Traffic, Parking, and Tolls (Berkeley: apartment, school, live in)

[enjambedline]

I am moving to Berkeley in July and would like to know the feasibility of driving to SF for evening classes that start at 7:30PM. How bad is the traffic at that hour and what about parking in the city? Are there any tolls on the way into SF from Berkeley? Thanks

[04kL4nD]

What part of SF? Actually, it doesn't matter much.

1. Traffic will suck
2. Parking will suck just as much, if not more
3. $6 toll into the city

Take BART instead.

[pch1013]

Actually the toll is $4 after rush hour ends at 7pm. But that would be cutting it a bit close for someone who needs to be at a class at 7:30, esp. if it's at SF State or someplace else on the western side of town.

Westbound traffic is always heavy, even though it's (theoretically) the "reverse" commute direction. Many - if not most - people use a FasTrak transponder so they don't have to stop at the toll booths, but that only saves a few minutes. Traffic on the bridge itself and on the SF side will be what slows you down.

Parking in SF is free after 6pm, except in areas near AT&T Park on game days. Availability is another matter.

If it were me, I'd ride my motorcycle (special $2.50 carpool lane toll before 7, ability to split lanes, super-easy parking anywhere) but that's not for everyone, to put it mildly.

[nowhereman427]

SF is 49 square miles of no parking. Traffic on that Bay Bridge is always backed up going in. Either live in the city or go to school somewhere else. Too many headaches, parking tickets, collision, road rage and will cost you more $$$$.
Everyone is leaving California and are sick and tired of the above as well as a whole bunch of other reasons we already know about.

[enjambedline]

Thanks, I'll just take the BART and enjoy the ride with a good book or magazine.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by enjambedline

Thanks, I'll just take the BART and enjoy the ride with a good book or magazine.

Don't forget to pay for the parking if you park at BART and of course the fares are going up when they don't go on strike.
It's over 40 years old in need of repairs.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

Don't forget to pay for the parking if you park at BART and of course the fares are going up when they don't go on strike.
It's over 40 years old in need of repairs.

You don't need to pay for parking after about 4pm at any BART station.

Strikes, although annoying, are pretty infrequent. Over the last 18ish years, BART has been closed to a strike for 7 or 8 days.

[pch1013]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

SF is 49 square miles of no parking. Traffic on that Bay Bridge is always backed up going in. Either live in the city or go to school somewhere else. Too many headaches, parking tickets, collision, road rage and will cost you more $$$$.
Everyone is leaving California and are sick and tired of the above as well as a whole bunch of other reasons we already know about.

When you leave, can I have your apartment?

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by enjambedline

Thanks, I'll just take the BART and enjoy the ride with a good book or magazine.

Good call. I went to SFSU for my BA and grad school, and unless my classes were in the very middle of the afternoon, driving was way more of a headache than taking BART.