San Bernardino Metrolink Station & Parking (garage, car, best)

[agnt.starling]

@jmlowmanThanks for the update, so in two weeks? Well it will be interesting to see, I took it yesterday roundtrip & that gray is depressing, the inside is really nice, especially the humongous restrooms, old & really nice, you can see alot went into the decor, very classy!!

[andi10]

Just wanted to ask - would there be lots of commuters during Easter Weekend? Is the San Bernardino station safe to travel for young adults by themselves?

[agnt.starling]

Originally Posted by andi10

Just wanted to ask - would there be lots of commuters during Easter Weekend? Is the San Bernardino station safe to travel for young adults by themselves?

YES, and yes, I've been riding it alot lately and my husband does it alot on the weekends and at night, I'm always amazed on how many people do travel, especially on the weekends, both Metrolink & Amtrak, so expect it to be busy, which is a good thing, more people and safer you are, but always be on your guard as anywhere you go. My 16 yr old does Moreno Valley (RIverside) Metrolink w/her friends, off and on and has had no problems (I tell her she has to be back before sunset, even though she doesn't live w/me). San Bernardino, the same thing, especially since the nearby surrounding areas (and all around it except by the University & the foothills) aren't so nice at all (to put it lightly), you should be back (or leave) before night falls definitely...there are more security guards and now I'm seeing (Thank God) alot more Sheriff's patroling and checking for tickets (Especially since they finally opened the new Parking lot structure & Museum), but be safe and come/or go before daylight ends.

[Adamson865]

So I was thinking of taking the train from SB or Riverside-DT down to Oceanside for a weekend, but for some reason I had the smarts enough to call Metrolink to check on parking, and neither lot allows overnight parking.

Is there anyplace near the SB station one can park overnight? I've never been there so I don't know the lay of the land myself.

[jmlowman]

Possibly on 3rd Street, across from the Amtrak Station.

I wouldn't recommend leaving a vehicle of any worth overnight in that neighborhood, though.

[Adamson865]

Having been to the station today and having driven through the immediate area, I concur.

[jmlowman]

There has been considerable improvement in the immediate vicinity of the Amtrak and Metrolink stations. An aging shopping center was demolished and a new supermarket was built, along with shops on two levels.

There is a security guard at the Amtrak station, but I don't know about security near the Metrolink station or the new parking structure.

If we were taking the Metrolink and not returning the same day, I'd be inclined to spring for taxi fare from home, rather than leaving one of our vehicles there overnight.

[Adamson865]

Originally Posted by jmlowman

If we were taking the Metrolink and not returning the same day, I'd be inclined to spring for taxi fare from home, rather than leaving one of our vehicles there overnight.

Unfortunately, taxi fare from Palm Springs would be rather prohibitive! I might as well just drive to Oceanside at that rate.

[agnt.starling]

I feel the same way rah62, I can't afford a taxi, not quite coming from Palm Springs, but further out from Calimesa/Yucaipa & Redlands area (i'm still looking for a permanent home out this way) anyhow I have to commute to LA everyday, my choice, however I've been lucky to have found a vanpool for the City of LA that comes from Rialto, and its so worth it. But there are times where I want to stay in LA and can't leave the car in the SBD metrolink parking lot (like others have said, you wouldn't want to in that area)...so I usually end up driving in and staying for the weekends at times. There are also times when a friend can pick me up from a certain point (Rancho Cucamonga or Fontana) but can't park out there, even in the residential areas where they don't have it posted or any postings indicating, but they will issue citations &/or tow cars away that park there for more than 24 hours, however parked my car in Redlands by the University in a nearby neighborhood w/no posted restrictions for 4 days and came home to find it safe and intact. So I guess it just depends.....

[Adamson865]

I called Metrolink customer service to ask which (if any) stations allowed overnight parking, and got put on hold for so long I finally gave up.