I was basing my information on the USGS map showing a open area without any major fault lines crisscrossing it. I consider SF, LA, Parkfield, and El Centro areas that have significant fault lines to be major earthquake zones. We do feel earthquakes in our area, but as far as California is concerned we live in a safe zone.
If you want to following the San Andreas fault in the SJ/ SF area, take a aerial photograph, find the hospitals, then connect the hosptials by a marker. You will have almost the exact location of the San Andreas.
There are an abundant number of smaller, minor fault zones throughout the Sierras. Very low probability of a major quake in that area, you are correct. Fault movement in the Sierra largely vertical, block faulting. However, you are not totally out of the woods. If Mammoth mtn/long valley suddenedly act up (there would be some precursors) or the transverse fault zone (Mohave) act up, you could catch spill over.