UPDATE: Due to the strike tentatively being settled, this data is no longer important!
Sausalito Ferry Survival Guide if BART Strike Happens Monday
If the threatened BART strike happens Monday, August 17, Bay Area commuters will be trying a wide range of ideas for getting to San Francisco. If traffic trying to avoid the Bay Bridge heads for the Golden Gate then the resultng snarls will produce a large jump in Sausalito Ferry ridership. Here are tips for residents and for commuters who plan to pass through Sausalito, and we'll keep you posted as things develop.
As of this writing, no additional ferry voyages have been announced for Sausalito.
Sausalito Residents and All Ferry Riders
If the Golden Gate Bridge is jammed with traffic, parking near the Ferry in downtown Sausalito will probably fill up early in the morning. If you can, have someone drop you at the Ferry instead of parking, or take an earlier ferry than your usual schedule to allow for delays.
Whatever ferry you plan to take, get there early — if the Golden Gate is badly snarled and long lines form you're more likely to make it on board a super-popular commuter departure. If ferries are crowded, consider Blue & Gold Ferry routes to Pier 39, since a Muni train (not BART) covers the 1.7 miles from Fisherman's Wharf to the Ferry Building.
If you can't just work from home, can you go into the City later that day? Ferry voyages outside the rush hour are far less crowded than the prime time morning and afternoon runs.
Additional Info for Commuters Passing Through Sausalito
As noted above, there is far less parking near the Sausalito Ferry than there is at Larkspur, and it will fill up early. If you can, use Golden Gate Transit buses to get to the Sausalito ferry pier, or all the way into San Francisco. (Taking the bus all the way into San Francisco bypasses the beauty of the ferry ride, but might be your best bet.) Routes 10 and 22 are the most likely to help you reach the Ferry, and a wide range of clean and comfortable buses connect Sonoma and Marin to San Francisco.
Parking in Sausalito is rigidly enforced. In particular, if you park longer than signs allow in residential areas without a neighborhood sticker you can expect a ticket virtually every time. So avoid bringing your car if you can, and come early in the day if you have to drive.
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