Is San Francisco and the bay area such a safe place?

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SFdude

San Francisco has a reputation for being one of America's safest cities. To some extent, that's true. It's certainly safer than places like L.A., Detroit, Miami, NYC, or New Orleans...but the reputation is not entirely deserved.

Murders: Although San Francisco's crime rate (about 75-100 homicides a year) is quite low compared to Los Angeles and Detroit (about 500-600 homicides a year)...the numbers are skewed because it doesn't include other Bay Area crime hotspots like Oakland and Richmond. If you add those hoods to the totals, it is actually more like 250-300 homicides a year. Still significantly lower than L.A., but not as good as it first seems.

Natural Disasters: SF is in a pretty severe earthquake zone. In 1906, a massive earthquake killed between 13,000-27,000 residents, and left 300,000 homeless. Improvements have been made to buildings in the last 100 years, of course. Still, there's no guarantee it won't happen again.

There are absolutely no hurricanes or snowstorms. But there is ocassional flooding from the rains, particularly in the North Bay. Sometimes summer wildfires get out of control as well (as in the 1991 Oakland Hills fire). These rarely cause many deaths, however... just a lot of property damage.

Terrorism: SFO Airport bound flights have been targeted (including Flight 93 on 9-11 and the recent plots uncovered in London). Nothing has happened in California yet, but there have been periodic threats.

The city definitely takes these threats seriously. San Francisco is one of the high priority targets for the West Coast region (along with L.A. and Seattle).

NONAME

very safe, unless you live in west oakland or east palo alto.

i live in san fran and take the bus very early in the morning to get to work (4:30 am to be exact) i've never had problems that early.

i feel its pretty safe.

Mikal

You can map this for yourself.

http://www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp?id=23813

Overall, the crime rate in SF is considerably lower than in many of the big northeast cities for instance. And it tends to be pretty localized. loserwonderboy or whatever his handle is wrote a decent list, but remember that you don't necessarily need to or want to avoid those areas at all times. For instance, there are a lot of great places that you will want to eat at in the area around Mission and 16th to 24th. Mostly on Valencia.

loserboywonder

SF and the SF Bay Area is overall a very safe place, except for the few areas listed here: Parts of Oakland and Richmond should be avoided, as should certain portions of San Francisco.

â€¢Market and south past Mission between 4th and Van Ness
â€¢Tenderloin, in general
â€¢Area around Mission and 16th St.
â€¢Area around Mission and 24th St.
â€¢Hunter's Point
â€¢BayView area

The other Bay Area suburbs are very safe. I've never been a victim of any crime other than my car stereo getting stolen.

sllyjo

safe, it's not a vault. subject to earthquakes. oh what a ride! didn't even have to by a ticket. sf is sf. a city of love, all kinds of weird love. safe from? boredom, you should never be bored in sf. safe from hurricanes, party on! just watch out for dirty harry and vigilantes.

drago

San Jose has been the safest big city in the U.S. for five years running. The only crimes I see are too many dudes at bars.

mattomynameo

Hello.

I'm a 15 year old living in San Francisco, and I've lived here all of my life. I can safely say that San Francisco is absolutely positively perfectly safe if you do not go around and ask for trouble.

Sure there are gangs here like every other city. They stick to themselves and fight each other once and a while. But if you do not bother them, they will not bother you.

And of course there are plenty of fantastic people here that counter-balance any people you'd want to avoid.

Stay out of downtown at night while you're by yourself, I mean. I've been by myself in downtown SF, and though it's not necessarily dangerous, it's not all that fun.

The only really dangerous place is Bay View Hunters Point. It's dangerous because of it's environmental status, and the amount of gang members/etcetc that live there. Just avoid it.

So my vote is yes, San Francisco is indeed a very safe city.

LiL bLu eyed AngeL

SF is safe there are places that r unsafe but thats the same way with everyone. just stay away from hunters point! Move to a city thats south of frisco like San MAteo beautiful area! thats where i live. Dont move to foster City because when the next earth quake hits its going down b/c its built on land fill

Morid Rocks

Just like anywhere it certainly has it areas that are a little more unsafe that usual but where doesn't.

I moved to the bay area three years ago and would not live anywhere else now. I love it here. Honestly I have never been anywhere where I have felt so unsafe that I was scared for my life.

I have lived in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkley, and beyond.

Hey You

I'm a single young woman, living in SF. I found The City very safe. Also, referring to the person above, Oakland's murders shouldn't be included in our murder rate. This is because Oakland is drastically different from SF. Native and longtime residents hardly go there. Again, the Oakland Hills fire, was not us; it was in Oakland. The saying goes "if you have to cross a bridge, then it's too far."

For neighborhoods, stay out Hunter's Point and Bay View. Everywhere else is pretty darn safe, including the tenderloin. Remember basic safety rules, watch yourself and your personel items. Don't be shocked by anything, we are a major metropolitan city (drugs, hookers etc.). Watch your surroundings, if it's 2 a.m. and your in North Beach don't try anything dumb. The Sunset is always quite and mostly filled with families.

Lastly, it's only 7 by 7 miles, so naturally our murder rate is below Los Angeles, which is HUGE compared to us.

rayray

used to live in san francisco,aka san gaycisco, but got tired of waking up with the bed doing the rock and roll with them damn tremors almost every night. something you can't prepare for especially if the big one hits at night when your all sleeping. safe? depends on what you consider safe.

cleanlife

Until last week I would probably say why ask the question but last week I visited San Francisco for the first time. Crime is running wild there the same as all the other well traveled cities. The fear of walking in the Financial area after dark because of the muggings and the lack of police authority in the area after closing time. I was informed by the hotel not to go pass Market street or Mission street....to stay clear of the Tenderloin area. After the man being murdered in Miami for asking for directions, I listened. Crime and violence is nothing new but can be controlled somewhat with the assistance of the authority. Because the poor outweigh the rich, crime is rapid there. Saw one police car in six days in the downtown area.....so I say NO....be careful and alert at all times. Please do not prejudge the people there though...like all cities....crime and violence is everywhere....

Of course, the Napa Valley area was nice quiet and country like....no violence there. Unless the mesquitoes are biting...

China town looked safe but still too close to Tenderlion area.

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