What it’s prefer to discover each avenue in San Francisco

San Francisco has more than 2,000 streets, from major arteries to a maze of alleys and dirt roads. There are also over 220 parks, about 120 miles of hiking trails, as well as lakes, attractions, and public spaces.

After 14 years in the city, I thought I knew well, but when my partner Brett Lider decided to ride every road and trail during the pandemic, I learned how much I didn’t know. Every time he uploaded a new running route and photos, he just reiterated how much there was still to be discovered.

I learned that Brett was not alone in his endeavors. Many others have undertaken this quest through running, walking, and cycling. I spoke to seven of these city explorers to learn more about their travels, and it turns out it’s not just about getting a destination; It’s also what you learn about the city and yourself along the way.

Toby Silver, who has lived in San Francisco for 25 years, started his project in 2017. “It was the beginning and the celebration of my 20th year in San Francisco. As a big birthday was approaching, I wanted to write a lyrical song of praise for the city, my love for running and my urge to discover and find joy and meaning in life by connecting people and places. And not with words, but with my feet and a camera, ”he said.

Everyone has their own personal definition of what it means to explore each street. For Joy Durighello, who was born in San Francisco, it is “anything that is paved with at least one street sign and a house entrance”. Others aim to visit every public road, as well as private roads, and all of the city’s parks, stairs, and paths.

Frank Chan, who has lived in Russian Hill since 2002, did all this and more: “During the brief period at the beginning of the pandemic, when the Presidio Golf Course was closed to golfers, the public was allowed to move freely. I ran the 18 holes one after the other as if I were playing a round. “

And how do you find out how many of the over 1,500 miles of San Francisco you’ve seen? There are many options, from analog to digital – some use paper maps and others use apps like Strava to record the activity and then import it into other apps like StreetFerret and CityStrides to see what percentage of a city they have visited.

When Chan uploaded his running routes to CityStrides, he found that he had already covered 30% of San Francisco. Motivated by his goal, he ran the remaining 70% in just three months.

Chan’s friend Russell Gong also took the project to extremes. On New Year’s Eve 2020 he ran 17 hours straight to get closer to his goal. “That day, I drove downtown north of Market as part of a full-day race. I ran it like a lawn mower, up and down all the downtown streets and then east to west to cover all the horizontals. I started at 5am, stopped for donuts after an hour. At lunch a colleague brought me a burrito and a beer. Later that day, Frank [Chan] came out and ran a few miles with me. I made it back home at 10 p.m. with plenty of time to tidy up and watch the ball fall with the family. “

But you don’t have to cross all of San Francisco to see it, and you can gradually work towards your destination. It took Travis Monson, a tour guide and photographer who wrote about his project for SFGATE, six years to finish his walking tour, which began the week he moved to the city from Utah in 2011. “The motivation came and went in the first few years. In 2014 I received a book from Gary Kamiya called “Cool Gray City of Love” that opened my eyes to the city in a new way. After reading this book, I made a real commitment to achieving my goal, ”he said.

Lynn Adachi, who has lived in the Bay Area for 30 years and in San Francisco since 2016, is also taking a more relaxed approach: “We’re looking for good cafes and other goodies that we can have at the end of our walk,” she said. “Sometimes we center our walks in new areas around neighborhood events and festivals.”

And it would not be a proper search if there were no obstacles to overcome. Silver wrote that “Climbing fences, stealthy running at night or early in the morning was not uncommon. Nothing ever felt like an obstacle, more of a problem to be solved. For some of the private roads I kindly inquired and got those Permission, while on the islands of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and Treasure and Yerba Buena it was often an act to ask forgiveness when caught. I occasionally met a stray dog, saw myriad raccoons and coyotes, and some friendly domestic and alley cats and on an excursion (which took us to Mount San Bruno), a mountain lion. ”

Lider, a white man, recognizes his privilege to be able to do all of this. “I was inspired by the BLM movement and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery while running. I wanted to draw attention to our unequal access to – and safety – the outdoors, ”he said. “Some of us sneak into private streets to check off our lists. Could a colored runner do the same without taking more risks? “

For Brett Lider, driving on any street has brought to light some more serious problems in our city, including illegal garbage disposal and the housing affordability crisis.

Brett Lider

But where the challenges are great, the rewards are great. “I learned that I knew so little about the city where I spent most of my life,” said Gong. “There have been wonderful discoveries of small hidden communities, strange architecture, and parks that I’ve never heard of. I have a much better sense of direction around the city now, having seen everything on foot. I also know where there are many public toilets now! “

Adachi had a full list of the things she loved on her trip including “Gravel roads in Glen Park, all the murals and artwork on the houses and walls, the lovely tiled stairs, the views from different hills, the beautiful gardens, and quirky things who have favourited people flaunt inside and outside their homes.

Monson’s project even helped him start a new career. “I learned so much about myself from these walks. They have been a source of meditation for me and have enabled me to truly disconnect from work and life,” he said. “I also learned that I love taking photos and documenting the city from my perspective. I’m in the process of publishing a book on San Francisco, and I plan to have more photo exhibitions in 2022 to share my work. “

For those who would like to embark on this quest, our explorers had a few tips for you. Monson recommends getting a pair of walking shoes and recording your walks in a journal. Gong reminds people to plan toilet stops and carry a mask and money for food and drinks.

While the completion of a project like this one offers a satisfying sense of completion, San Francisco is always in flux. “During my runs, despite our relative density, I saw how much unused land there is in places like SoMA and Bayview / Hunters Point. I was reminded of how much of the city is under construction and always evolving, ”Chan said. “New roads will be built in the coming years.”

Alexandra Kenin runs a hiking tour company called Urban Hiker SF and has authored two hiking guides for the Bay Area: Urban Trails San Francisco and Urban Trails: East Bay. Find her on Instagram at @urbanhikersf and email her at alexandra@urbanhikersf.com.