Free WiFi in the San Francisco Bay Area

This is in response to a request from ParadigmShift. Thanks, Paradigm, for giving me a push to gather this info and put it in one place where I can, like, find it.

The access points are grouped by type of place (e.g., libraries, coffeehouses, parks). I'm fussy about writing environments, so I've looked but never found a list sorted by place-type, until I wrote this one.

Free municipal WiFi came to several pioneering Bay Area cities ... and went. Those cities were serviced by MetroFi, which dropped all municipal WiFi networks in June 2008. May free public WiFi soon return!

Here's a Silicon Valley exception:

Google WiFi in Mountain View

And while neither public nor citywide, this directory of free WiFi hotspots in San Francisco might come in handy.

Public library systems in the Bay Area provide dedicated internet computers. More and more libraries now offer free WiFi for your own laptop, too. Availability may vary from branch to branch.

You may be required to have a library card for each system. Typically, you do not need to be a resident of the library district to obtain a card, but they may require extra ID before issuing a card to you.

Yahoo Directory of Bay Area Public Libraries

Many chain and independent coffeehouses provide free WiFi in the Bay Area.

Since these are hard-working businesses seeking to make a profit, they'll probably require you to make a minimum drink or snack purchase before they give you the day's password. Because this type of business relies on a certain level of customer turnover during the day, the coffeehouse may set a time limit on WiFi usage.

Here are a couple of chains:

Panama Bay Coffee Company (also known as Panama Red Coffee Company -- this chain's a Northern California thing)

Panera Bread -- 5 locations in the Bay Area

This is my favorite site for finding free Wi-Fi in coffeehouses and more in the Bay Area and beyond:

Wi-Fi-FreeSpot

Parks and campgrounds are where we go to get un-connected. Right?

But think about researching your novel under a leafy tree whilst birds serenade you. Or calling up Mapquest to guide you home from the trail!

California's State Parks are going wireless. Here's the list:

WiFi at California State Parks

AC Transit offers free WiFi on certain buses traveling across the Bay Bridge, San Mateo Bridge and Dumbarton Bridge. WiFi buses sport this decal:

From 2007 to early 2008, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ran a pilot WiFi program in San Francisco and is now negotiating with Wi-Fi Rail to launch systemwide service. The current model calls for ad-supported free service, with paid subscription upgrades to ad-free service.