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Old 05-22-2008, 04:23 PM
 
Location: NYC
12 posts, read 55,881 times
Reputation: 11

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I'm considering a job that will take me from east to west coast (NYC to Santa Clara). Lots of changes! Anyway, I'll be looking for a place to live in Santa Clara and the surrounding areas.

My big concern is:

Can I survive in the area without a car? How walkable is everything?

What are my options for a 1br rental close by so that I don't need a car.

Thanks for your help in advance!
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Old 05-22-2008, 05:10 PM
 
Location: Northern California
3,722 posts, read 14,720,171 times
Reputation: 1962
You will need a car. Santa Clara and area is mostly suburban sprawl and not walkable. Public transit is so-so. It's mostly buses, but San Jose has a light rail system that goes out towards Santa Clara and other places outside San Jose. There is a commuter train (Caltrain) that runs between San Jose and San Francisco. You will need a car.
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Old 05-22-2008, 05:22 PM
Ohs
 
236 posts, read 712,531 times
Reputation: 178
Yikes, you need a car anywhere is California. Most transit systems are not dependable and end up costing more than you would think.
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Old 05-22-2008, 05:24 PM
 
1,632 posts, read 6,841,759 times
Reputation: 705
You can live without a car in San Francisco. Definitely not in Santa Clara.
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Old 05-22-2008, 05:33 PM
 
Location: NYC
12 posts, read 55,881 times
Reputation: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohs View Post
Yikes, you need a car anywhere is California. Most transit systems are not dependable and end up costing more than you would think.
Oh man! I have a feeling I'm going to miss NYC in that respect. I really HATE having/owning a car. Is car insurance expensive?

I'm having second thoughts about the job! I guess biking around town might be out of the question also. I mapped Santa Clara in walkscore.com and it plotted only a 54 out of 100. Pretty low huh?

Anyway, how bad is traffic? What's your opinion on that? I'm just trying to gauge how close/far I can live away from Santa Clara. I definitely would not want to drive for more than 20 minutes to work.

Thanks again.
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Old 05-22-2008, 05:40 PM
 
30,894 posts, read 36,941,290 times
Reputation: 34516
Default I walk to work and I still have a car

I live and work in Downtown San Jose---a block away from my job--and I STILL have a car. It's just too hard to get to the grocery store, etc without one. Plus, going out on weekends to friends' houses etc would just be too difficult and time consuming on mass transit.

Santa Clara is next door to San Jose. The whole Silicon Valley area is mostly suburban sprawl. While it might be possible to live here without a car, the vast majority of people would not want to do it, myself included.

Commute times are not good...although if you are coming from New York, they might not seem that bad.
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Old 05-23-2008, 10:06 AM
 
1 posts, read 4,941 times
Reputation: 11
Hi, what's your company name or at least the location of your job? . Yes you can survive in santa clara with out a car. We do have lot of public transportations like VTA, light rail. The rents are bit high.
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Old 05-23-2008, 12:35 PM
 
Location: NYC
12 posts, read 55,881 times
Reputation: 11
Quote:
Originally Posted by sri_abs View Post
Hi, what's your company name or at least the location of your job? . Yes you can survive in santa clara with out a car. We do have lot of public transportations like VTA, light rail. The rents are bit high.
The closest light rail station is Old Ironsides Station. Do you know if I should be able to find 1Br apartments following along the light rail station east or west of that? What's more convenient west towards Mountain View or east towards San Jose. I'm planning on visiting the area next weekend. But I'd like to get opinions before I head into town.

Thanks again for your help! I'm generously giving rep points wherever I can! In addition, you have my most sincere gratitude


Thank you thank you thank you all.
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Old 05-23-2008, 01:20 PM
 
Location: San Jose, CA
7,688 posts, read 29,145,658 times
Reputation: 3631
Quote:
Originally Posted by mirlo View Post
Oh man! I have a feeling I'm going to miss NYC in that respect. I really HATE having/owning a car. Is car insurance expensive?
Less than half what you would pay in NYC. That's one area where the Silicon Valley has got it knocked. And cars last longer because of the mild climate.
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Old 05-23-2008, 01:38 PM
 
1,632 posts, read 6,841,759 times
Reputation: 705
The OP did use the word "survive," and so I suppose you're technically correct. But having lived in the area for ten years, I certainly wouldn't recommend it from a quality-of-life point of view.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sri_abs View Post
Yes you can survive in santa clara with out a car. We do have lot of public transportations like VTA, light rail.
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