A Century of Walking to Work (and Everywhere Else)

In celebration of Walk to Work Day, we bring you a little glimpse into pedestrian life from 111 years ago. Taken at Presidio Avenue and Sacramento Street around January 1904, this shot catches an intersection full of traffic of the bi-pedal variety.

Central Avenue Carhouse  | Circa January 1904 | U00133

In an era when the world moved a bit more slowly and very few people owned autos, most people walked the majority of places they went (especially in our warm and walkable city). By the time this shot was taken, San Francisco had a pretty decent network of horse, cable and streetcar lines that served the most populated areas. But many people still chose foot power to get around.

Part of this was due to the fact that many people lived, worked and ran their daily errands in their own neighborhoods. With a city that's just about 7x7 miles, it's a pretty easy place to walk, no matter how far you're going. As the city's road and transit network expanded and automobiles became more affordable for the average American, people started living further away from their workplaces and walking for transportation declined.

Today, the vast majority of Americans spend very little time walking to get where they need to go, although San Franciscans are a bit ahead of the curve with 10 percent of residents walking to get to work. So if you've not done so already, dust off those walking shoes and get outside under some sunshine to walk to or from work today! Victorian hats not required for this event, although you'll get a plus for taking after these 1904 San Franciscans.

Be sure to check out more historic photos on the SFMTA Photo Archive website and follow us on Flickr, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram!