General Discussion

RandySF

(84,469 posts) Fri Jun 5, 2015, 08:54 PM Jun 2015

Commuting in the Bay Area is becoming Hell. [View all]

Back in 2012 when I and millions of my closest friends were out of work, I would take our son to school on the light rail system, drop him off and hop back to go home. We live in the Downtown area so I shared the train with commuters, but I could always find a seat, or at least space to stand. I've been back to work for a couple years now and so is everyone else. Last month when I had the day off, I took him to school and had to squeeze my way into the mass of humanity. And a typical day on BART (my daily transportation choice), looks very much like the news footage from Japanese trains. I'm so thankful I reverse-commute into the City and spared the worst of it. How is it for the rest of the Bay Ares DUers out there>

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Commuting in the Bay Area is becoming Hell. [View all] RandySF Jun 2015 OP

becoming? dlwickham Jun 2015 #1

I was going to say this PowerToThePeople Jun 2015 #9

My first thought too. I commuted there 25 years ago there & even then my "reverse" commute was Hell. Arugula Latte Jun 2015 #62

I do not understand who engineered this system Prism Jun 2015 #2

How late do the bars stay open vs. the running of BART? Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #5

I noticed that the light-rail here (Houston) kentauros Jun 2015 #11

Yep, BART ends around 12:30am or so. arcane1 Jun 2015 #13

I don't know why it is that magic 90 minute window but it seems to hold true in many places. nt. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #21

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #14

Always have an escape route to a secret party cave Prism Jun 2015 #53

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #59

Bars close at 2am. Last Bart is 12:20. Prism Jun 2015 #19

I hear that. Juicy_Bellows Jun 2015 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #15

LOL!!! OMG, Pigeon Farts causing 4 hour traffic jam, ain't that the truth! LOL! Especially on 2banon Jun 2015 #34

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #35

Awesome. I have friends up in Portland. Fiddlers mainly. 2banon Jun 2015 #37

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #38

excellent.. 2banon Jun 2015 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #43

:) 2banon Jun 2015 #58

They've finally, finally gotten around to widening the narrows Prism Jun 2015 #54

It's Jammed again FreakinDJ Jun 2015 #3

As a native of the Bay Area CountAllVotes Jun 2015 #4

Oh, but the sushi !!!!! pangaia Jun 2015 #7

Hellbilly in Cali seveneyes Jun 2015 #6

I BART from SF to Walnut Creek, and the train still gets empty by the time I get there, but... arcane1 Jun 2015 #8

are you talking about the Peets in the BART/MUNI stations dlwickham Jun 2015 #27

One of the stores. The quality is great, there are just too many people these days n/t arcane1 Jun 2015 #33

Walnut Creek is getting more high-density construction, too. It's only gonna get more Tokyoish, Arugula Latte Jun 2015 #65

Bay Area native, never going back CrawlingChaos Jun 2015 #10

I still love it here. I've lived in SF for 29 years. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #16

I'm happy for you Luminous Animal. I really mean that. CrawlingChaos Jun 2015 #44

Crazily enough, my 25 year old daughter and all of her friends are hanging on here and none of them Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #48

I know SF will always be an important city for artists CrawlingChaos Jun 2015 #49

It's funny how a large influx of wealthy people can turn a place into a dump. arcane1 Jun 2015 #17

oh god, you can say that again CrawlingChaos Jun 2015 #45

To quote Yogi Berra 1939 Jun 2015 #56

+1 CountAllVotes Jun 2015 #23

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #12

+1 CountAllVotes Jun 2015 #25

I thought about that ALL the time CrawlingChaos Jun 2015 #47

Satan Rosa is a sea of cars. I left Palo Alto 25 years ago. It was bad even then. Gregorian Jun 2015 #18

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #20

I used to live in Sonoma Co. and worked on SMART train initiatives. 2banon Jun 2015 #31

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jun 2015 #32

I live in Alameda and try to avoid taking Bart at certain times. 2banon Jun 2015 #24

I used to live in Alameda dlwickham Jun 2015 #28

I Love the O line. except that isn't frequent enough. 2banon Jun 2015 #29

I took the OX dlwickham Jun 2015 #66

yeah.. I suppose the frequency of OX is about on par with the O? 2banon Jun 2015 #72

My mom and sis just got back from San Fran and the Bay area bigwillq Jun 2015 #26

I read last year about sf commuters who ride back one or two stops to get a seat Liberal_in_LA Jun 2015 #30

That's interesting.. I did not know this! hmm.. 2banon Jun 2015 #36

I do something like that. RandySF Jun 2015 #40

It's called "upstreaming" Gormy Cuss Jun 2015 #50

that's the term. thx Liberal_in_LA Jun 2015 #60

I feel there needs to be more trains. DEMTough Jun 2015 #39

When it comes to traffic and communting, you have to make a choice in your lifestyle. TerrapinFlyer Jun 2015 #41

My wife and I were discussing this very thing on a drive from Fairfield to Oakland last Wednesday Adsos Letter Jun 2015 #46

I'm from up-state NY, Riding the BART in 1975 brand new, you orpupilofnature57 Jun 2015 #51

Bet we got you beat here in DC. DCBob Jun 2015 #52

You could say the same about just about any major metro area. MineralMan Jun 2015 #55

It's tricky in the Bay Area because of the necessity of crossing bridges Arugula Latte Jun 2015 #64

You reminded me of the time I lived in Santa Barbara yuiyoshida Jun 2015 #68

East bay south here Lonusca Jun 2015 #57

580 at Livermore --ugh. Gormy Cuss Jun 2015 #61

Awwwww..... brooklynite Jun 2015 #63

I have a simple solution yuiyoshida Jun 2015 #67

I have solutions, as well. More mass transit. Dedicated bus lanes. No right turns on transit lanes. Luminous Animal Jun 2015 #69

Could you please explain this some more to those of us not from the Bay Area? StevieM Jun 2015 #70

It sounds good now while the job market is still improving RandySF Jun 2015 #71

BART and public transit are so in need of expansion CreekDog Jun 2015 #74

As a transplant, here is my impression Lonusca Jun 2015 #73