That data, one on hand is horrifying, but most of the crime (well, except for Stockton where you should only go with a Seal Team) is quite isolated to certain parts of the cities.

If I were you, I’d plan the trip so I wouldn’t have to stay in San Francisco. If you stay along the coast from the Golden Gate Bridge south, you should be fine. The ride from north of the bridge to Half Moon Bay can be done in a day and that would be a good place to stay the night.

A couple of things about safety. Cell phone use while driving is an epidemic in California. You’ll hear different views about a radar unit, but one of the things I like about the Garmin Varia is that it’s red light flashes to alert a car driver when approaching a bicycle.

You’ll need a US cell number. If your phone has eSIM capability, there are virtual carriers (I’m very pleased with Tello - $10/mo and no contract) that will allow you to have multiple numbers on your phone (your home number and a US number).