Riding Muni Buses In San Francisco: A Beginner's Guide

San Francisco's Muni bus, rail, and cable car system is an easy and popular way to get around the city. With over 725,000 daily boardings, Muni is an affordable and convenient way to navigate San Francisco. To ride Muni, you can purchase a Clipper Card, use the MuniMobile app, or pay with cash. The Clipper Card is a reloadable card that can be used on all Bay Area transit systems, including Muni, and can be added to your phone or watch for easy access. The MuniMobile app offers discounted single-ride fares and day passes. When boarding, always wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop, and remember to pull the cable cord or push the button when nearing your stop. Proof of payment is required for all riders, so be sure to keep it handy to avoid any fines.

Planning your trip

Riding Muni is easy, but you can make your trip even easier by planning ahead. First, you'll need to decide how to pay for your fare. There are several options:

• Clipper Card: This card can be used on all Bay Area transit systems, including Muni. You can buy a physical card or keep it on your phone. To pay, simply tag your Clipper card or Clipper mobile on the ticket readers inside Muni buses and at Muni Metro fare gates. You can add money to your card at Muni/BART stations.
• MuniMobile: Download the app and purchase your Muni fares instantly from your phone. You can also activate your ticket in the app when you board a Muni bus or enter the subway.
• Cash: You can pay with cash on surface transportation only (not Muni Metro). Exact change is required.

If you're planning to use Muni regularly, you might want to consider a monthly pass. These passes offer unlimited access to all Muni vehicles for a calendar month. There are also discounted options for seniors (65+) and people with disabilities.

If you're only going to use Muni occasionally, the MuniMobile app offers discounted single-ride fares and a $5 day pass. This might be a better option than a monthly pass if you're not sure how often you'll be riding.

It's also worth noting that youth aged 18 and under can ride free on all regular Muni services (cable cars are excluded).

Payment options

There are several payment options for riding the Muni bus in San Francisco. These include:

• Clipper Card: The Clipper Card is a reloadable card that can be used on all Bay Area transit systems, including Muni. You can load money onto your Clipper Card and use it to pay for single rides on Muni buses and trains. When boarding, simply tag your Clipper Card on the ticket reader inside the bus or at the Muni Metro fare gates. Clipper Cards offer a $0.50 discount per ride compared to paying with cash. Clipper Cards can be purchased at stores like Walgreens.
• MuniMobile App: The MuniMobile app allows you to purchase Muni fares instantly from your phone. You can buy tickets in advance or on the go, and activate them when you board the bus or enter the subway. The app supports various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. It also offers discounted tickets compared to cash prices.
• Cash: You can pay with cash on surface transportation, including buses, but not on the Muni Metro. Exact change is required, and change is not provided on buses or trains. Cash can also be loaded onto a Clipper Card to avoid the hassle of carrying coins.
• Passes: There are various pass options available for frequent riders, such as monthly, weekly, and day passes (called Passports). These passes offer unlimited rides and can be purchased through the MuniMobile app or at www.sfmuni.com. Additionally, there are discounted passes for seniors, youth, and individuals under a certain income bracket (Lifeline Passes).
• Transfers: If you are transferring from a connecting agency, such as BART or a Muni train, you can show your transfer stub to the driver as proof of payment.
• Visitor Passes: For visitors, there are 1-day, 3-day, and 7-day Visitor Passes available that offer unlimited rides on Muni buses, trains, and historic streetcars. These can be purchased through the MuniMobile app, Clipper Card, or as a paper Passport.

Boarding the bus

When you see the bus approaching, make sure you are standing at the correct bus stop. Muni buses stop at small bus shelters, yellow paint on street poles, and white paint on streets. Once the bus arrives, wait until it comes to a complete stop and let any passengers exit before you board.

If you are using a Clipper Card, remember to hold your card over the scanner to pay your fare. Listen for the beep to ensure your card has been scanned correctly and that you have an adequate balance for your trip. You can purchase or top up your Clipper Card at multiple locations and Muni/BART stations. You can also use your phone to pay with the Clipper app, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

If you are paying with cash, remember to have the exact change ready as the bus driver cannot provide change. You can only pay with cash on surface transportation and not on the Muni Metro.

If you are using the MuniMobile app, remember to purchase your fare in advance and activate your ticket in the app when you board the bus.

If you are travelling with a stroller, you are required to fold it before boarding and stand with it behind the white line.

Once you are on board, move towards the rear of the bus to make room for other passengers. If you are standing, hold on to the handrails provided.

Signalling to get off

It is important to signal in advance so that the driver has sufficient time to stop the bus at the designated bus stop. Failing to signal in time may result in the driver missing your intended stop, causing inconvenience and delay for you and possibly other passengers. Therefore, it is always a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings and the approaching stops so that you can signal in a timely manner.

Additionally, when the Muni bus arrives at your desired stop, wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop before proceeding to disembark. Allow other passengers who are exiting to get off first, and then you can board the bus. This ensures a smooth and orderly process for everyone getting on and off the bus.

Remember to be considerate of other passengers and give them enough time to exit before you start getting off the bus. This is especially important if you are sitting close to the door or blocking the aisle, as you don't want to create any obstacles or delays for those trying to exit.

By following these simple steps and signalling your intention to get off, you can ensure a smooth and efficient journey when riding the Muni bus in San Francisco.

Discounts and passes

There are several passes and discounts available for riding Muni buses in San Francisco.

Clipper Card

Clipper Cards can be used on all Bay Area transit systems, including Muni. You can either use a physical Clipper Card or download the Clipper mobile app. With Clipper, you can get a $0.50 discount on adult fares when transferring to Muni from any connecting agency within two hours of the start of your first trip. You can also get a free round-trip transfer from the Daly City BART station to Muni lines serving that station. Seniors, students, and people with disabilities get a $0.10 discount per ride with Clipper.

MuniMobile App

The MuniMobile app offers the same discounted single-ride fares as Clipper, as well as a $5 day pass. You can also purchase Muni fares instantly from your phone and activate your ticket in the app when you board a Muni bus or enter the subway.

Muni Passports

Muni Passports (or Muni Passes) are passes for city transportation that allow unlimited use of the Muni transportation network (metro, buses, and streetcars) and the historic cable cars. They are valid for one, three, or seven days. You can purchase Muni Passports at the San Francisco Visitor Information Center, which is located on the junction of Market Street and Powell Street. Muni Passports cannot be used on BART transportation, so they are not valid for travel to the airport.

Monthly Passes

Monthly passes are available for unlimited rides on Muni for a calendar month. The cost of a monthly pass is $81 for Muni only or $98 for Muni plus BART within San Francisco only. Monthly passes can be purchased through your employer's benefits plan.

Discounted Fares

Youth aged 18 and under ride free on all regular Muni services (cable cars excepted). Youth aged 4 and under ride cable cars for free. Seniors aged 65+ and people with disabilities can ride Muni for free if they are low-to-moderate-income San Francisco residents. Low-to-moderate-income San Francisco residents with disabilities can also ride Muni for free.

Frequently asked questions