Editing Golden Gate Bridge (section)

===Usage and tourism===
{{See also|Golden Gate National Recreation Area}}
[[File:Golden Gate Bridge.webm|thumb|Looking north with traffic and current flow into the bay with sailboats]]
The bridge is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists, and was built with walkways on either side of the six vehicle traffic lanes. Initially, they were separated from the traffic lanes by only a metal curb, but railings between the walkways and the traffic lanes were added in 2003, primarily as a measure to prevent bicyclists from falling into the roadway.<ref name="jumpers">{{cite web |last=Lucas |first=Scott |url=http://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/kevin-hines-still-alive |title=Kevin Hines Is Still Alive |work=Modern Luxury |date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2013}}</ref> The bridge was designated as part of [[U.S. Bicycle Route 95]] in 2021.<ref>{{cite press release|title=U.S. Bicycle Route System Adds 2,903 Miles of New Routes in 5 States|url=https://www.adventurecycling.org/about-us/media/press-releases/u-s-bicycle-route-system-adds-2-903-miles-of-new-routes-in-5-states/|publisher=Adventure Cycling Association|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=August 19, 2021|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020010539/https://www.adventurecycling.org/about-us/media/press-releases/u-s-bicycle-route-system-adds-2-903-miles-of-new-routes-in-5-states/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
The main walkway is on the eastern side, and is open for use by both pedestrians and bicycles in the morning to mid-afternoon during weekdays (5:00&nbsp;a.m. to 3:30&nbsp;p.m.), and to pedestrians only for the remaining daylight hours (until 6:00&nbsp;p.m., or 9:00&nbsp;p.m. during [[daylight saving time|DST]]). The eastern walkway is reserved for pedestrians on weekends (5:00&nbsp;a.m. to 6:00&nbsp;p.m., or 9:00&nbsp;p.m. during DST), and is open exclusively to bicyclists in the evening and overnight, when it is closed to pedestrians. The western walkway is open only for bicyclists and only during the hours when they are not allowed on the eastern walkway.<ref>[http://goldengatebridge.org/bikesbridge/bikes.php The Golden Gate Bridge, Sidewalk Access for Pedestrians and Bicyclists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826225457/http://goldengatebridge.org/bikesbridge/bikes.php |date=August 26, 2011 }}. Goldengatebridge.org. Retrieved June 14, 2013.</ref>

Bus service across the bridge is provided by one public transportation agency, [[Golden Gate Transit]], which runs numerous bus lines throughout the week.<ref name="Golden Gate Transit bus service">{{cite web |title=Golden Gate Transit bus service |url=http://goldengatetransit.org/services/documents/Map_SF.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105174149/http://goldengatetransit.org/services/documents/Map_SF.pdf |archive-date=January 5, 2007 |url-status=live |publisher=Golden Gate Transit |access-date=August 19, 2012}}</ref> The southern end of the bridge, near the toll plaza and parking lot, is also accessible daily from 5:30&nbsp;a.m. to midnight by [[San Francisco Muni]] line 28.<ref name="Muni Route 28">{{cite web |title=Muni Route 28 19th Avenue |url=http://www.sfmta.com/cms/asystem/routedesc.php?rted=28 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=August 19, 2012}}</ref> Muni formerly offered Saturday and Sunday service across the bridge on the Marin Headlands Express bus line, but this was indefinitely suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Muni Route 76X">{{cite web |title=Muni Route 76X Marin Headlands |date=December 18, 2012 |url=http://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/transit/routes-stops/76x-marin-headlands |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Service Update During COVID-19">{{cite web |title=Service Update During COVID-19 |date=March 16, 2020 |url=https://www.sfmta.com/blog/service-update-during-covid-19 |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=April 4, 2024}}</ref> The Marin Airporter, a private company, also offers service across the bridge between Marin County and [[San Francisco International Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://marinairporter.com/|title=Marin Airporter, SFO Airport Transportation, Bus Service, Marin County, CA|website=Marin Airporter}}</ref>

A [[visitor center]] and gift shop, originally called the "Bridge Pavilion" (since renamed the "Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center"), is located on the San Francisco side of the bridge, adjacent to the southeast parking lot. It opened in 2012, in time for the bridge's 75th-anniversary celebration. A cafe, outdoor exhibits, and restroom facilities are located nearby.<ref>{{cite web |title=Site Improvements |url=http://goldengatebridge75.org/about/site-improvements.html |website=Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary |publisher=Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District |access-date=January 12, 2015}}</ref> On the Marin side of the bridge, only accessible from the northbound lanes, is the H. Dana Bower Rest Area and Vista Point,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/ra/ra99.htm | title=H. Dana Bowers Rest Area | publisher=California Department of Transportation | access-date=June 2, 2016 | archive-date=May 29, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529120513/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/maint/ra/ra99.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> named after the first landscape architect for the California Division of Highways.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways_Final.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012022502/http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/tsip/hseb/products/Named_Freeways_Final.pdf |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |url-status=live | title=2015 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California | pages=183, 205 | publisher=California Department of Transportation | access-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref>

Lands and waters under and around the bridge are homes to varieties of wildlife such as [[bobcat]]s, harbor seals, and sea lions.<ref>[https://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/nature/animals.htm Animals – Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)]. Retrieved on July 30, 2017</ref><ref>The [[Sfgate.com|SFGate]]. 2015. [http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/slideshow/Whales-put-on-a-show-in-San-Francisco-Bay-115781.php Whale, sea lions put on a show near Golden Gate Bridge]. Retrieved on July 30, 2017</ref> Three species of [[cetacean]]s (whales) that had been absent in the area for many years have shown recoveries and recolonizations in the vicinity of the bridge {{as of|2017||lc=y}}; researchers studying them have encouraged stronger protections and recommended that the public watch them from the bridge or from land, or use a local [[whale watching]] operator.<ref>[http://www.ggcetacean.org/home.html GOLDEN GATE CETACEAN RESEARCH]. Retrieved on July 30, 2017</ref><ref>Keener B.. 2017. [https://baynature.org/article/ask-naturalist-humpback-whales-san-francisco-bay-right-now/ Ask The Naturalist: Why Are There Humpback Whales In the San Francisco Bay Right Now?]. Retrieved on July 30, 2017</ref><ref>Woodrow M.. 2017. [http://abc7news.com/society/experts-concerned-about-whale-safety-in-san-francisco-bay/2165761/ Experts concerned about whale safety in San Francisco Bay]. The [[KGO-TV|ABC7]]. Retrieved on July 30, 2017</ref>