Yes, free. As in zero dollars. As in the opposite of every other transit experience in this city where you're paying more for less.

The PresidiGo is operated by the Presidio Trust, the federal agency that manages the Presidio as a self-sustaining national park site. And that "self-sustaining" part is key — the Presidio Trust actually operates without drawing on taxpayer general funds, financing itself through leasing and park revenues. The shuttle exists to reduce car traffic into the park and connect it to downtown SF, and it does exactly what it's supposed to do without nickel-and-diming riders.

Let that sink in for a second. A federally managed entity is running a free, functional transit service while Muni — which you are paying for — can't keep its escalators working.

The route connects downtown to the Presidio, giving you access to some of the most beautiful public space in the entire city: Crissy Field, the Walt Disney Family Museum, miles of trails, and enough open air to forget you live in a city that smells like a combination of eucalyptus and existential dread.

If you work downtown and haven't used this for a weekend trip or even a lunch escape, you're leaving money on the table — or rather, you're leaving free transit on the table, which in San Francisco is basically a mythical concept.

The PresidiGo is a small but real example of what happens when a public entity is forced to be financially disciplined: you get better service, not worse. The Presidio Trust can't just raise taxes or issue bonds when it overspends. It has to make things work. And it does.

Take the shuttle. Enjoy the park. Marvel at what's possible when someone actually has to balance a budget.