Dublin to Berkeley commute (San Francisco, Oakland: how much, home, transfer)

[p-adic]

Would the commute from Dublin to Berkeley be not too bad for a couple months in the summer? I'd be looking to arrive around 1:30 PM some days, 3 PM others. I'd be leaving maybe 5:30-6, so I know getting back could be a pain (although if I stayed until 6:30, Google maps seems to think it'd be a 35-45 minute drive back), but does a 35-45 minute drive as indicated by Google maps seem accurate?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

No, it will take longer than that depending on traffic. But, it wouldn't be horrible for a couple months. Coming home will take a while. Take some good music :-)

I know it shows on the maps that taking 580 is faster than 680, but if it was me, I'd take 680. Just personal preference. I think it flows better and is a prettier drive.

[p-adic]

I see. Thanks for the tip. When I enter my arrival time on Google, it says it'll take just as long on 680. I don't know the area too well, but 680 seems like it'd be wiser to take if there happens to be a baseball game in San Francisco or Oakland that day too.

How much longer would you think, are we talking an hour-long commute, or more like 75 minutes?

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

It's been a long time since I've done that drive, so I'm sure someone else here could give you more accurate numbers. If I had to do it tomorrow, though, I'd plan for an hour door to door to include parking time, and then be pleasantly surprised if it takes less time.

[tanglenet]

Save the hassle, take BART.

[p-adic]

I was looking into BART the other day. It doesn't seem like it'd save much, if any, time. It seem like it would be impossible to park at the BART stations. Still, the West Dublin/Pleasanton station looks like a pretty short walk, so it's at least nice to have that option.

[artemis78]

580 is routinely awful through Oakland at that hour--it sometimes clears by 6:30 but certainly not always. Probably not a huge deal if you're only doing it short-term, but if you can really walk to BART and wherever you're going in Berkeley is near BART, that would be far better (assuming train schedule works going in--fewer trains in the early afternoon). It won't save you time if there's no traffic, but it will be far more pleasant, especially going in, since the trains aren't crowded in the afternoons. You might be able to park at BART at that hour, too--often spaces in the reserved lots open up by the afternoon (and they're fair game after 10 am). Depending on where you're coming from in Berkeley, you might also be able to go up over 24 and 13 and cut out a particularly congested part of 580.

[ServoMiff]

Originally Posted by p-adic

I was looking into BART the other day. It doesn't seem like it'd save much, if any, time. It seem like it would be impossible to park at the BART stations. Still, the West Dublin/Pleasanton station looks like a pretty short walk, so it's at least nice to have that option.

It's not really so much about time savings as it is sanity savings. However, heading back east during rush hour is the worst part of this equation. Going west on 580 after the morning rush is simple. Coming back during evening rush is not recommended, but doable if you must. The best I can advise to get a good idea of how long it will take you on the return trip before you do it is to use google maps at the precise time you're planning on driving, and taking a look at the time it says at that point. I did this while I lived in Orlando, and it gave me a good basis for understanding what my commutes would be like when I moved here, making the adjustment period a lot easier.

For reference, I live in SF and work in Pleasanton. I do the reverse commute daily - Muni Metro/BART 3 days a week and drive once a week. It's so much easier than living in the East Bay and commuting into SF like my wife used to do.

BART trains headed west are also going to be packed with people during rush hour. So, how do you like your crowds, on a train or on the road?

[jade408]

That time seems reasonable. No traffic time is about 25 minutes. On the way in should be pretty speedy. The way home, by the time you get to San Leandro should be clear. Taking 13 should save time through Oakland.

BART to Berkeley kinda sucks! You have to transfer trains, and they are not timed!

[tanglenet]

Unless you will be located next to a freeway, I don't see how you will be driving back to Dublin in 35 min during rush hour. Driving thru Berkeley across town to a freeway can easily take 15-20 min. Then you have the freeways to negotiate. Plan to double ot triple your time to get home.

Also parking is extremely difficult near the University or downtown. Hopefully you will have a permit or guaranteed parking where you are going.