MUNI/BART Fare Options
 

So is there some more convenient way for a periodic visitor to SFO to pay for the MUNI in particular?

I have a BART pass for taking the BART from the airport to the hotel downtown, but, my customer is accessible via MUNI only. So everytime I head into the MUNI stations downtown I need to have six quarters, and on the way back I need two quarters plus a single to buy a ticket. That's eight quarters a day for four or five days.

you can buy a 7 day MUNI passport for $24.
 

For sale at the Powell St Kiosk among many other places.

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm

It starts the first day you use it.

Cool - says I can grab it at the airport too before I get on the BART there. Increases the cost per trip if I only go back and forth to work but still more convenient that bringing my piggy bank on the plane. Thanks!

(You might need 8 quarters per ride by luly 1 if the transit agency running Muni has its way (but the Bd. of Supervisors can override that decision).)

Seriously, though, there's another way to avoid traveling with rolls of quarters. MUNI still sells coupon books (paper tokens) for $15 per book of 10-ride coupons. It's perfect for those not using MUNI often enough for a weekly or monthly Pass and yet who don't want to travel with loads of coins. See this site http://www.sfmta.com/cms/asystem/far...=Token+Coupons, as to where to buy these coupon books.

How do you use these at an unmanned station? The far end station I get on at there's nothing really stopping me from getting on without a ticket even except for the occasional ticket checkers downtown when I get off.

If you're paying by token at an unstaffed MUNI Metro station, or on a bus or streetcar, give the vehicle operator your coupon and make sure you get a fare receipt/transfer in return. Fare checkers have been trained that tokens can't be paid at unstaffed station locations but need to be given to the operator on board.

Another option is to get a translink card. Works really great, no need to think about change. If you plan on being back to SF, you can get it for free at the moment.

But, according to the link you provided, Translink doesn't actually work on Muni yet.

From the website:

Also note this:

So, unless the OP wants to be a guinea pig for the Translink card, maybe not yet....

Translink works on Muni, AC Transit and GGT. It should work on BART by the end of the summer.

I was in SF about two weeks ago and when I visited the Train Museum (probably a different official name), the agent gave me some pointers:
(1) A bus (trolley) transfer is good until the cutoff time, generally two to four hours (depending on how nice the driver is:)) on any buses or muni trains in that period of time, this includes multiple trips as well as a return trip to your starting point.
(2) Seniors (over 65) pay only $0.50.
(3) They are using reconditioned trolleys (which get as far as Fisherman's Wharf), which were originally used in places like Italy, Germany etc. For nostalgic and historic reasons these are fun to ride.

Just a few clarifications on the last post. Eff. 7/1/09, senior fare goes to 0.75. Adult fare increases to $2. Reconditioned, historic streetcars are on the Market St. line only (Castro to Ferry Bldg. and up to Fisherman's wharf.).

I got a Translink card a couple weeks ago and used it all last week - works great. You have to hold it to the sensor noticeably longer than the version they have here in Chicago but it works. ar better than dealing with cash or the goofy token/ticket booklets.