Alameda

[Anonymous]

What is Alameda like for families? Thinking of renting there with a baby and a dog, jobs would be located in SF.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it's okay. It's kind of a little island in/off Oakland. Pretty family oriented. My friend who's a child psychologist and her husband who is in tech just moved there from SF to raise their 3 yr old. And my other friend who's a lawyer and surveyor and his doctor wife are raising their two sons there, in public school.

[Anonymous]

It's popular for families because of the relatively strong public schools. The East End is considered more desirable than the West End, which has a lot of the newer development and big box retail. All of it is close to the beach. The commute to SF is by the Transbay bus or by driving/busing to either the ferry ($$) or Fruitvale BART (but know that the waiting list for parking there is years long!) It is also a relatively easy commute to Downtown Oakland. Alameda is beholden to the tubes and the bridges, so when traffic is bad--it's really bad. If you're buying there, be aware of the liquefaction zones since much of the island is built on fill. It's also not terribly diverse if that is important to you, at least compared to its neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's popular for families because of the relatively strong public schools. The East End is considered more desirable than the West End, which has a lot of the newer development and big box retail. All of it is close to the beach. The commute to SF is by the Transbay bus or by driving/busing to either the ferry ($$) or Fruitvale BART (but know that the waiting list for parking there is years long!) It is also a relatively easy commute to Downtown Oakland. Alameda is beholden to the tubes and the bridges, so when traffic is bad--it's really bad. If you're buying there, be aware of the liquefaction zones since much of the island is built on fill. It's also not terribly diverse if that is important to you, at least compared to its neighbors.

Could you drive from Alameda into the city, or would that just be an Awful commute? On the map it doesn't look like driving would be too bad, but I know looks can be deceiving!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's popular for families because of the relatively strong public schools. The East End is considered more desirable than the West End, which has a lot of the newer development and big box retail. All of it is close to the beach. The commute to SF is by the Transbay bus or by driving/busing to either the ferry ($$) or Fruitvale BART (but know that the waiting list for parking there is years long!) It is also a relatively easy commute to Downtown Oakland. Alameda is beholden to the tubes and the bridges, so when traffic is bad--it's really bad. If you're buying there, be aware of the liquefaction zones since much of the island is built on fill. It's also not terribly diverse if that is important to you, at least compared to its neighbors.

Could you drive from Alameda into the city, or would that just be an Awful commute? On the map it doesn't look like driving would be too bad, but I know looks can be deceiving!

Awful. Hard to describe how awful! Going in it is passable some days, but unpredictable (budget an hour and be pleased when it's faster and not too surprised when it's slower) but coming home it's a nightmare because to get to Alameda, you hit two different traffic jams: the Bay Bridge, which is not fun but is what it is, and then the MacArthur Maze/580/880, which ranks among the worst traffic interchanges in the country and makes me want to cry in the evening just watching it from the opposite direction.

Driving is modestly better if you have a carpool (three people) and can use the HOV lane on the bridge, but it doesn't help much after you get off the bridge. There are certainly people who do it, but most of them have flexible schedules that allow them to come and go at off-peak times, or else have jobs that really require a car to get there (out at the Presidio, for example, or at some of the farther-out hospitals).

One option you can consider is casual carpool, where you go to a specific spot and either ride in someone else's car or pick up others to ride in your car to get to the magic carpool number. It's a dollar for the ride. (The bridge toll is also cheaper for carpoolers.) There are two Alameda pickup spots. Then you can come home on the Transbay bus (which is a pretty good option--comfy seats, wifi that mostly works) or, if you drove, you can try to come home at non-commute hours (before 4 pm, after 7 pm). However, the commute timing can be tricky if you need to pick up a baby at daycare. You may be better off leaving the car on the East Bay side, which is what the vast majority of people we know who commute to SF do so that one or the other parent can get there in time.

[Anonymous]

If you are both working in SF with a baby. I would not move to Alameda. The commute is too much. Marin would be better because you can take the Ferry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's popular for families because of the relatively strong public schools. The East End is considered more desirable than the West End, which has a lot of the newer development and big box retail. All of it is close to the beach. The commute to SF is by the Transbay bus or by driving/busing to either the ferry ($$) or Fruitvale BART (but know that the waiting list for parking there is years long!) It is also a relatively easy commute to Downtown Oakland. Alameda is beholden to the tubes and the bridges, so when traffic is bad--it's really bad. If you're buying there, be aware of the liquefaction zones since much of the island is built on fill. It's also not terribly diverse if that is important to you, at least compared to its neighbors.

Could you drive from Alameda into the city, or would that just be an Awful commute? On the map it doesn't look like driving would be too bad, but I know looks can be deceiving!

Awful. Hard to describe how awful! Going in it is passable some days, but unpredictable (budget an hour and be pleased when it's faster and not too surprised when it's slower) but coming home it's a nightmare because to get to Alameda, you hit two different traffic jams: the Bay Bridge, which is not fun but is what it is, and then the MacArthur Maze/580/880, which ranks among the worst traffic interchanges in the country and makes me want to cry in the evening just watching it from the opposite direction.

Driving is modestly better if you have a carpool (three people) and can use the HOV lane on the bridge, but it doesn't help much after you get off the bridge. There are certainly people who do it, but most of them have flexible schedules that allow them to come and go at off-peak times, or else have jobs that really require a car to get there (out at the Presidio, for example, or at some of the farther-out hospitals).

One option you can consider is casual carpool, where you go to a specific spot and either ride in someone else's car or pick up others to ride in your car to get to the magic carpool number. It's a dollar for the ride. (The bridge toll is also cheaper for carpoolers.) There are two Alameda pickup spots. Then you can come home on the Transbay bus (which is a pretty good option--comfy seats, wifi that mostly works) or, if you drove, you can try to come home at non-commute hours (before 4 pm, after 7 pm). However, the commute timing can be tricky if you need to pick up a baby at daycare. You may be better off leaving the car on the East Bay side, which is what the vast majority of people we know who commute to SF do so that one or the other parent can get there in time.

Agree with this. And the traffic to get to the tunnel is awful not to mention that it is along the skiddiest of skid rows, it’s pretty depressing and a bit scary at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are both working in SF with a baby. I would not move to Alameda. The commute is too much. Marin would be better because you can take the Ferry.

? You can take the ferry from Alameda too. Assuming the jobs are in the Financial District, Alameda is a closer commute on transit, and they're about the same (and both painful) driving. (Don't get me wrong--Marin is lovely if it's in your budget, but it doesn't gain you anything commute-wise unless the jobs are not in downtown SF.)

[Anonymous]

My cousin takes the ferry from alameda. He works in the financial district. His wife drives into the city or takes Bart from Fruitvale (she needs car at work sometimes). Yeah, there is some commute time but really, this is a pretty great commute for the bay area. Marin is not better. The tube sucks but it is not that long time wise.
Plus, Alameda is great for kids. I realize you have a baby but if you plan to stay longer, alameda is a great place for kids. Schools are good. There are lots of parks. Alameda is pretty safe. My cousin's kids ride bikes to school and friends houses and activities and have tons of freedom.