Muni isn't any better than some other agencies. The fact that they charge for maps isn't helping (many of them for free). Different styles of bus and Metro stops are unusual: http://www.transitunlimited.org/Muni_bus_stops , along with unusual fare policy.

There are no maps of the transit system. There is one transit office, in an obscure, unmarked location. If you can find it (though you probably can't), you are welcome to collect the individually printed schedules of each of the various bus or subway lines. Perhaps you are interested in the 33 bus, or the 17, or the 112X? Take a separate schedule for each. But if you don't know which ones you need because you don't even know what options exist to get from point A to point B, well then, maybe you can collect them all and then spend a bunch of hours trying to figure out how they all fit together. Good luck with that.

In contrast, here in SF, high quality MUNI maps that show the whole system are widely available at stores throughout town, and they only cost a few bucks. Just about every bus shelter (like the one in the picture on 9th Ave.) has one inside it. And the light rail trains have them inside too. So it's actually not that hard for tourists to figure out where they are and how to get where they are going, as long as they are willing to clue in just a tad and maybe shell out a few dollars for a lovely map.

I'm failing to see the problem here, coach!!

We had a German foreign exchange student with us this summer. She had a dreadful map of the city that her aunt had given her. We got her the basic Muni bus map sold at drugstores, (not free, but worth the money) and then she successfully took Muni all over the city (although she did have the usual ridiculous waits, etc.) A good map is invaluable. Then again, I've always been a map person. Also worth noting you can download a pdf of the SF Muni map for free as well.

It *is* difficult to know where to get off on Muni. That's one of the big benefits of underground subway systems (besides the speed, lack of traffic, etc.) All the stops have names, they appear in a clearly defined order with big signs, and you can pinpoint just where the stop will place you in the city when you emerge. It's far simpler to get from point A to point B on the Paris metro, even for someone who doesn't speak French, than a comparable trip on SF Muni. Better signage, especially for likely tourist destinations, would certainly help. The announcements on the bus PA systems aren't always so easy to hear or comprehend, especially when you usually have only five seconds to plow through a bunch of people and get out the back door before the bus moves on.

My issue is that Muni does not have consistent signage even for bus stops. Some stops you get a nice sign with numbers and destinations, some stops are marked by a yellow band on street poles, and some stops only have yellow numbers on the pavement. I've yet to see another agencies to have such inconsistent signage. Down in San Diego county, rural bus stops with service once a week are as well marked as those in downtown.

I used to rely on a steady supply of the Pedestrian and Cycle Maps which used to be available for cheap or free from the City; the maps have slope marked, which is really important for wheelchairs, and very helpful to folks who can't walk well and want to avoid hills.

Unfortunately, said map has somehow ended up in the sole possession of a certain SF bicycle group, and I am much more reluctant to give them my money when I used to get the map from the city for cheaper or free. Once again pedestrians and bicyclists seem to be at odds.

"The standard map that visitors get from their hotels or maybe from the SF Convention & Visitors Bureau is atrocious."

This is so indicative of the mindset of most San Franciscans that all our problems must be solved by someone else. You have each identified a need in the market. Go out and fill it.

Regarding "architectural prowess", the sign illustrated in Golden Gate Park shows a poorly designed sign, where the bottom 3 lines are blocked by cars. The caption beneath the photo also suggests that pedestrians are somehow unable to take advantage of this really tall sign and that a separate sign for pedestrians is also needed.

On a side note, I think BART and Caltrain should have electric message boards to announce stops. On BART, not so much Caltrain, you can never hear the announcement for what the next station is. Maybe even a note saying if it is a left or right exit so people can position themselves better.

One simple thing the City could do is provide better paper maps. Nearly all the tourists complain about the crappy maps (and rightly so).