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Anyone commute year round from WC to downtown SF?

my commute (Richmond to dogpatch), 18mi:
car: $5 toll, 1h-1h15, need to pay for parking or move your car every 2h/4h
bike: $2.5 toll, 30min in traffic, 20min otherwise, free parking
public transport: $2 AC Transit + $4 BART + $2 MUNI each way, 1h45

One of my co-worker used to live in WC and had the same data.
 
I commuted Orinda-Sausalito via FiDi for seven years. It's nice to have BART as an option, and you'll always get a seat inbound anyway. Good time to get some reading done.

I sort of miss seeing a lot of the same bikers I'd see everyday on the BB. I don't exactly miss having the extended lane split pretty much the entire run on bad days. I also don't miss riding home in the rain in the dark in winter.

Beware of the fact that on 24 EB on the stretch near Rockridge BART that the setting sun is directly behind you from Nov-Jan at rush hour, and nobody can see you in their rear view mirrors. You WILL become an expert lane splitter.
 
monkeythumpa said:
I used to do Lafayette to "FiDi" (People say SoMa, and NoPa but no one says FiDi) in the early 2000s, Sutter and Montgomery. Parking is not hard, I used to park next to the Sharper Image store on Sansome, the MC parking is still there, the store is not, Etrade now? Half a dozen other MC parking arrays near there. If you get there at 8:30am there is plenty of parking. At 8:45 it is full. It used to be $.10/hour but now it is more like $.75/hour. If you add $2.50* for toll, you are paying $8.50 + gas. BART will be $9.70 round trip so the cost is a wash.

I ride every day. The rain is not a problem as long as your visor does not fog up and you have rain gear. The real problem for me was the temperature. At 7:30 in the morning in December, it can be around freezing east of the Caldecott. I used to get ice cream headaches when I rode in the cold. Once through the tunnel it is rarely colder than 40 degrees so overpants and a fleece under your jacket are fine. I used to pray for rain in the winter because it meant that it wasn't going to be cold.

The bike was a faster commute by a half hour.

*With a Fastrack, the toll only gets charged about every other time so factor that into your calcs
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How did you like Lafayette? I am considering that area as well. Im looking for a more neighborhood type atmosphere and definitely something with a garage to work on the bike and car. I am 26 and like to go out on weekends though. I know WC has a decent nightlife but what about Lafayette?

Also, I found a site a while back that had MC parking listed in a map form with prices, and it looks like BofA has underground monthly for $150. Seemed a little steep but the security against theft might be worth it, is there much risk in using street parking?
 
imdrax said:
I know WC has a decent nightlife but what about Lafayette?
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That place is a bedroom community, so nightlife is pretty much next to nil (unless things have changed). Plan on either going into WC, Uptown Oakland or across the BB to The 'Sco...oops, I mean San Francisco. :p
 
Hooli said:
That place is a bedroom community, so nightlife is pretty much next to nil (unless things have changed). Plan on either going into WC, Uptown Oakland or across the BB to The 'Sco...oops, I mean San Francisco. :p
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Yea i got that feeling, Its about the same price as WC with only maybe 5-10 minute commute time savings and seems totally centered around families and the good school district.
 
Lafayette sucks. Walnut creek is bro central but if your response to someone saying "don't call it frisco" is "go play with your moms titties" then you'll fit RIGHT IN with the walnut creek crowd.


If youre not a bro and miss living in the cilture center of oakland and sf, Walnut creek has its spots. Not many but for a quick fix they're around.
 
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Well i didnt call it frisco, but anyways oakland and sf is not for me. Im not a "bro" but im DEFINITELY not a hipster save planet earth kinda guy and I like to actually enjoy my 400hp car so WC is for me.
 
Riding to, into and around SF can be *seriously* fun. YES it's fucking worth it. I will admit I made sure I enjoyed myself, and why not? It's nearly two or three hours you'll spend on your motorcycle everyday.

I've been at it since 98. 30K+ a year

Yea, ride rain or shine.

Park at 100 Mission and get a monthly pass.. walk in.. Save yourself some grief.

During the rainy season I use three pairs of boots to give them time to dry out. Roadcrafter with oiled cotton over-coat.(falstaff)

Backpack(or tankbag) for laptop.

No, I carry all my gear all the time, unless I feel like donating it. This is SF/bay area we're talking about.

Don't forget your heated grips and coffee cup holder.

imdrax said:
I landed a job in FIDI and am planning to move to Walnut creek and commute on moto. It looks to be about 25miles one way. I have a couple main questions for anyone with a similar commute.

1. Is it worth it over taking bart in terms of time/money/effort?

2. Parking in FIDI, street or find a monthly fee structure?

3. I know its pretty wet alot of times throughout the year, do you ride through it or bart on the heavy days?

4. Its a corporate job so I will be shirt/tie/shoes, any bag suggestions that can wear nice on the bike and stay professional with still being able to carry my boots/laptop/maybe jacket?(thinking Chrome Bag)

5. Lastly, anyone with a similar situation to Q#4, do you leave your helmet strapped to the bike, and boots in a tank/tail bag?

Thanks for any input im trying to really decide how important its going to be to live close to bart when I move or if I can pull off the moto commute for 80-90% of the year. FYI: been riding for 10 years and a few of those I didnt have a car and was 100% moto but not a daily commute so....
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working in sf walking blocks to a bart station or riding a bus to get to one. living in the east bay


TAKE BART.

cheaper,
safer.

no traffic hassles.
no parking problems.
no stolen/broken bike at 5:30 pm on a rainy friday night.

and most of the year it is dry just gets wet from the water in the fog.

very hot east of the tunnels. cold and can be wet west of the tunnels.
metal plates on the bridge when wet can be fun.

TAKE BART

buy a year pass for bart and muni if needed.

wait till a get away friday evening......

ride bart for safetys sake.


and i hate bart.:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

but you wanted a opinion.


.
 
BART is crowded, dirty, and smells like vomit sometimes. Why not just move closer to the city? Once you factor in commute costs and time spent, it may be worth it. Plus it'll make daily riding more tolerable in the "winter," rain or shine.

I used to live out there and commute in...that got old. 580/24 gets a little tense with grouchy commuters. The long ride out to the east bay is a lot more fun on weekends.
 
festizio said:
BART is crowded, dirty, and smells like vomit sometimes. Why not just move closer to the city? Once you factor in commute costs and time spent, it may be worth it. Plus it'll make daily riding more tolerable in the "winter," rain or shine.

I used to live out there and commute in...that got old. 580/24 gets a little tense with grouchy commuters. The long ride out to the east bay is a lot more fun on weekends.
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Yea but anywhere I would live in SF is crowded, dirty, and smells like vomit. Same goes for oakland/berkely not to mention I cant stand ethnic diversity or homeless people.:wow
 
imdrax said:
Yea but anywhere I would live in SF is crowded, dirty, and smells like vomit. Same goes for oakland/berkely not to mention I cant stand ethnic diversity or homeless people.:wow
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Come to West Oakland, not much ethnic diversity here. Mainly just black folk.

And, ride your god damn motorcycle. Stop making such a big deal about it. I know WC is a safe little enclave, but the real world really isn't that bad. Riding over the BB is fun and rain isn't a big deal.
 
"FIDI"? Hmm learn something new every day I guess.......Never heard of it.

But anyway, BART all the way. Seems like a waste of effort to dress up, then get your shirt all wrinkled up by your riding jacket, when you've got the option of taking BART. It's a no-brainer IMO. I would only ride if it was a polo shirt type of job.
 
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I commute Lafayette to OAK airport on the moto year 'round. I suspect 880 is far easier than the bridge, but either way, you'll come to appreciate the hwy24 commute crowd.. pretty well behaved all in all.
 
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