Why is Caltrain station parking so cucumbersome? What's alternative? (San Jose: neighborhoods, buy)

[kyle242]

I live in San Jose and once or twice a month I make my best to attend meetings on Thursday evenings in San Francisco. Unfortunately they start around typically either 6:00 or 6:30pm during rush hour. I work last night shift on that day and go to bed in morning and get up typically at 3:30 or later. I only have 10 minute drive to San Jose Diridon Station but their freaking parking lot turns into their overpriced event parking for SAP Center during that time of the week I wanna get there. Probably the only public parking for train passengers in the world that turns into private overpriced event parking! :/ I think even paying $5 for that is too much but at least more reasonable.

I know there is alternative Tamien Cal station but bullet trains stop serving it northbound on evenings.

I am looking for alternative to take BART train from Fremont station but how bad is traffic on I-880 during that time of the day?

Simply paying $25 dollars for parking and another $9 to get to SF doesn't make sense.

Not sure what would be my best option besides taking cab to Caltrain station in SJ. I am only 4 miles east from Diridon station. Bus is out of option, its slow and nearest one to me is far walk and goes through sketchy neighborhoods.

[kyle242]

25 views and still no response . I guess I was too broad.

So my short question:
Whats alternative to get to SJ Diridon station by car without parking at Caltrain parking lot that is expensive during SAP Center events. Or perhaps I should try driving to Fremont and take BART? Any answer would be appreciated.

[bobby_guz_man]

Bike is your option. You live East of Diridon so you're in the eastern fringe of Downtown? I say bike it in. I'm sure there's a bus line as well, look into it. Are you near a light rail station or can walk to one within 10 minutes?

And if you wait until 2016, the Berryessa BART station would be open by then

If by car, you can park in San Pedro Square garage before the events, go buy some stuff in the Market, get your ticket validated, and then make the 10 minute walk over to Diridon.

[marcopolo666]

Or, you drive to Mountain View (you are in the "reverse commute" direction for most of the drive) and park either in their lot, or across the street for FREE. (At MV, street parking is either 2-hour-limited or 5-hour-limited, but it stops at 6PM, so if you park at 4:01 PM or later, no worries.)

Yes, you're driving more, but it's no-hassle parking.

The bullets" that stop at MtnView are at :

Diridon MV SF
16:23 16:35 17:24
16:45 16:58 17:44
17:23 17:35 18:24
17:45 17:58 18:44
18:23 18:35 19:24

With an additional "NOT stop at every station" train between each one if you miss the bullet.

[zombocom]

Originally Posted by bobby_guz_man

Bike is your option. You live East of Diridon so you're in the eastern fringe of Downtown? I say bike it in. I'm sure there's a bus line as well, look into it. Are you near a light rail station or can walk to one within 10 minutes?

And if you wait until 2016, the Berryessa BART station would be open by then

If by car, you can park in San Pedro Square garage before the events, go buy some stuff in the Market, get your ticket validated, and then make the 10 minute walk over to Diridon.

2016? Less than 2 years? Don't get your hopes up, dude.

[bobby_guz_man]

Maybe it was 2017 Even then it's still earlier than the original estimation of 2018.

[marcopolo666]

Bit, today, he can grab the train at MV. (Pay attention!)

[kyle242]

Originally Posted by marcopolo666

Bit, today, he can grab the train at MV. (Pay attention!)

Thanks luckily when i got there yesterday (in SJ Diridon) the parking lot was still open just for general public but I barely could find a free spot. I missed the "bullet" train but I got into next one limited stop. Also the traffic signals at Santa Clara St quite added some time. I suspect parking might be limited at MV too. Are the parking lots bigger either at Bascom (towards SJ Diridon) or Evelyn (towards MV) on green VTA light rail? Is Parking at those free?

[ggcd951]

when you put something like cucumber-some then you'd not expect much meaningful answers

[kyle242]

Originally Posted by guyencd000

when you put something like cucumber-some then you'd not expect much meaningful answers

Ah yeah its cumbersome My English is second language. For a while I spelled cucumber, "cocomber" when ordering sandwich at Subway. Nobody there ever corrected me until one of my relatives laughed at me. And in first year in States, before I learned American English I learned British in Europe and when in my first class wanted to borrow something I referred to eraser as rubber (that is used in British) I got laughs then too. Goofs in English happen.