Fairfax/San Rafael to Richmond Commute (Walnut Creek, Pittsburg: rental, purchase, taxi)

[twelve_volt_man]

Thanks in advance for any advise:

I am thinking about accepting job in Richmond, and would like to live in the San Rafael or Fairfax area. How is the drive to Richmond, and what would my options be for public transportation across the bridge (hopefully with a bike).

Thanks

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by twelve_volt_man

Thanks in advance for any advise:

I am thinking about accepting job in Richmond, and would like to live in the San Rafael or Fairfax area. How is the drive to Richmond, and what would my options be for public transportation across the bridge (hopefully with a bike).

Thanks

*

Someone correct me if I am wrong -- no bikes allowed on freeway bridges. Traffic, I can't help with.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by twelve_volt_man

Thanks in advance for any advise:

I am thinking about accepting job in Richmond, and would like to live in the San Rafael or Fairfax area. How is the drive to Richmond, and what would my options be for public transportation across the bridge (hopefully with a bike).

Thanks

All of the information you want about transportation in the SF Bay Area including information about travel times, public transportation, travel by bicycle, routes, interactive maps, etc is available by going to the following site <511.org>. It's invaluable for anyone who wants information about traveling in the SF Bay Area.

[humboldtrat]

Golden Gate Transit is the only public transportation that I know about in Marin county. Why not live near Richmond (but NOT in Richmond). Richmond is served by BART BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit District and you could live near a BART station in Walnut Creek or Pittsburg. I think BART allows bikes on the trains.

[nooneknowsmyname]

If you want to live in Fairfax and can deal with the commute, I suggest you do so. In my opinion, Fairfax located in Marin County is a better choice than Walnut Creek and a much, much better choice than Pittsburg. Because they are located in Central Contra County, both Walnut Creek and Pittsburg have much hotter weather in the summertime than Fairfax. If you decide to live in Contra Costa County, it is better to live in West Contra Costa County (excluding Richmond) because the weather gets hotter the further east you travel toward Central Costa County. If you must choose between Walnut Creek and Pittsburg, I suggest Walnut Creek which has a viable downtown, something that is lacking in Pittsburg.

[twelve_volt_man]

How long do you think that commute is? I know it will vary quite a bit with traffic.

Thanks again!

[nooneknowsmyname]

Originally Posted by twelve_volt_man

How long do you think that commute is? I know it will vary quite a bit with traffic.

Thanks again!

Without knowing the exact addresses, it's difficulty to say exactly, but I would imagine that it's approximately 17 miles from Fairfax to Richmond. So maybe 30 minutes if you didn't run into any traffic. If you review these messages, you will see that I posted a message that gave you a website 511.org that you can consult to get all of the information you would ever need about traveling in the SF Bay Area. The site allows you to enter destinations, time of travel and will estimate travel time. One thing you should know is that in order to travel from Fairfax (Marin County) to Richmond (Contra Costa County) you will have to cross the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge which will cost 4.00 per day, a bit less if you purchase a Fastrak Pass. Drivers pay only in one direction, which in your case would be on your way home-- traveling from Richmond to Fairfax.

[humboldtrat]

I didn't mean Walnut Creek or Pittsburg were the only options - just examples. I intended to say living anywhere in the east bay near the BART line would be an easier commute than crossing a bridge from Marin county. And rent might be a little cheaper in the east bay than in up-scale Marin.

[nooneknowsmyname]

Thanks in advance for any advise:

I am thinking about accepting job in Richmond, and would like to live in the San Rafael or Fairfax area. How is the drive to Richmond, and what would my options be for public transportation across the bridge (hopefully with a bike).

Thanks

Agree that the rent is probably cheaper in Contra Costa County than in Marin, since I live in Contra Costa County. Also agree that the commute may be less taxing since there would be no bridge to cross. But, since the OP stated a desire to to live in Marin, requested information about travel, and didn't mention that price was a factor, I just tried to address the questions asked.

[marinmom]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the traffic from Fairfax to the Richmond Bridge is terrible, especially in the mornings--could be as much as 45 minutes or so during morning commute! Fairfax is a great town to live in, but it is a considerably longer commute than San Rafael, not so much in terms of distance but rather traffic. San Rafael is much more centrally located, and has more of a range of rental availablities.
good luck!