Moving, Commuting, and Questions (San Jose, San Francisco: home, neighborhood, living in)

[lilnsweetz]

I am moving across the country to the Bay Area and I could really use advise on where to move to.

• I am in Sales, so I will be traveling all over with a emphasis in San Jose, East Bay and Sacramento. I am fully aware that I will be in my car for several hours a day, but traffic is still a concern.
• I am young, so a friendly, fun, social environment is very important - I would love to live in San Francisco if at all possible (I like the Panhandle area, Alamo Square - any feedback on that neighborhood would also be appreciated
• Looking for a 2-3 bedroom up to $3000/month

Please leave me any feedback on traffic patterns leaving the city in the am and coming home in the pm, other viable living options and any other feedback!

Thanks

[hsw]

SF region is one of easiest regions in world in which to quickly move around vast distances....

EastBay tends to be most difficult commute, largely b/c of bridge and tunnel chokepoints....and lower socio-economics of region (SF's version of NJ/LI/SFV) often yields more inept/reckless drivers and erratic traffic flow....

SF-SiliconValley is one of easiest/fastest/most scenic drives in world on 280...(esp 280-101-380-280 blitz from SF-SV)....

Most smarter drivers in region choose to commute during off-peak times when the clueless/sloppy drivers are less likely to be on fwys (usu clogging left lane at some absurdly low speed)....and choose a safe/effortlessly fast car w/an excellent speakerphone set-up....

[user376]

Originally Posted by hsw

SF region is one of easiest regions in world in which to quickly move around vast distances....

This is extremely inaccurate. Because of the unique geography of the region, there are many large bottlenecks at bridge crossings. Even if you're not crossing a bridge, the traffic is average at best, as American cities go.

[user376]

Originally Posted by lilnsweetz

I am moving across the country to the Bay Area and I could really use advise on where to move to.

• I am in Sales, so I will be traveling all over with a emphasis in San Jose, East Bay and Sacramento. I am fully aware that I will be in my car for several hours a day, but traffic is still a concern.
• I am young, so a friendly, fun, social environment is very important - I would love to live in San Francisco if at all possible (I like the Panhandle area, Alamo Square - any feedback on that neighborhood would also be appreciated
• Looking for a 2-3 bedroom up to $3000/month

Please leave me any feedback on traffic patterns leaving the city in the am and coming home in the pm, other viable living options and any other feedback!

Thanks

Do you have an office at all, or a place where you will be doing the majority of your work? If I were you, I'd live in the east bay, because it is the most central to three locations where you'll be working, and it is still fun, with lots of young people. I don't think you need to rule out SF though, but SF to Sac isn't a drive I'd want to do that often, even if it is a reverse commute.

[lilnsweetz]

Originally Posted by user376

Do you have an office at all, or a place where you will be doing the majority of your work? If I were you, I'd live in the east bay, because it is the most central to three locations where you'll be working, and it is still fun, with lots of young people. I don't think you need to rule out SF though, but SF to Sac isn't a drive I'd want to do that often, even if it is a reverse commute.

My office will be in my home, which I would spend 1 day a week there. My biggest concern is meeting people/social life. I grew up in the East Bay (although it has been 10 years since I have lived there) and not sure where the best places to live would be.

[humboldtrat]

Originally Posted by hsw

SF region is one of easiest regions in world in which to quickly move around vast distances...

I don't agree with this either. Traffic in the Bay Area can be horrible much of the time.

Pleasanton, Dublin and San Ramon would be a central point for commuting to San Jose, Sacramento and the East Bay. Not as exciting for night life as living in San Francisco, but going to and from SF and the above places could make commuting worse. There is a BART station in Pleasanton/Dublin and getting into the city would be easy.

[Peninsula gal]

Since you grew up in the east bay you will know the tri-valley area (San Ramon, Danville, Pleasanton). That's where you should live. 680 gets you south to San Jose, north towards Sacramento, and you'll already be living in the east bay for work. There's a single scene in that area, too.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by humboldtrat

I don't agree with this either. Traffic in the Bay Area can be horrible much of the time.

Tell me about it! I commute from SF to the East Bay every day, and even being a reverse commute I deal with a crapload of traffic... doesn't matter what time either, although you can always COUNT on traffic during certain times (7-8:30am & 5-7pm). Luckily I only deal with it a few times a week, since I usually don't work 9-5 hours - otherwise I'd probably pull all of my hair out, or move to the East Bay before that happened. Certain routes are definitely better than others, however, and I'd suggest (to the OP) studying the 511 traffic map for a few weeks: http://www.511.org

OMG... glad I'm not heading to Marin County right now!! (it's red & black lines all the way up 101)

[CaliforniaLass]

So you will be going from San Jose all the way to Sacramento which rounded off is roughly 120 miles. Half way which is about 60 miles, you can live in Millbrae, San Bruno, SSF, or San Francisco. But if you spend more time going the other way, up towards Sacramento, then living in Marin County like around Greenbrae, Ross or Kentfield some place around there is very good as well.

But if you rather live in San Francisco, you were asking about the "Panhandle" part of the city and that area especially Ashbury Heights is a very good area to live in. The Panhandle part of the city is OK in some areas and not so good in other areas.

The best people to ask is the San Francisco Police Department.