Visitors notice it immediately. One recent traveler who came through last May said the city "exceeded expectations by far." And honestly? That tracks. For all the doom-scrolling about SF's decline, people who actually show up tend to be struck by the physical beauty of the place. The bones of this city are extraordinary.

Of course, even a gorgeous morning stroll through the Outer Avenues comes with its own uniquely San Francisco hazards. Residents have long grumbled about the chaotic patchwork of stop signs in the Sunset and Richmond, where the pattern of which intersections are four-way stops and which aren't seems to follow no discernible logic. As one local put it, the experience is "a weird stop / stop / no stop / stop / no stop / no stop / stop sequence" that leaves even longtime drivers guessing.

Another SF resident made the case for simply paying attention: "Driving while present, being aware of your surroundings... is better than driving by memory with your brain on auto pilot. Write that down, kids."

Fair point. But here's the thing — good urban design shouldn't require hypervigilance just to survive a Tuesday morning commute. Consistent signage, clear road markings, and a logical traffic framework aren't luxuries. They're basics. The kind of basics that a city spending $14 billion a year should be able to nail.

San Francisco's natural beauty doesn't need a consultant or a five-year strategic plan. It just needs a government competent enough not to get in the way. Enjoy the morning light. Watch for stop signs. And maybe don't hold your breath waiting for City Hall to make the simple stuff simple.