 17:26:41.202601+00 by ebradway 7 comments

I'm trying to figure out the best hotel to stay at during the 2007 AAG National Meeting. The conference is at the Hilton San Francisco on O'Farrell a couple blocks from Union Square. There appears to be a plethora of little hotels around the area at under $100 but I wanted to find something with two beds for under $100. I came across The San Francisco Town House which even has free parking - but it's two miles away. So I've figured I'd check out the public transportation system...

I started on the BART page - which was helpful because I now know there is a BART station a few blocks from the conference but it doesn't go anywhere near "SF Town House" (which is near Fort Mason and the Presidio). So I tried to find out about busses and ended up on 511.org. There appears to be about three dozen different bus systems in the Bay Area - all with their own rate structure. When I looked at a map of the two miles between "The Town House" and the Hilton, it map view showed about 40 different bus routes and no way to click on the one I wanted. Entering the addresses into the "trip planner" helped. What a nightmare!

[ related topics: Bay Area California Culture Travel Trains Maps and Mapping Conferences Public Transportation Real Estate Furniture ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-08 19:44:34.422205+00 by: Dan Lyke

So the bus system you want is Muni, and I think the route you want is the #30 (with a bit of walking).

It'd be great if you could grab one of the Golden Gate Transit buses, 'cause they come straight down Lombard to the financial district, but they don't pick up southbound or drop off northbound inside the city.

Use the "trip planner" on 511.org, it's actually pretty good. I don't know if any place up in Marin would be cheaper, and the bus or ferry would be a little more, but I think the logistics would be easier.

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-08 19:52:05.184136+00 by: Dan Lyke

Oh, and I should add a quick rundown on the transit systems you might encounter:

So you can pretty much "X" those off your map. The two you care about:

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-08 23:55:11.432126+00 by: ebradway

The cable cars are $5 each way... But I can get a 7-day "passport" for $24 that gets me anywhere I want to go on Muni. And I'll probably use BART to get from SFO to Powell Station (closest to the conference). Thank's for the input. Why can't they provide something similiar on the 511.org page?

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-09 12:16:39.008025+00 by: jeff

Dan--what about places to stay in Marin? Say from San Rafael in towards the city? Diane and I are looking for lodging in or near the city for April (3, 4).

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-09 14:55:30.274361+00 by: Dan Lyke

The only place I've ever stayed in Marin is the Larkspur Marriott Courtyard, but I think that was over a hundred a night in '95. It is handy to the Larkspur Ferry, though.

There are several motels along the 101 corridor and down in Sausalito (which would also be ferry accessible), but there are also probably B&Bs or similar at varying costs all through there. I know there's a small little hotel in Fairfax that looks charming and cool, but with the bus service cutbacks that means you're on the commuter buses to and from the city (rather than the #19 to and from the ferry). If you want me to gie you some listings from the yellow pages, holler.

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-13 10:51:45.103022+00 by: DaveP

Try the Powell Hotel. It's old and sans A/C, but charming and with a great staff. Under $100 per night, and right at the cable-car turnaround and BART station. Walking distance from the Hilton.

#Comment Re: made: 2007-03-13 11:47:49.758549+00 by: jeff

Wow--the Powell Hotel sounds like a great deal for the price. And what a location, too. Thanks, Dave!

Jeff