I live in the suburbs and usually drive when I go into the city with no problems at all. It’s still one of the most beautiful cities in the world IMO. That said, I took BART last year for the first time in a while and was shocked at how loud it has gotten and how many homeless people were sprawled out in the Powell station. It didn’t feel unsafe (no one was menacing… they were all just sleeping) as just really run down.
@jym626 : It looks like it just got moved into free view (which gives you the title as well). https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/BART-s-cat-and-mouse-game-to-keep-SF-stations-12871062.php?t=9639c16172
Thanks, @AboutTheSame .
And UGH the typo/autocorrects. You can get 5 for FREE (before there is a FEE)
I was just there last weekend, too. I was at The W (don’t know what district, financial? it’s in, but it’s right next to SFMOMA) There is a problem with homeless - I found it worse than the problem is in Boston. It didn’t scare me, it just is what it is.
We were there for a wedding, but had time for a lot of touristy things too.
I’d never stay at the W again. Much nicer hotels for the same money. We were only there because that is where wedding booked and so got the group rate.
Whenever I am in San Francisco I am always struck by how stunningly beautiful it is. Walking around large parts of the city the views of the bay, the hills, the bridges and the ocean are just amazing.
Both our kids live and work in S.F. and we live in the East Bay (Walnut Creek). I travel on BART regularly to see them for lunches, dinners, and assorted other fun outings.
The Civic Center BART station is probably the worst for homeless sightings. I can not take a trip into the city anymore when a BART passenger isn’t asking for money. These folks are not paying to ride. They get on at Rockridge or MacArthur Stations in Oakland. Recent crackdowns on un-paid riders does not seem to be working. One of my favorite restaurants is an Ethiopian eatery however, since it is in the Tenderloin, I just will not subject myself to that surrounding environment any longer and have stopped going there.
If you can avoid Civic Center BART, the Tenderloin (just above Union Square), and longer stretches of Market St., you drastically reduce your chances of having a bad experience. I, too, LOVE our city!
Looks like we’ll be staying at Union Square and the nearest BART station is Powell. So I guess I’ll just have to hold my nose. I already told my friends I would go. I may drive that way we could get out of the city and go to Napa instead.
I wouldn’t write off a great city like SF for some areas of homeless people. If you don’t want to deal with BART, take a cab or Uber. If your concerned about the area, consider changing your hotel.
Hotel parking daily rates near Union Square can be very expensive. Daily rates in the Union Square garage is around $36.00 per day but I do not believe that includes same day in and out privileges.
We didn’t use BART at all and were there 4 days. Walked, Ubered or took the trolley.
I visited last summer and was really surprised how crummy the subway stations were. I’m used to Boston and NYC subway systems – not particularly stellar examples of cleanliness. Long ago I remember hearing how wonderful and clean the BART was. In particular the Embarcadero station was filthy (though I didn’t see the corridor of people lying the floor as in the video), the station agents were very unhelpful and unfriendly (and I’m from Boston, not exactly a warm, fuzzy city), and for the first time I was a little frightened by what appeared to be an unhinged, mentally unstable young man hanging around the station. (The type of person I could see committing a random violent act.)
All that said, I didn’t otherwise feel unsafe or uncomfortable in SF. There are definitely many more desperately homeless people than in Boston. I loved visiting and hope to get back again soon!
If you live in pristine suburbs and never see the homeless – parts of San Francisco will be a shock. So just avoid those parts. Problem mostly solved.
The problem is that you cannot avoid “those parts” because they are everywhere. Many of the most negative reactions have been from people attending events at the Moscone Convention Center. Look it up on the map. It is not that far from traditional downtown, and the tech center of town [Sales Force Tower or whatever that monstrosity is called] is actually getting even closer. The tent cities tend to be farther away. The crazies [I hope that is a kind enough term] tend to hang out where the money is. I think I may actually see fewer mentally disturbed folks around Civic Center and the Tenderloin than I read about others encountering in the “nicer” areas of the city. Well … we have our share. but I recognize most of them.
If you are used to being in cities, I don’t think it’s any worse than any other city. It’s a fantastic place to visit! I’ve never had any sort of problem there and I’ve been there many times.
I’m grateful for this thread. Just changed my hotel reservation based on it.
I don’t want to shrug off these problems. But various CA cities have a homeless issue different than in the northeast because the weather’s better.
But I agree, SF (on the bay side)is one of the most beautiful cities. I’d agree to change your hotel if you’ll be offended.
And $36 for parking? Sheesh, I see 56-70 in NYC and that’s not 5 star hotels.
I visit SF once or more most years. Except when our kids were toddlers and the homeless reached out to try to touch the kids, I haven’t had much trouble with SF and still enjoy the city. I agree that the tenderloin area is NOT a great area for walking around, even during the day, but we never felt endangered.
We often stay near The Symphony and SF Opera in the Hayes Valley area and love the restaurants there. We are also familiar with and enjoy the Diamond Heights area, Foster City, Salsulito, and pretty much most of SF. We have stayed right next to Moscone (convention center) several times and never had issues.
The homeless are in most large cities and mostly leave folks alone. If you avoid places because of homeless, trash or other impediments you won’t visit many places.
The homeless are in most large American cities; Not necessarily in other places in the world, Perhaps due to the good weather, Calif does seem to have a worse problem than even other American cities. I’ve lived in many cities and encountered many homeless, but it isn’t what I want to deal with on this particular vacation.
That’s a public parking garage daily rate. Most Union Square hotels do not have self-park, in which case you may pay up to $100 to park overnight.
Last time we were there, hotels charged about $50 if I recall that correctly. We just gave our car keys to the Marriott valets and then walked all over… had them retrieve the car and departed to Napa the next day.