Narrative:

We received clearance to push from ramp control and to contact ground control when ready. Ground control told us to taxi to runway 28L via alpha foxtrot cross 01L and 01R. As we started taxing ground changed our clearance to give way to [an aircraft]; alpha; delta; bravo; foxtrot; cross 01L 01R hold short of 28L. On bravo I knew that we had to be really careful approaching juliet since it can be deceiving and be confused for foxtrot. As we approach taxiway foxtrot I saw the sign made a slide right turn on bravo and a left turn thinking it was foxtrot. I confused juliet for foxtrot and in a matter of seconds I realized I had made the wrong turn; I stopped and tried to call ground to let them know and a second later we saw a departing plane on 28L that came close to us. I couldn't tell if we had entered the runway or not. At this time ground told us to taxi on to 28L right on 01L left on foxtrot and to hold short of 01R. They proceeded to give us the tower phone number for a possible pilot deviation.as a captain and a check airman I assume full responsibility for this mistake. The first officer and I had our 10-9 charts out and we were heads out tracking our taxi. We had briefed the hot spots on our taxi route in detail; and the taxi instructions were very clear and understood. I think I misread the taxiway signage; I don't remember seeing a hold line nor flashing lights that would have alerted me to stop. Low lighting around that area could of have been a factor. Taxi speeds were slower than normal for me. First officer and I were rested and fit for duty even after a long previous day; we were running behind schedule but we were not rushing through anything. I was doing IOE with a low experience first officer; watching everything he did might have taken my full attention to doing my task.I would suggest that painting the taxiway designation at those intersections would really help avoid this mistake. Maybe flashing lights and a hold short line on juliet before entering 28L and repositioning of the taxiway signs closer to bravo would help identify juliet better. With that runway configuration (departing 28's) keeping aircraft on alpha; foxtrot to 28 would probably help.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ-200 flight crew reported they were confused while taxiing at SFO and turned onto the wrong taxiway nearly encroaching onto an active runway.

Narrative: We received clearance to push from ramp control and to contact ground control when ready. Ground control told us to taxi to runway 28L via Alpha Foxtrot cross 01L and 01R. As we started taxing ground changed our clearance to give way to [an aircraft]; Alpha; Delta; Bravo; Foxtrot; cross 01L 01R hold short of 28L. On Bravo I knew that we had to be really careful approaching Juliet since it can be deceiving and be confused for Foxtrot. As we approach taxiway Foxtrot I saw the sign made a slide right turn on Bravo and a left turn thinking it was Foxtrot. I confused Juliet for foxtrot and in a matter of seconds I realized I had made the wrong turn; I stopped and tried to call ground to let them know and a second later we saw a departing plane on 28L that came close to us. I couldn't tell if we had entered the runway or not. At this time ground told us to taxi on to 28L right on 01L left on Foxtrot and to hold short of 01R. They proceeded to give us the tower phone number for a possible pilot deviation.As a captain and a check airman I assume full responsibility for this mistake. The first officer and I had our 10-9 charts out and we were heads out tracking our taxi. We had briefed the hot spots on our taxi route in detail; and the taxi instructions were very clear and understood. I think I misread the taxiway signage; I don't remember seeing a hold line nor flashing lights that would have alerted me to stop. Low lighting around that area could of have been a factor. Taxi speeds were slower than normal for me. FO and I were rested and fit for duty even after a long previous day; we were running behind schedule but we were not rushing through anything. I was doing IOE with a low experience First Officer; watching everything he did might have taken my full attention to doing my task.I would suggest that painting the taxiway designation at those intersections would really help avoid this mistake. Maybe flashing lights and a hold short line on Juliet before entering 28L and repositioning of the taxiway signs closer to bravo would help identify Juliet better. With that runway configuration (departing 28's) keeping aircraft on Alpha; Foxtrot to 28 would probably help.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.