Being without a car in San Francisco (Oakland, Berkeley: apartment, job)

[yqiang]

Hi guys,
I just discovered this forum through a google search. I've found some of the information on here to be extremely valuable!

Here's my situation:
I just accepted a job offer down in Mountain View, but speaking to several people, that's not really a place where young people tend to live. I crashed at my friends apartment in SOMA and really liked it there.
I am going to be making a decent amount of money (or so it seems) but I'd rather not have a car if that's possible at all. I go to school in Seattle right now and have been car less for the past 4 years without any major problems. I've heard *very* mixed things about the public transit system in San Fran, so I'm not sure what to think. I'll probably take Caltrain to work, but I'm more worried about getting around, doing errands, shopping for groceries, etc.

Cheers,

[ImRandy]

Yes, opinions will vary on the subject. Personally, I don't think San Francisco is a city where you can be 100% without a car. BART covers a very narrow swath through the city and Muni is notoriously unreliable. It can be done but I value my time highly and I'll pay to park rather than wait for public transportation.

[18Montclair]

well,
it all depends on where and how you live. Muni is unreliable to San Franciscans cause their a bunch of spoiled city people who really dont know what theyre talking about cause theyve never had to wait for a suburban bus-talk about torture. The truth is, the system is very good compared to most other places and everyone takes it so they all have very intimate experience with the system.

When I was living in The City, I wouldnt drive my car for weeks on end because it simply wasnt necessary.

[sonarrat]

Muni Metro is awful, but on the other hand, the bus system is downright excellent. They drive like they own the road, great alternative to the cut and thrust of driving yourself and frequency levels are spot-on.

[Milliano]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to 18Montclair again.

Originally Posted by ImRandy

Yes, opinions will vary on the subject. Personally, I don't think San Francisco is a city where you can be 100% without a car. BART covers a very narrow swath through the city and Muni is notoriously unreliable. It can be done but I value my time highly and I'll pay to park rather than wait for public transportation.

Is it possible to park though? By the things some people say, I get an impression that it's pointless to have a car, because it's impossible to park. Even though half the city uses a car to get to work IIRC

[18Montclair]

Do I have a bad reputation?

LOL

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by Milliano

Is it possible to park though? By the things some people say, I get an impression that it's pointless to have a car, because it's impossible to park. Even though half the city uses a car to get to work IIRC

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.

[redwoodlvr]

When I lived in SF I did not own a car just because it makes life easier. I relied on citycarshare for running weekend errands, short trips across the bay, etc. Loved citycarshare and their customer service is fantastic. There's also Zip car, check them out.

City CarShare - San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, CA USA

Zipcar - Car sharing, cars by the hour or day

[redwoodlvr]

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.

It's not impossible. It just takes mad skillzzzz. ha. Once you live here long enough you can parallel park a massive 4wd in a narrow spot in the blink an eye. You will also develop the skill of sensing a parking spot from a mile way, like radar. Especially when you've been driving around in circles for 20 minutes, you gain superpowers. After living in SF, you'll be able to park anywhere in the world!

[beone]

Originally Posted by redwoodlvr

When I lived in SF I did not own a car just because it makes life easier. I relied on citycarshare for running weekend errands, short trips across the bay, etc. Loved citycarshare and their customer service is fantastic. There's also Zip car, check them out.

City CarShare - San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, CA USA

Zipcar - Car sharing, cars by the hour or day

Those are great suggestions redwoodlvr.

I am qualified here, perhaps more than others, because I have lived in Seattle and I live in San Francisco. If you have survived in Seattle without a car, you will absoulutely have no problems here. The public transport system in San Francisco is without a doubt better than Seattle.

MUNI Metro does not suck - it merely is annoying. Mostly because there are a whole lot of stupid people on the planet, and riding public transport really seems to highlight just how stupid and unaware of their surroundings people truly are.

I take MUNI Metro to work every single day, and use it to get around the city on the weekends - it is reliable enough. I just took it out to the Ocean last weekend, for example. The bus system enhances MUNI.

I also live very close to BART and take that as well. I have a choice between MUNI Metro and BART and prefer MUNI Metro because 16th Street Station (BART) is gross.

Bottom line - San Francisco is a city where you can thrive without a car. It's almost easier not to have one.

I got rid of my car when I moved to Seattle (I started walking every where) and it's even easier to be without a car in San Francisco - much easier.