United States
San Francisco
A city of fog and hills. The cable cars are still working public transit, while BART and Muni do the daily grind.
Muni bus and trolleybus
Updated on August 2, 2026
How to ride
- 1Any door if you've paid, front door for cashWith a Clipper or bank card you can board at any door; paying cash means using the front door.
- 2Tap the reader as you boardHold your card, phone or Clipper against the reader beside the door you used.
- 3Cash goes into the farebox, exact changeFeed bills or coins into the farebox by the front door. No change is given; it prints a paper ticket.
- 4Keep your proof of payment until you get offKeep the paper ticket, or the card you tapped with, for the whole ride - inspectors check on board.
- 5Tap the same card again when you transferOn your next bus or Muni Metro ride, tap the same card you used the first time.
- 6Signal for your stop, then get offAs your stop approaches, pull the cord along the window or push the button.
Fares
Single fares2
Passes & multi-ride4
Children & discounts1
Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026
Payment
Tap to ride 
IC card 
App tickets 
Paper tickets 
Cash Quick facts
Fares
Tourist passThe 1-, 3- and 7-day Visitor Passports; cable cars included
Daily fare capNo automatic fare cap - you buy a Day Pass yourself.
Transfer discountsFree transfers within Muni for 120 minutes; between agencies, within two hours.
Facilities
Lifts (step-free)（Limited）Low-floor coaches deploy a ramp at the front door and kneel toward the curb, with four-point wheelchair securement. Tell the operator you need the ramp. Some stops, such as those on steep grades, are not suitable for ramp deployment.
Suitcases & luggage（Limited）Keep bags on your lap or at your feet; bikes go on the rack at the front.
ToiletsNo toilets on the buses or at the stops.
Rules
Eating & drinking on board（Banned）No eating or drinking on board; littering is banned too.
Smoking（Banned）Smoking is banned on board.
Pets（Limited）Service animals are allowed on every bus, leashed; other pets unconfirmed.
Fare evasion fine（Banned）A fine of more than $100 if you can't show valid proof of payment.
Apps & info
Journey planner app (Google Maps)Fine for routing; Muni Metro often covers the same corridor, so compare the travel times
English signageAll in English; most vehicles announce the next stop by voice and on screen.
Operating hoursOvernight, the Owl network runs every half hour between midnight and 5 a.m. - 12 routes: L Owl, N Owl, 5, 14, 22, 24, 25, 38, 44, 48, 90 and 91. Only the L and N subway lines get a replacement bus; the other Muni Metro lines do not run overnight. With Clipper, a single tap after 8:30 p.m. carries you until 5 a.m. First and last trips on every other route vary by line, so check 511.org or a journey planner.
Heads-up
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One card cannot pay for your travel companions
You can't cover your travel companions with one card. Every rider has to tap their own card or device, and the discount for transferring between agencies - which has to happen within two hours of your first boarding - only follows someone who keeps tapping the same card for the whole trip.
Timetable
Editor Naotaka