Being without a car in San Francisco (Redwood City, Mountain View: insurance, apartment)

[Milliano]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

It's impossible to park downtown. In many other areas you can park, but you can't be too attached to your car because it'll get dented, scratched, taillights chipped, broadsided by drunks, etc. The Sunset has plenty of free parking but it's pretty well unacceptable because it wasn't designed with cars in mind.

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. I was thinking when moving to SF, I might only have use for a car when leaving the city. Looks like maybe I can combine car/bus/MUNI/BART/bicycle/walking. I don't mind if I can't get directly to a location by car (like in downtown), if I can drive to somewhere relatively convenient and use another form of transport to get there (like if I'm starting from a location inconvenient for public transit). I'm never really in a rush. Plus my small car isn't worth anything, and I know theft from vehicles (and GTA?) is extremely common in SF.

I'm wondering if I should leave my doors unlocked, just so nobody breaks open my windows. Does anyone do this? I read someone on city-data in Chicago decided to leave their doors unlocked for this reason. Surely you will end up with homeless crack heads sleeping in your car I guess.

Do most people recommend having a car when moving to the city at first at least? I'm thinking bring it, and sell it later if I feel I don't want it.

[beone]

Originally Posted by Milliano

Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it. I was thinking when moving to SF, I might only have use for a car when leaving the city. Looks like maybe I can combine car/bus/MUNI/BART/bicycle/walking. I don't mind if I can't get directly to a location by car (like in downtown), if I can drive to somewhere relatively convenient and use another form of transport to get there (like if I'm starting from a location inconvenient for public transit). Plus my small car isn't worth anything, and I know theft from vehicles (and GTA?) is extremely common in SF.

I'm wondering if I should leave my doors unlocked, just so nobody breaks open my windows. Does anyone do this? I read someone on city-data in Chicago decided to leave their doors unlocked for this reason. Surely you will end up with homeless crack heads sleeping in your car I guess.

No. Do not leave your car unlocked. It's really simply - just leave absolutely nothing in your car. Nothing. People look in and then won't break the windows if they don't see anything. Do you really want a hopeless person sharting in your car

[ImRandy]

I don't think you'll go wrong with bringing the car and then determining if you really need it. Personally, I don't think parking is that difficult and having a car is required for the way I want to live but as I said before other people's opinions will vary.

[Milliano]

Heh Beone that's a good point! I don't think I'd want to catch bedbugs from my car seat either, come to think of it.

Originally Posted by ImRandy

I don't think you'll go wrong with bringing the car and then determining if you really need it. Personally, I don't think parking is that difficult and having a car is required for the way I want to live but as I said before other people's opinions will vary.

One thing I don't understand is what people do for parking at home, when they can only park on the street. IIRC most of the city doesn't have designated city parking passes, so there is a 2 hour time limit to park, right? This sounds stupid but if there is only 2 hour parking everywhere, how do people park their car when they're home? Do they only sleep 2 hours at a time, getting up to move their car during the night? Seriously I don't get it.

[ImRandy]

You'll be at work with your car when there are parking restriction. They don't continue through the night.

[beone]

Originally Posted by Milliano

Heh Beone that's a good point! I don't think I'd want to catch bedbugs from my car seat either, come to think of it.



One thing I don't understand is what people do for parking at home, when they can only park on the street. IIRC most of the city doesn't have designated city parking passes, so there is a 2 hour time limit to park, right? This sounds stupid but if there is only 2 hour parking everywhere, how do people park their car when they're home? Do they only sleep 2 hours at a time, getting up to move their car during the night? Seriously I don't get it.

Bedbugs? I was thinking cooties.

Well, people get parking permits. Just like Seattle in high density zones. My friend (who lives nextdoor) has one. They can park 24-7 in the zone which they have the permit for. Also, unlike any where else I've ever lived, it is ok in San Francisco to park on the street in front of a driveway, provided it's your driveway. My friends that live nextdoor have three cars. They all have permits. The rotate parking in the garage, with the other person parking on the street. The person out of the garage, will first look for a spot on the street (non-driveway spot)..if one is not found, he will park on the street in front of the driveway.

[redwoodlvr]

Originally Posted by beone

Also, unlike any where else I've ever lived, it is ok in San Francisco to park on the street in front of a driveway, provided it's your driveway.

Just be careful will this because the parking meter aliens will give you a $100 ticket if you're parked on the sidewalk and blocking it for pedestrians, even if it's your driveway. If you have to park there, make sure you leave enough walking room in front of your car. And don't block the driveway, parking horizontally. That's a $250 ticket. I learned this the hard way and it was one of the reasons I sold my car!!

You will get tickets for almost everything in San Francisco and it's very frustrating. There must be something like a 5:1 ratio for meter people to registered vehicles in SF. They're always there and seem to swoop down on your meter as soon as it's expired. It's also funny because you will see that yellow boot for unpaid tickets on jaguars to pintos in upscale to impoverished neighborhoods just the same. There must be a secret code book of violations because I've never heard of some of them. Like the one stated above until I got the ticket. It's just easier not to have a car. SF City & County relies heavily on revenue received from parking violations (it's in the millions) and they must train their meter folks to be evil and heartless as well. Wow, I still have some strong emotions around this issue -- time to let it go! LOL.

[redwoodlvr]

I forgot there is the street cleaning ticket which is now $40. And it will **** you off when you get this ticket because every day you walk by the street signs that tell you which day they're coming and you still forget! hahaaa. Especially if you generally take the express bus downtown to work, you're not going to be thinking about moving your car when you're running for the bus.

And for those who are not familiar with parking on hills, you will get a $50 ticket now if you forget to curb your wheels. I never got one, but friends new to the city usually did.

There's just too much to remember to do regarding your car here and this doesn't even include trying to get a parking spot in the first place.

MUNI, walking and car sharing worked great for me and kept me sane.

[redwoodlvr]

Originally Posted by beone

Those are great suggestions redwoodlvr.

Thank you very much.

I agree with your MUNI comments. It's not that bad and you become familiar with how to navigate within the system just like any other. If anything you will have interesting stories to share with others. There are some lines you want to avoid, but the lines near my home were great and reliable.

[yqiang]

Wow. Thanks a ton for the very useful information. I should share that the reason I am able to survive in Seattle without a car is because I live in the University District, which is an area pretty much for college students. This means that I am within walking distance to all of life's necessities, which are few when you're a college student.

Someone mentioned bringing a car there...There is no car to bring

I will definitely checkout citycarshare and zipcar, they look like fantastic options. It seems like they are similar to FlexCar. Anyway, I think I'll try it out first without a car and can always buy one if I feel like I really need it. Maybe the extra money saved without having a car can go towards a nicer place, or some investments