How bad is the Civic Center BART station?

[Isebiel]

Originally Posted by nikonfotog

I'll be traveling to SF in a couple months, and will be taking the BART from the SF airport into the city. I'm staying in the wharf, so the best way to get there seems to be Airport --> BART --> F-line to wharf. (Although if anyone has alternate suggestions, I'm all ears).

I did this about two years ago and exited the BART at the Powell station. I remember waiting what seemed like an eternity for a non-packed streetcar. Which of course sucks if you're weighed down with luggage. So this time, I thought I'd exit the BART further south hoping that will yield a less packed streetcar sooner.

But...I've heard off and on that the Civic Center BART station (and its immediate surroundings) are dangerous day or night. Is that an exaggeration? FWIW, I'd be arriving around 1pm on a weekday.

If I don't feel like coming out the station swinging (especially with luggage), should I just take the exit at the Powell station and enjoy the fresh air while I wait an hour for streetcar with a couple empty seats? Or is the Civic Center station safer than I've heard/read over the years?

Civic Center isn't dangerous in the daytime, except maybe when there's a big event on. There are usually some crazy dudes around, but they don't seem to interact with anyone, um, real so I don't think they're a problem unless you engage with them. (I don't know how it is at night, but I suspect its more disturbing than actually dangerous.)

Personally, I take the BART to the Embarcadero and grab a cab from the cab line across the street (in front of the Hyatt Regency) for the rest of the trip.

[mayorhaggar]

Yeah I would get off at either Powell, Embarcadero or Montgomery and catch a cab. Civic Center is further west (but further south) but it's just more of a deserted area so it will take longer to take a cab.