How To Be a Good Neighbor in San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the most unique, diverse, and historic cities in the country. Business Insider named it the best city in the world for innovation. Forbes gave San Francisco the honor of coolest city in America. Thrillist went so far as to name it the best city in the country. Yes, people love San Francisco, and all cities earn their reputation by the people who live in it. So if you’re going to become a member of this city’s population, there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind about being a good neighbor in this city—so that you can help make San Francisco’s already good reputation, even better.
Be Green
San Franciscans are some of the greenest citizens in California and in the entire country, and you’ll find that taking conservation seriously is one of the number-one ways you can be a good neighbor in this city. You’ll see green bins and blue bins all around San Francisco, for composting and recycling, respectively. Use these trash cans correctly, don’t litter, and bring your own reusable shopping bags when you go to the grocery store. If you don’t bring reusable bags, you’ll be asked to pay a fee—usually 10 cents—and you may be looked at disapprovingly by your more environmentally conscious neighbors. Stock up on reusable bags, and play your part in saving the earth.
Promote Equality
San Francisco’s diversity is one of the things that makes this city so special. People of all different countries, ethnic groups, backgrounds, sexual orientations, career paths, and walks of life live their lives openly in this welcoming city. Here, being a good neighbor means accepting everyone for who they are. San Francisco is one of the most tolerant cities in the country, so don’t be surprised if you see some eccentric people walking around. In fact, the only kind of people this city doesn’t tolerate is people who are intolerant and unaccepting of others.
Share the Road
Not everyone drives a car in San Francisco. The city has lots of pedestrians, cyclists, roller bladers, skateboarders—you name it. Commuting in the city may be stressful, especially during rush-hour traffic when you’re driving across the city’s infamous hills, and it’s important for citizens of the city to remember that sharing the road is crucial for everyone’s safety. Practice defensive driving, don’t lean on your horn, and play your part to make commuting in the city a more pleasant experience for everyone.
Practice Parking Politeness
Let’s face it—parking is a headache in most major cities, but this is especially true in San Francisco, where parallel parking on hills is common, and street cleaning has resulted in many parking tickets being doled out. When parking on one of San Francisco’s hills, be sure you’re practicing proper etiquette and safety: when your car is facing uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb, and when your car is facing downhill, turn the front wheels toward the curb. If you see a neighbor’s car parked on the street during street-cleaning hours, politely remind them to move their car, lest they get a ticket. Maintaining good manners and proper etiquette can make parking in this city far less of a nightmare for everyone on the road.