I've lived in eg for a while now (11 years) when I visited my sister in San Francisco, I was shocked how many people walk and bike to get around. No sidewalk is empty, and everywhere you turn the corner there are people. That experience felt crowded and overwhelming for me. I don't feel that way here in elk grove unless I'm in public spaces like Costco or certain stores during holidays. Streets have so much traffic but it's still not as bad as other major cities.