Moving to Bay Area in 2 Weeks! (San Francisco, Sunnyvale: apartments, neighborhood, living in)

[tacojohn]

I recently accepted a position in Santa Clara and I'll be moving to the Bay Area in 2 weeks from Phoenix, AZ.

I have a few questions as I've only been to the area briefly last weekend for my in person interview- I'm so excited to move up there!

I'd like to take public trans to work (probably Caltrain and VTA lightrail) and live between San Francisco and Santa Clara so when I want to I can easily get downtown SF and still have a short(er) commute to work.

I was looking in the East Mountain View, Redwood City, San Mateo areas (any other recommendations?). A few places are relatively close to the Caltrain stations. I'm 25 and looking to spend around $1100-1200 a month on rent. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Also, any recommendations on "converting" from a city that you 100% drive everywhere to someplace that has a great public trans system? I totally want to get the "big city" experience out of this move!

Are the bike cars on Caltrain packed with people in the mornings or would I easily be able to hop on and off with my bike?

Thanks for your help!

[sonarrat]

Bike cars on Caltrain get packed, but they provide bungee cords. You'll want to put tags on your bike that indicate where you get on and off because people will put 4 bikes to a post sometimes and they try to get them in the right order so the people getting off first have their bikes on the outside.

Even so, you're delusional if you think you're going to be getting a great public transit system. Sorry. It has taken me a lot of learning to be able to do what I want with it.

San Mateo is too far from Santa Clara, so I would rule that out. Redwood City arguably is as well. I would check out Sunnyvale - I think there are quite a few apartments on the light-rail line in that area. Also, if you have a monthly pass on Caltrain (at least two zones), you'll get free rides on VTA, and on the weekends you can ride through all zones to San Francisco at no extra charge. Just something to consider.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Even so, you're delusional if you think you're going to be getting a great public transit system. Sorry.

Ditto that. Unfortunately our public transit system is lacking, especially on the Peninsula (between SF and SJ)... even here in the city, I use my car or walk everywhere, since I live off the BART line - and Muni takes forever. People here are VERY car-dependent, not only because of public transit being poor, but things are also very spread-out. In the Bay Area, it's normal to drive 15-20 minutes for a simple errand.

Sorry to disappoint you, but otherwise I think you'll like it here! Mountain View is a really nice little town, and Redwood City & San Mateo have their good parts... generally the east is worse, and we use El Camino Real as a "division line." You might look into the towns of Belmont and San Carlos, which are also considered mid-Peninsula. I lived in Belmont for a while, off Ralston Ave. & Alameda de las Pulgas, and really liked it there. I paid $1050 for a one-bedroom "garden apartment" (had a large yard), about 3 years ago - so prices should be well within your range. Good luck!

[tacojohn]

Thanks for the replies...

That's too bad about the PT, I was looking forward to it. I'm probably going to try and find something closer to work then and just drive (urg! Really wanted to get away from car dependence)...

At least I'll be able to take Caltrain downtown SF if I want. We did it last weekend, it was a long trip, but a good nap on the way back after the bar!

Any cool place for good electronic music you guys recommend? What about places to just chill and hang out?

How do most locals actually say San Francisco? I've heard rumors that "San Fran" is a no no...

[sonarrat]

We call it the City, or Frisco.

[Suzer]

I've never heard anyone but a tourist call The City, "Frisco".

[sonarrat]

That might be a South Bay thing, then. Everyone will know what you mean if you refer to "the City."

[kindafedup]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Ditto that. Unfortunately our public transit system is lacking, especially on the Peninsula (between SF and SJ)... even here in the city, I use my car or walk everywhere, since I live off the BART line - and Muni takes forever. People here are VERY car-dependent, not only because of public transit being poor, but things are also very spread-out. In the Bay Area, it's normal to drive 15-20 minutes for a simple errand.

Sorry to disappoint you, but otherwise I think you'll like it here! Mountain View is a really nice little town, and Redwood City & San Mateo have their good parts... generally the east is worse, and we use El Camino Real as a "division line." You might look into the towns of Belmont and San Carlos, which are also considered mid-Peninsula. I lived in Belmont for a while, off Ralston Ave. & Alameda de las Pulgas, and really liked it there. I paid $1050 for a one-bedroom "garden apartment" (had a large yard), about 3 years ago - so prices should be well within your range. Good luck!

Omg just reading through the threads and saw this post. Wondering when you say 'our public transit system is lacking' do you mean SF or the surrounding areas that the OP is talking about? I was under the impression that if you lived in SF it was better to not have a car at all, due to traffic. And that you could get along quite well anyhow without having one.

Please elaborate?

TacoJohn congrats on landing a job. Please let us know how your move is once you get settled in. Fingers crossed its everything you're looking for.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by kindafedup

Omg just reading through the threads and saw this post. Wondering when you say 'our public transit system is lacking' do you mean SF or the surrounding areas that the OP is talking about? I was under the impression that if you lived in SF it was better to not have a car at all, due to traffic. And that you could get along quite well anyhow without having one.

That depends on the area. If you live downtown, it's better to sell your car than pay $400 a month to park it. If you live in the Richmond, the Marina, or the Sunset and work elsewhere in San Francisco, well, that's your call. I would personally keep my car.

And if you work outside the City.. forget it. I'm temporarily living in the Outer Sunset, at 33rd and Lincoln, and work is walking distance from the Millbrae BART station. It takes 90 minutes to do that commute by public transit, and only 30 by car. Why not move close to the Caltrain station, you ask? Well, the fact that rents START at $2,000 a month in SoMa has a lot to do with that.

[ImRandy]

I second that. You'll want a car if you live in 99% of San Francisco and 100% anywhere else. Getting around is much too frustrating and time consuming using public transportation unless you're in a particularly congested neighborhood and/or it's your only option.