38 Geary
| Company type | Public transit service |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Streetcar line operated by Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railway and early Muni streetcar routes (A, B, C Geary) |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | San Francisco, California |
| Products | Bus transit service |
| Owner | San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) |
38 Geary is a bus service managed by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). Along with limited-stop variants such as 38R Geary Rapid, 38AX Geary 'A' Express, and 38BX Geary 'B' Express, the Geary Boulevard corridor represents Muni's highest-ridership transit route.
Route description
This line connects the Salesforce Transit Center with the Richmond District, primarily following Geary Boulevard. It includes dedicated side-running bus lanes designed to enhance travel efficiency. Service runs continuously throughout the day and night, with a scaled-back overnight Owl bus service operating as part of the All Nighter network.
38R Geary Rapid
Known previously as the 38 Limited, the 38R Geary Rapid skips multiple stops east of 33rd Avenue to provide expedited service. In 2019, it achieved a daily boarding figure of 29,500 riders, surpassing that of the local 38 line.
38AX / 38BX Geary Express services
Two express routes operate during weekday peak periods along Geary. Both originate inbound at Davis Street and Pine Street near Embarcadero station, making limited stops through the Financial District before continuing on Geary Boulevard. The 38AX proceeds nonstop to 25th Avenue then serves local stops up to 48th Avenue; the 38BX diverts at Presidio Avenue and covers local stops between Presidio and 25th Avenue. These express routes were temporarily halted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
Service along this corridor began in 1880 with cable cars run by the Geary Street, Park and Ocean Railway. In 1912, San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) acquired it as its inaugural streetcar line, operating A, B, and C Geary routes initially. The B Geary line expanded from downtown to the beachfront following an initial shuttle phase. Rail operations ceased on December 29, 1956, replaced by bus service; the B Geary line evolved into today's 38 Geary route.
During construction of the Salesforce Transit Center, the inbound endpoint was temporarily relocated to the Temporary Transbay Terminal. Between 2019 and 2021, significant components of the Geary Bus Rapid Transit initiative were introduced, incorporating design adaptations inspired by emergency responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ridership
By 2014, daily ridership on this corridor exceeded 54,000 trips, outpacing the entire Caltrain system's usage. This volume places it among North America's busiest bus lines, second only to Vancouver's 99 B-Line, which holds the highest ridership north of Mexico.
See also
External links
- Official 38 Geary route page — SFMTA