MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Interested Parties Brandon Matthews, SFMTA

THROUGH: Jerry Robbins, SFMTA DATE: SUBJECT: December 9, 2013 Summary of Findings from Polk Street Late Night Transportation Survey

_________________________________________________________________________ This memorandum summarizes the findings of a Late Night Transportation Survey performed by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) in cooperation with the San Francisco Entertainment Commission and Mayors Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). This survey is the first step in developing a Late Night Transportation Plan for San Francisco. Data Collection The SFMTA conducted a data collection effort on Polk Street between Bush Street and Sutter Street on the evening of Friday, September 20, 2013. The data collection effort was conducted in the form of a one-minute interview of night club patrons. The SFMTA partnered with Lush Lounge, Mayes Oyster House, and McTeagues Saloon which provided discount coupons for those patrons who agreed to be interviewed. The interviewers were SFMTA staff persons Jessica Kuo, Brandon Matthews, Kathleen Phu and Jerry Robbins. The interviews were conducted between 9:50 p.m. and 12 a.m. on the west sidewalk of Polk Street between Bush and Sutter streets, primarily while patrons were lined up to enter one of the establishments mentioned above. Survey Form A copy of the survey form used is shown on Figure 1.

Figure 1 LATE-NIGHT TRANSPORTATION INTERVIEW FORM 1. Where did you begin your trip to (name of the night club) today? Home (city)________________ (zip code)____________________ Work (city) ________________ (zip code)____________________ Other (city) ________________ (zip code)____________________ 2. How did you get to Polk Street tonight? Car/Private Vehicle BART Taxi Bicycle Limousine Walk Uber, Lyft or other private operator Motorcycle (specify_________) other (specify_____________) Muni (specify route_______) 3. If you came by car or taxi, how many people were in your vehicle (including yourself)? 1 2 3 4 5 6 or more 4. If you came by car, where did you park? on-street (approximate location)_____________ off-street parking garage or lot (approximate location)________________ I was dropped off by someone going somewhere else. 5. If you came by car, how long did it take to find a parking space? _________ 6. What is your home zip code?_______________ 7. What time do you think you will head home tonight? _________ 8. What form of transportation will you use when you leave the night club? Car/Personal Vehicle BART Taxi Bicycle Limousine Walk Uber, Lyft or other private operator Motorcycle Muni Other (specify____________) 9. Are you aware of Muni and transbay bus services that run all night? Yes, and I generally know where these services run. Yes, but I dont know where these services run. No. 10. Which one of the following is most important to you when selecting a transportation service late at night? Cost speed Safety Ease of access Other (specify_____________) 11. ANY COMMENTS ON WHAT COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE NIGHTTIME TRANSPORTATION? Gender Male Female Other Interview location:_____________________ Time:________________ Date:___________ Interviewer:_______________

Responses Question 1: Where did you begin your trip to (name of the night club) today?
Answers Home Work Other Unknown Total Count 55 5 27 33 120 Percentage 45.8% 4.2% 22.5% 27.5% 100%

Question 2: How did you get to Polk Street tonight?

Answers Car/Private Vehicle Taxi Limousine Uber, Lyft, Sidecar Muni BART Bicycle Walk Motorcycle Other Total Count 31 17 2 22 8 6 0 33 1 0 120 Percentage 26% 14% 2% 18% 7% 5% 0% 27% 1% 0% 100%

How did you get to Polk Street tonight?

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Figure 2

Question 3: If you came by car or taxi, how many people were in your vehicle (including yourself)?
Number of Passengers 1 2 3 4 5 6 or more Total Count 8 18 16 17 10 1 70 Percentage 11.4% 25.7% 22.9% 24.3% 14.3% 1.4% 100%

Question 4: If you came by car, where did you park?

Options On-street Off-street parking garage or lot I was dropped off by someone going somewhere else. Total Count 22 8 1 31 Percentage 71% 26% 3% 100%

Question 5: If you came by car, how long did it take you to find a parking space?
Length of Time < 5 minutes 5 minutes Total Count 8 22 30 Percentage 26.7% 73.3% 100%

Question 6: What is your home zip code?

Location San Francisco East Bay Peninsula North Bay South Bay Outside Bay Area, in CA State outside CA Foreign country No response Total Count 75 12 8 6 2 5 4 6 2 120 Percentage 62% 10% 7% 5% 2% 4% 3% 5% 2% 100%

Home City Location

2% 3% 4% 5%

San Francisco East Bay Peninsula North Bay South Bay Outside Bay Area, in CA
62%

2% 5% 7%

10%

State outside CA Foreign country No response

Figure 3 San Francisco neighborhood breakdown of respondents who answered San Francisco as their home city:

San Francisco Neighborhood

18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

Figure 4 5

Question 7: What time do you think you will head home tonight?
Time Before 1 a.m. 1 a.m. or later Unsure No response Total Count 31 84 2 3 120 Percentage 25.8% 70% 1.7% 2.5% 100%

Question 8: What form of transportation will you use when you leave the night club?
Answers Car/Private Vehicle Taxi Limousine Uber, Lyft, Sidecar Muni BART Bicycle Walk Motorcycle Taxi or Uber, Lyft, Sidecar Taxi or Muni Muni or Walk BART and Caltrain Total Count 30 22 2 20 7 4 0 23 1 7 2 1 1 120 Percentage 25% 18% 1% 17% 6% 3% 0% 19% 1% 6% 2% 1% 1% 100%

What form of transportation will you use when you leave the night club?
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Figure 5 6

Question 9: Are you aware of Muni and transbay bus services that run all night?
Answers Yes, and I generally know where these services run. Yes, but I dont know where these services run. No No response Total Count 50 24 45 1 120 Percentage 41.7% 20% 37.5% 0.8% 100%

Question 10: Which of the following is most important to you when selecting a transportation service late at night? (multiple answers accepted, total is more than 120 patrons surveyed)
Answers Ease of access Speed Safety Cost Other Total Count 47 39 33 26 7 152 Percentage 31% 26% 22% 17% 4% 100%

Which of the following is most important to you when selecting a transportation service late at night?
50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Ease of access

Speed

Safety

Cost

Other

Figure 6 7

11. Any comments on what could be done to improve nighttime transportation?

Answers Increase frequency of buses/more late night bus service Implement late night BART service Safety Increase number of taxis Increase on-street parking Decrease crowding on buses Other Total Count 35 18 10 7 3 3 3 79 Percentage 44% 23% 12% 9% 4% 4% 4% 100%

Any comments on what could be done to improve nighttime transportation?

Increase frequency of buses/more late night bus service Implement late night BART service Safety
44% 12%

4% 4% 9%

4%

Increase number of taxis

Increase on-street parking Decrease crowding on buses Other

Figure 7

23%

Gender
Gender Male Female Total Count 82 38 120 Percentage 68% 32% 100%

Findings The survey indicated that many people used alternatives to the private automobile to get to and from the Polk Street night clubs: 26 percent stated that they arrived by private vehicle while 25 percent expected to leave by private vehicle. Eighteen percent arrived by Transportation Network Companies (TNC) like Uber, Lyft, or Sidecar, indicating the widespread usage of these relatively new forms of internet-based transportation for late night transportation. Combined with the 14 percent of those interviewed who arrived by taxi, these two categories accounted for 32 percent of the arrivals and 42 percent of the departures. Twenty seven percent of the people interviewed said they arrived by walking and 19 percent expected to leave by this mode. Twelve percent of the people interviewed arrived by public transit (Muni or BART) while 67 percent of the comments received were requests for either expanded late night bus or BART services. Twelve percent of the comments were for improved safety, nine percent were for more taxis and four percent were for more parking. Ease of Access was the highest priority for choosing late night transportation modes, followed by speed, safety and cost in that order.

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