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About SFMTA Accessible Services

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is committed to providing exceptional transportation services that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. SFMTA provides transportation via bus, light rail, historic streetcar, cable car and paratransit to seniors and people with disabilities who live in or are visiting San Francisco.

For specific information about accessible public transit services, review the Muni Access Guide

Transportation and information services for persons with disabilities:


Accessible Services Contacts

One South Van Ness Avenue, 7th Floor
San Francisco, California 94103-1267

Phone: 415.701.4485
Fax: 415.701.4728

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
or call the San Francisco 311 Customer Service Center.


Accessible bus routes and rail lines

About lifts and boarding platforms Accessible Muni bus routes Muni Metro accessibility
F Market accessibility Cable car accessibility  

About lifts and boarding platforms

Use of wheelchair lifts and accessible wayside boarding platforms by customers with disabilities:

Any disabled customer who requires the use of the wheelchair lift or accessible wayside boarding platform, may use them.  Some persons with ambulatory disabilities are not able to navigate the stairs and need the lift or high level platform to board.  

  • If you require the use of the wheelchair lift, you may need to ask the operator to deploy it for you. 
  • If you require the use of the accessible wayside boarding platform please wait on the platform until your streetcar arrives.  The operator will raise the steps and position the vehicle, to allow you to board from the platform. 
  • If you board in an underground or surface high level station which is accessible at all doors, please be sure to board at the first door of the first car so that you can exit easily at accessible wayside platform stops on the surface.

Information for non-disabled customers about lifts and platforms

Accessible Muni bus routes

All Muni bus service is accessible for people with disabilities and seniors via wheelchair lifts, ramps and kneelers.


Muni Metro accessibility

All Muni Metro underground stations (Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, Civic Center, Van Ness, Church Street, Castro Street, and Forest Hill) are accessible via street-to-concourse elevators and concourse-to-platform elevators.

Elevator and Wayside Lift Status:

To find out about the status of an elevator or wayside lift prior to entering the Metro system, call the San Francisco 311 Customer Service Center.

map of Muni Metro, showing accessible Metro stops
Map of accessible stops on Metro lines

The surface portion of the following Metro lines are accessible at the following wayside platforms and surface-level stations: J, K, L, M, N. The T is fully accessible.

J Church accessibility:

  • Church and Duboce (J, N)
  • Church @ 18th (J)
  • Church @ 24th (J)
  • Church @ 30th (J)
  • San Jose @ Randall (J)
  • Balboa Park Station (J, K)

K Ingleside accessibility:

  • West Portal Station (K, L, M)
  • St. Francis Circle (K, M)
  • Junipero Serra @ Ocean (K)
  • Ocean @ Jules (K)
  • Ocean @ Lee (K)
  • City College (K)
  • Balboa Park Station (J, K)

L Taraval accessibility:

  • West Portal Station (K, L, M)
  • Taraval @ 22nd (L)
  • Taraval @ Sunset (L)
  • San Francisco Zoo (L)

M Ocean View accessibility:

  • West Portal Station (K, L, M)
  • St. Francis Circle (K, M)
  • Stonestown (M)
  • San Francisco State University (M)
  • Randolph @ Arch (M)
  • Broad @ Plymouth (M)
  • Geneva @ San Jose (M)

N Judah accessibility:

  • Caltrain Station/King @ Fourth (N)
  • King & Second Station (N)
  • Brannan Station (N)
  • Folsom Station (N)
  • Church @ Duboce (N)
  • Duboce @ Noe/Duboce Park (N)
  • Cole @ Carl (N)
  • UCSF/Arguello @ Irving (N)
  • Judah @ Ninth (N)
  • Judah @ 19th (N)
  • Judah @ Sunset (N)
  • Ocean Beach (N)

T Third accessibility:

All stops on the T Third Line between West Portal and Sunnydale are accessible.


F Market accessibility

The F Market Line, which runs vintage streetcars along Market Street and the Embarcadero is accessible at most stops. The streetcars run on tracks in the center of the street and are accessed via pedestrian boarding islands. There are accessible wayside platforms, or wayside lifts, at Key boarding islands along Market Street. All stops from Front Street to Fisherman's Wharf are accessible via wayside platforms. The following stops are accessible via accessible wayside platform, unless a lift is noted, Inbound toward Fisherman's Wharf or Outbound toward the Castro district:

Inbound F, towards Fisherman's Wharf:

Market Street stops Embarcadero & Fisherman's Wharf stops
  • Market @ Castro
  • Market @ Noe
  • Market @ Sanchez
  • Market @ Church (wayside lift)
  • Market @ Dolores
  • Market @ Guerrero
  • Market @ Gough
  • Market @ Van Ness
  • Market @ Seventh
  • Market @ Fifth (wayside lift)
  • Market @ Third
  • Market @ First (wayside lift)
  • Market @ Main
  • Steuart Street (near Mission)
  • Ferry Terminal (The Embarcadero @ Market)
  • The Embarcadero @ Washington
  • The Embarcadero @ Broadway
  • The Embarcadero @ Green
  • The Embarcadero @ Greenwich
  • The Embarcadero @ Chestnut
  • The Embarcadero @ Bay
  • The Embarcadero @ Stockton
  • Jefferson @ Mason
  • Jefferson @ Taylor
  • Jones @ Beach

Outbound F, towards Castro Street:

Fisherman's Wharf and Embarcadero stops Market Street stops
  • Jones @ Beach
  • Beach @ Mason
  • Beach @ Stockton
  • The Embarcadero @ Bay
  • The Embarcadero @ Chestnut
  • The Embarcadero @ Greenwich
  • The Embarcadero @ Green
  • The Embarcadero @ Broadway
  • The Embarcadero @ Washington
  • Ferry Terminal (The Embarcadero @ Market)
  • Steuart Street (near Mission)
  • Market @ Drumm
  • Market @ Battery
  • Market @ Kearny
  • Market @ Fifth (wayside lift)
  • Market @ Hyde
  • Market @ Van Ness
  • Market @ Gough
  • Market @ Laguna
  • Market @ Buchanan
  • Market @ Church
  • Market @ Sanchez
  • Market @ Noe
  • 17th @ Market
  • Castro @ Market

Cable car accessibility

The historic cable car service is generally not accessible. If you would like more information regarding access to these vehicles or this service, please call SFMTA Accessible Services at 415.701.4485. Muni does provide accessible historic streetcar service on the F Market Line.


Muni discounts for seniors and individuals with disabilities

About discount fares Cash fares RTC Discount Card program
Disabled Muni Only Pass info Senior Pass info Paying cash at Metro stations

Muni participates in the Regional Transit Connection (RTC) Discount Card Program, which provides discounts for persons with disabilities and Medicare card holders. The RTC card makes it easier for customers to demonstrate their eligibility for reduced fares on fixed-route transit, bus, rail and ferry systems throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Seniors prove eligibility with valid ID (information follows).

Cash fares are for the occasional customer or visitor and are valid for one trip plus transfers, up to 90 minutes. A Monthly pass may be a more economical option for the frequent Muni customer.

Cash fares:

  1. Customers who have a valid discount ID may travel on Muni for $0.75 per trip. Discount ID for customers include the following valid:
    • RTC Discount ID;
    • DMV disabled  placard registrations plus photo ID, or
    • discount card from another transit agency in California plus photo ID.
  2. Seniors (65+) also pay $0.75 per trip. Seniors can use any valid ID. Forms of ID for seniors are a valid:
    • Senior ID,
    • RTC Discount Card,
    • driver's license,
    • California ID or,
    • government-issued passport.
  3. Medicare card holders may travel on Muni for $0.75 per trip. They must present their Medicare card and a valid photo ID.

 


RTC Discount Photo ID Card applications are available at:

SFMTA Discount ID Office
27A Van Ness
San Francisco, CA 94102

415.252.3291

Applications are accepted Monday through Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For complete information about this discount program, including information on eligibility (basic vs. medical) and what you need to bring with you when you apply, see Regional Transit Connection Discount Card Program information or call 415.252.3291.

RTC Discount Photo ID Cards contain a built-in Clipper Card. See Clipper information for customers with disabilities.


Disabled Muni Only Pass for persons with disabilities

Customers with disabilities who have valid RTC Discount Photo ID Cards may travel for unlimited rides within a month on Muni by loading a Disabled Muni Only Pass to their RTC Discount Photo ID Card. See Clipper information for customers with disabilities.

The Disabled Muni Only Pass is available for $21 each month. These monthly fare items are valid on Muni vehicles only.

If you already have an RTC ID card:


"S" Pass for seniors

Senior Clipper card

Seniors (65 and older) may use the discounted Senior Pass loaded to a Senior Clipper card.

Where/how to apply for a Senior Clipper card

The Senior pass is available for $21 each month. These monthly fare items are valid on Muni vehicles only.

Valid forms of ID for seniors are:

  • a Senior ID,
  • an RTC Discount Card,
  • a valid driver's license,
  • California ID or
  • government-issued passport.

A list of paper pass vendors is available.

If you already have a Senior Clipper card:


Paying discount fares in Metro subway stations:

Important: This is only a brief summary. Full Proof of Payment information, including procedures and violation fines, is in the fares section of this site.

  • Customers paying with cash must go to a at a Muni Ticket Vending Machine:
    • purchase a discount Muni Ticket or
    • load cash value to a RTC ID or Senior Clipper card.
  • Customers using a discount fare to enter the paid area may be asked to show proof of eligibility for that fare:
    • Valid ID for customers with disabilities may be any of the following:
      • RTC Discount ID;
      • Medicare card (not Medi-Cal) plus photo ID, or
      • DMV placard registrations plus photo ID.
    • Valid ID for seniors may be any of the following:
      • RTC Discount ID,
      • Senior ID,
      • Drivers License,
      • California ID or
      • government-issued passport.

Riding tips for passengers with visual impairments

Braille signage on vehicles

Muni vehicles have Braille and raised letter signage to indicate the vehicle number of the bus you are riding. This is helpful information if you want to report a complaint or commendation about the service you're receiving from Muni. The signage is located about five feet above the floor of the bus, on a panel directly behind the driver and is located as close to the aisle as possible.

Braille signage in stations

Braille and raised letter station identification signage has been installed at the entrances to all Muni Metro underground stations to assist blind and low-vision passenger in identifying the station. These signs can typically be found on the inside surface of the low walls surrounding the entrances to the stations. Braille and raised letter station identification signs have also been installed on the platform level of the stations. In the Muni-only stations (Van Ness, Church Street, Castro, Forest Hill, and West Portal), the platform-level signage can be found in the frame of the elevator doorway on the platform level. In the BART-shared stations (Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center), the platform-level signage has been installed near the handrail of the up-escalators on the platform level.

Talking Signs

Talking Signs are devices that provide navigational information to blind and low-vision passengers. Passengers use a hand held receiver which reads messages emitted by infrared beams from transmitters installed at various locations. The Talking Signs provide way finding information and identify important points along the path or travel such as station agent booths, ticket vending machines, and fare gates.

Talking Signs transmitters have been installed at the Muni/BART Powell Street Station; at surface-level stations at SF State and Stonestown on Muni's M-Oceanview; and at the Folsom, Brannan, 2nd and King, and Caltrain stations on the N-Judah. Talking Signs are also a feature of the new T-Third line, effective with the start of service.

Muni is installing Talking Signs transmitters on some of its bus shelters. This will allow a visually impaired person to know when they have reached the bus shelter and which bus lines serve the shelter.

Talking Signs for transit are also being linked with Talking Signs for street orientation. Yerba Buena Gardens, the new Main Library, and nearby intersections have Talking Signs to provide directional information in the area around Yerba Buena Gardens and Civic Center.

If you are interested in trying out a Talking Signs receiver, please contact the Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 415.431.1481 and ask about their free receiver lending program.


Service animals

Trained service animals are allowed to ride free of charge on all Muni vehicles. Customers traveling with a service animal should notify the operator immediately upon boarding. Service dogs may travel without a muzzle but must be on leash. All service animals must be kept under control by their owners. Service animals may sit on their owner's lap or under a seat but may not occupy a seat. Passengers with disruptive or destructive service animals may be asked to remove them from the vehicle.


Frequently asked questions

What is the "kneeler"?

A kneeler can be found on all lift-equipped buses. The kneeler lowers the front of the bus, brings the steps closer to the ground and allows easier boarding for those who have difficulty managing steps. Just ask the driver to lower the kneeler if you need it.

What is Muni's policy about working animals on its vehicles?

At any time of day, trained service animals for the disabled may ride Muni at no charge. This is under 49 Code of Federal Regulations Section 37.167(d). A service animal must be leashed and under its owner's control, but does not have to be muzzled.

Can someone teach me how to ride Muni?

Muni provides a free travel training program geared towards assisting seniors and persons with disabilities in using bus and light rail services. Individualized or small group trainings are provided by peer trainers who often are persons with disabilities themselves. The training provides an overview of accessibility features on Muni, tips for using the service, and hands on instruction on board Muni. It is a great way to gain skills and confidence in using Muni. To receive more information or to request a travel training session, please call 415.351.7000 or TTY 415.351.3942.


Paratransit services

Paratransit services

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For Muni route, schedule, fare and accessible services information anytime: Visit www.sfmta.com or call 311.

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