OAK to Fisherman's Wharf using public transit
 

We are staying at Courtyard at Fisherman's Wharf. We are flying into OAK.

We plan on taking BART into SF and then the historic trolley "F" to Fisherman's Wharf.

I am trying to figure out which will be easiest walk to catch the "F" with 1 roller bags in tow for each of us.

This is what I found as possible routes:

1- Take BART to Embarcadero and then walk to Market and 1st to catch the "F"

2- Take BART to Embarcadero and then walk to Don Chee Way/Steuart St to catch the "F"

3- Take BART to Embarcadero and then walk to The Embarcadero & Stockton St to catch the "F"

4- Take BART to Montgomery and walk to Market and1st to catch the "F"

What do you think will be the easiest to walk with the roller bags? We will be arriving mid afternoon.

Thanks in advance!

>>3- Take BART to Embarcadero and then walk to The Embarcadero & Stockton St to catch the "F"<<

Deb - get a new map. Stockton & Embarcadero don't intersect

Seems like all the other options are about the same. It is probaby easier to navigate around the Embarcadero station.

Fisherman's Wharf????

Stu Dudley

I got that from the transit.511.org site, Stu

http://transit.511.org/schedules/ind...d=26604&cid=SF

We got an unbelievable rate at Courtyard FW, so yes, we will be "roughing" it. :)

They actually do not intersect. They come close - but the location is at the Wharf - nowhere near the Embarcadero station. Stockton/Embarcadero is probably where you want to get OFF the F line. The stop is in front of Pier 39.

BTW, the Sea Lions have departed Pier 39 area.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...BAJ01BB3UF.DTL

Stu Dudley

Debit, your best bet is to get off at the Embarcadero -- you come out of the station and walk one block to the Embarcadero (alongside the Hyatt), then cross the Embarcadero (half-way, in front of the Ferry Bldg.) to pick up the F.

Will we have a problem on the F with the 2 roller bags??

It might be a problem if it's rush hour, but not if it's the middle of the day. You will have to lift them onto the trolley. Another possibility would be to get off at the Embarcadero and then just take a cab (they line up in front of the Hyatt, which is where you come out of the station) to your hotel, but taxis are so expensive here that I hesitate to recommend it.

By the way, when you get off the BART train, exit the train and then turn around (in the direction the train came FROM) -- take the most distant escalator up, and exit where it says "Drumm St" -- that will get you to the street right at the corner of Market and Drumm which is the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero -- or "Spear Street", which will bring you to the other side of Market Street.

Deb--when are you coming? I sometimes have ride to F to my office and getting on it at the Ferry Building can be an issue during peak tourist months at any time of day and particularly when the car is one of the ones from Milan--everyone seems to want to ride that one. The F streetcars are not the most bag-friendly vehicles but the F is now the only public transportation to the Wharf from the financial district.

Who knows about bus 30 going TO fisherman's? On the map it looks ideal, from Montgomery BART - but will the bus be packed?

Will Deb and Mr Deb be able to get on this bus?

Deb, maybe get off at Embarcadero, take a taxi from Hyatt? I am a fan of public transit, but not with luggage.

The 30 Stockton is always packed as it goes through Chinatown, just getting on is a major accomplishment, getting on with luggage would be a miracle.

do option 1

SAB - we are arriving Monday 1/18/10

Maybe a taxi from Hyatt to Courtyard is the way to go, all things considered.

The taxi driver isn't going to be happy. That has to be about a 3 min taxi ride - unless you catch the traffic lights just as they turn red.

Try the F line from the Ferry Bldg first & see what it is like. There are probably taxis that you can pick up if front of the Ferry Bldg in addition to the Hyatt if the F won't work. Don't think 1/18 is a big tourist time.

Stu Dudley

I'd forgotten how close the Ferry Building is to that part of FW. I'd hate to get a taxi driver mad at us!

I cannot believe the sea lions are gone???

I walked from the Ferry Building down to Pier 39...it seems long to me - but it was really hot out that day.

<<<I'd hate to get a taxi driver mad at us!>>>

Why? It's their job to get you from one place to the other. And FWIW, taxis do not line up at the Ferry Bldg. on weekdays (maybe they do on weekends, I don't know).

Deb, I have often taken a taxi in SF for just a short distance without a problem. I was thinking of when I have grabbed a taxi from ChinaTown to Union Sq. when I was suddenly very tired. I merely tell the driver where I want to go before getting settled in the taxi and I have never had any taxi driver act mad. I always give a good tip of course. Personally I would take a taxi to your hotel at FW. I would catch a taxi at the Hyatt Regency Hotel if you don't see a vacant taxi after leaving the Embarcadero BART station. I have never seen taxis lined up in front of the Ferry Bldg. either be it weekdays or weekends. But I am good at hailing a vacant taxi that I see coming down the street toward me. Just carefully step off of the curb and look to your left and when you see a taxi raise your hand. Best wishes to the two of you and have a wonderful time in SF. I will hope that you have decent weather also!

If you're going to take a taxi, you won't need to hail one, though, because they DO line up on Drumm Street in front of the Hyatt, so you just go to the first one in line. It's all very orderly. If you exit BART at the Drumm Street exit, you'll see them as soon as you exit BART and turn toward the hotel.

>>It's their job to get you from one place to the other.>>

Not really - their job is to make money. MUNI's jot is to get you from one pace to another.

In the 90s, I travelled quite a bit for my job. As sf307 knows, I live about 7 mins from the airport. Many times taxi drivers picked me and complained that it was s "too short" of a drive. Once, at driver paid me $20 to get out of the taxi and get the next cab available. I "tipped" the next driver the $20 - but he complained too !!!!!

Stu Dudley

Stu - That seems to be apples and oranges. Out at SFO you know most cabbies are expecting fares into the city -- or at least more than 7 mins away.

In downtown SF I've taken cabs some very short distances and never once had one complain. In fact they seem to like short rides since they can turn fares over faster and collect more tips.

LOL, who cares if the cab driver "gets mad". Were you planning on running into them again?

Just don't throw up in the backseat though, that isn't cool.

thereyet

Stu's right about trips to where he and I both live -- that's why they invented the "short trip" line (If a trip takes less than 30 minutes round-trip, the taxi gets to go back to the front of the line). But janisj is right too -- that the same theory doesn't apply in San Francisco. If a driver can get a fare to the airport, great, but many many people take short cab rides within the city (and, mile for mile, multiple short fares do add up to more than one long fare, since the "meter drop" is so high).

Dog forbid one should pi$$ off a prima dona cab driver.

I once had a nasty little cabbie get peeved at me for taking him away from the main center when I took a cab ride out of the city.

We once came out from the Campton Place Hotel with our bags and got a taxi. The driver said, "Airport?" and we said, "no, an apartment in Cow Hollow. (we had spent a night before our apartment was ready). When we said "no" to the airport, he sped off -- something they are not supposed to do and which made the doorman very angry. It seems taxi drivers in SF CAN be prima donas.

Neo, that's why you get in the taxi BEFORE you tell them where you're going :-)

There wasn't much option when he rolled down the window and asked before we got in and before he would pop the trunk to put our luggage in!!! How would one do that? Say, "I'm sorry, I'm not telling you where I'm going until I get in the cab"? Somehow I'm having a hard time visualizing that. Clearly he was ONLY willing to go to the airport.

You're right, but if it were me, I would have reported him.

LOL, Patrick, perhaps that taxi driver should have applied for a position at Tadich's, remember the not only grumpy (as they generally are) but rude and miserable waiter you had there quite some time ago?

Oh, yea. Now that I think about it, it was probably the same guy!

sf7307, I think the doorman was planning to report him -- he was furious and said they aren't allowed to do that. We had been waiting a while for a taxi as it was. But I think the driver got away without the doorman getting his taxi number or license.

That's too bad!

As a follow up -- we took the F trolley to Fisherman's Wharf [when we got off BART at Embarcadero]. It worked out fine. We were able to get the small roller bags on and out of the way of others.

Deb

Yeah! HOpe you are having a blast!

Sorry it's so wet for your trip!!

Deb--you know the rules for SF plans and the weather; be flexible and be prepared to change plans if the sun comes out like it has just done!!!

We made it to Ana Nuevo today and the sun was out the entire time! It was great - lots of newborns, some fights between the males and even a bit of nookie - elephant seal style.