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There’s a lot of sessions, parties, and events going on in and around San Francisco during Dreamforce, and while it's a compact city it can take time to reach everywhere if you're on foot.
Luckily, even without your own wheels, there are several transportation options available to you to get you where you need to go during Dreamforce.
Muni is the city’s main transport system and can take you almost anywhere you want to go – especially if you’re in the city center. The Muni system includes light rail, subway, bus and streetcar services and it connects with BART and CalTrain for trips outside the city. It's $2 for a single ride (with free transfer within 90 mins) or you can purchase day passes if you expect to use Muni often during your stay. Muni runs 365 days a year and there is a limited all-night service. This smartphone app lets you find the nearest stops and check schedules.
BART – the Bay Area Rapid Transit – runs throughout the Bay Area and is your best choice for travel to and from San Francisco airport (SFO). It’s easy to transfer between BART and Muni, and BART itself runs through the city center. It’s a comfortable and economical high speed service.
Taxis are also available when public transport doesn’t suit. Unfortunately San Francisco is short of licensed cabs – there are only ~1,500 in the city – so at times, it can be difficult to get one. You can imagine that hailing a taxi will be more difficult when thousands of Dreamforce attendees converge on the city. Luckily, this is San Francisco, so there are other options available.
If you’re not into the traditional transportation options and want to try something new, then you’re just a few taps and swipes away from accessing peer-to-peer ridesharing.
Lyft If you’re visiting San Francisco for the first time, you’ll begin to notice cars with big, fluffy pink mustaches on the car’s grill or on dahsboards. The pink fur indicates that the driver is working with Lyft and is available for hire. To access Lyft's network, all you have to do is open Lyft’s iOS or Android app, select a driver nearby, and wait for your lift to show up. Don't forget to fistbump your driver when you get in.
Sidecar is another peer-to-peer ride sharing option that works similarly to Lyft, but without the fluffy pink 'stache and fistbumps. Through Sidecar's mobile app, you can connect to private drivers to get where you want to go. And like Lyft, when you arrive at your destination, you pay a suggested donation to the driver based on time and mileage, and the rate your experience through the app.
Uber is another ride-share app that includes taxis and limos, too. Like Lyft and Sidecar, you can choose the type of vehicle-for-hire through their app. Initially started with higher-end vehicles, the prices tend to be 30% higher than Lyft or Sidecar. There's a $15 minimum fare, so it may not be economical for short rides and if you choose the taxi option there’s an automatic 20% tip added. However, Uber’s coverage is wider; operating all over the Bay Area.
(To compete with Lyft and Sidecar's prices, Uber also offers UberX, a lower-cost option with a minimum fare of $8)
With Lyft, Sidecar and Uber, all you have to do is download their app, tap a few times and wait curbside for your ride to arrive. With each, you can track your car’s location via their mobile app.
Lastly, weather permitting, you can opt to rent out a public bicycle. Biking through the city is a great way to get around and see San Francisco. The recently launched Bay Area Bike Share has a total fleet of 350 bikes in over 30 stations around San Francisco. 24-hour and three-day memberships are available and give you unlimited rides up to 30 minutes each. All you need to sign up is a credit or debit card. A mobile app will show you what stations have bikes available.
If none of these options work for you – you can hike it. San Francisco is only 7 x 7 after all.
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