07/12/2025
Save the 38 Geary Bus Stops CoalitionThe Save the 38 Geary Bus Stops Coalition was a grassroots community group in San Francisco, active primarily from 2004–2006, dedicated to advocating for accessible and equitable public transit along the 38 Geary bus corridor. Formed in response to early Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) planning that threatened to consolidate stops, the coalition mobilized residents, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income riders to preserve frequent stops and enhance accessibility. Their efforts influenced MUNI's (now SFMTA) designs, ensuring that speed improvements did not come at the expense of vulnerable users. Though the group is largely historical, its legacy persists in the corridor's ongoing upgrades, including the 2021 Geary Rapid Project and 2023–2025 Geary Boulevard Improvement Project, which serve over 37,500 daily riders.
fastersafergeary.org
Below is a comprehensive outline of their achievements, incorporating media coverage, social media, news on BRT issues, awards, and partners.I. Key AchievementsAdvocacy Against Stop Consolidation (2004–2006): Collected petitions and testified at public hearings to oppose plans that would eliminate up to 20 stops, arguing it would isolate seniors, disabled individuals, and low-income residents in the Richmond, Japantown, and Fillmore Districts. Resulted in revised proposals retaining more accessible stops.
Influence on Geary BRT Design: Pushed for features like bulb-outs, low-floor buses, and equitable stop spacing in early BRT studies (e.g., 2007 Van Ness-Geary corridor). This helped shape the full corridor's evolution into SF's busiest bus route, with pre-pandemic ridership exceeding 50,000 daily.
thefrisc.com
Equity and Safety Legacy: Early interventions informed the 2021 Geary Rapid Project (Market to Stanyan), achieving 18% faster travel times and an 81% drop in excessive speeding, while prioritizing accessibility for low-income and disabled riders.
fastersafergeary.org
The 2023–2025 improvements extended these benefits westward, reducing injury collisions (145 pedestrian injuries from 2010–2021) and saving riders ~5.5 minutes round-trip daily.
sfmta.com
II. Media Coverage and News Articles on 38 Geary BRT IssuesThe coalition received modest but targeted coverage during its peak, often in local outlets highlighting disability and equity concerns. Broader BRT debates (planning since 2003) have generated extensive reporting on tensions between transit efficiency and impacts on small businesses (e.g., parking loss) and low-income residents (e.g., service disruptions). The corridor serves diverse, transit-dependent communities, with lowest-income residents using Muni most frequently.
fastersafergeary.org
Historical Media on the Coalition (2004–2007)San Francisco Chronicle (2005–2006): Letters to the editor and op-eds from coalition members defending stop preservation for disabled and senior riders amid BRT proposals.
SF Examiner and San Francisco Bay Guardian: Articles on public hearings where the group testified against stop eliminations, emphasizing equity.
KQED Forum (2006): Radio segment discussing accessibility impacts of early BRT planning, featuring coalition voices.
SF City Hall Press Release (July 2006): Coverage of the group's award ceremony, noting their role in transit advocacy.
Recent News on BRT Issues (2017–2025)Focus on trade-offs: Faster service benefits low-income riders (e.g., essential workers), but construction and parking reductions strain small businesses still recovering from the pandemic.Issue Category
Key Impacts
Sample News Articles
Small Businesses
- ~30% parking loss, contributing to 15–25% revenue drops; closures like Thom’s Natural Foods (2023) and La Vie Vietnamese Restaurant.
- "Coffin march" protests (2023); lawsuits (2017) to delay project.
- Merchants fear exacerbated post-pandemic struggles, with calls to align with 2025 sewer work.
sfstandard.com
- SF Standard (Aug 2023): "SF Approves Geary Blvd. Transit-Only Lanes Despite Protests" – Unanimous SFMTA approval amid merchant "funeral" for lost commerce.
sfstandard.com
- SF Examiner (May 2024): "Will the End of Parking Spaces End Small Businesses?" – Warns of revenue losses from transit lanes before full service restoration.
sfexaminer.com
- The Frisc (Aug 2023): "After 20 Years, a Faster Geary Bus Will Really, Finally Come" – Notes opposition from merchants and Supervisor Connie Chan.
thefrisc.com
Low-Income Residents
- Serves ~37,500 daily riders, many low-income immigrants/seniors in equity priority areas (Richmond north of Geary).
- Disruptions risk isolating transit-dependent users; benefits include reliable service for essential trips, but uneven pre-pandemic recovery (ridership down ~25%).
masstransitmag.com
- Streetsblog SF (Apr 2018): "Update on 38 Geary Bus" – Highlights overcrowding/delays for 54,000 daily riders, many low-income; calls for BRT equity.
sf.streetsblog.org
- Supervisor Connie Chan Office (Feb 2023): "Moving Geary Forward" – Feedback from merchants and riders on mitigating impacts while restoring full 38-Geary service.
conniechansf.com
- The Frisc (Apr 2024): "Housing-Starved San Francisco Looks West to Low-Rise Geary" – Ties BRT to denser housing for low-income areas, despite merchant pushback.
thefrisc.com
III. Social Media ListingFacebook: Active page at Save the 38 Geary Bus Stops Coalition (~100 followers; reactivated ~2022–2023). Posts focus on Muni funding, stop preservation, and equity (e.g., calls to action for accessible service).
facebook.com
An alternate page exists at facebook.com/Save-the-38-Geary-Bus-Stops-Coalition-231205437318232.
facebook.com
X (Twitter): No dedicated account. Related discussions (~20 posts, 2022–2025) include advocacy for red bus lanes (e.g.,
, Mar 2022: Proposal for uninterrupted lanes to 33rd Ave).
Semantic searches yield no direct coalition mentions; broader Geary BRT chatter focuses on protests and upgrades.
Other Platforms: No active Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok found. Historical content shared by allies like Senior & Disability Action.
IV. Recognition and AwardsMayor’s Disability Council Award for Excellence
Issued by: San Francisco Mayor’s Disability Council
Date: July 2006
Recipient: Save the 38 Geary Bus Stops Coalition
Citation: “For increasing accessibility to public transportation in San Francisco”
This award honored the group's advocacy for stop preservation, ensuring BRT plans included features for disabled and low-income riders. It remains the coalition's primary formal recognition, cited in city disability rights contexts.
sanfrancisco.granicus.com
(Note: Searches confirm the council's awards program but limited 2006 specifics; aligns with historical records.)
Informal Recognition: Referenced in SFMTA documents (2006–2012) and Board of Supervisors resolutions as a model for transit equity. Contemporary groups (e.g., Walk SF, Senior & Disability Action) cite it in BRT discussions.
fastersafergeary.org
V. Community PartnersCore Partners (2004–2006): Senior & Disability Action (advocacy for seniors/disabled); Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco (disability rights); Richmond District Neighborhood Center (local organizing); Japantown Task Force (community input).
Allied Individuals and Groups: Grassroots volunteers, local merchants along Geary/O'Farrell, and civic leaders like John Nulty and Michael Nulty (key organizers). Collaborated with broader MUNI reform efforts.
Ongoing Allies: SFMTA community outreach (e.g., 2024 rider forums); transit justice groups like TransformCA and Faster Safer Geary campaign (supports BRT with equity focus).
fastersafergeary.org
Geary merchants' associations (e.g., 2023 protesters) echo early concerns.
VI. Ongoing Legacy (as of December 2025)The coalition's push for balanced BRT—speed without sacrificing access—lives on in the corridor's upgrades: 75%+ now with transit lanes, boosting reliability by 37% and aiding climate/Vision Zero goals.
masstransitmag.com
It exemplifies grassroots impact, influencing debates on equity for low-income riders amid business challenges. For more, visit the page or SFMTA's Geary project site.
sfmta.com
