Walkable and Bike-Friendly Bay Area Neighborhoods
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Walkable and Bike-Friendly Bay Area Neighborhoods
Feb 2012
I can't seem to unwind my way through this dilemma: i love
both Oakland and berkeley my son starts K next year
(pretty typical child with no apparent learning needs). We
rent in montclair so he can attend Montclair elementary
school which seems really great. However I quite dislike
living in the hills. I yearn for vibrant areas with flat
streets and sidewalks and people out in the open. I know we
could move elsewhere in Oakland but then my son would be
less a part of the neighborhood. Moving to Peraltas zone for
example just opens up huge doubt about the local middle
school which unfortunately hasnt improved much yet OUSD
middle and high school choices get iffy. We would probably
have to live in these darn hills to get into montera and
when i envision a life of play dates up windy roads i
cringe! (sorry Hills lovers! I wish I was one). It seems
like BUSD is pretty consistent K-12 although the elementary
schools might not be as amazing as a highly supported school
like Montclair. PLEASE advise: Should We move to Berkeley
or stay in Oakland, move down the hill, and just not worry
about post elementary school (which is almost impossible not
to do!) Thank you so much!! Losing sleep about OUSD vs
BUSD
We're in 'downtown' Montclair and we love it. We walk to
Montclair Elementary School. We never get in the car to go
to the grocery store, drug store. Restaurants nearby. We
walk to the park. There's a walking trail behind our house.
Love it. Best of both worlds. happy Montclairian
If the main thing you are looking for is your child being
able to walk to school, don't move to Berkeley. Berkeley
doesn't have neighborhood elementary schools. You might move
to a nice walkable neighborhood in the Berkeley flats, only
to find that your child has been assigned to a school in the
hills that you need to drive to every day. Even if he does
luck out and get assigned to the school in your
neighborhood, most of his friends at school will not live in
the neighborhood. so you'll be driving him around for
playdates. Maybe move someplace closer to Montclair
Village? There are lots of other nice walkable
neighborhoods in Oakland too! Check out the neighborhood
reviews on BPN. Berkeley mom
I am surprised no one has mentioned Albany for a lovely,
walkable neighborhood with great schools. Nearly everyone I
know walks to school, and because all three elementary
schools are so great people simply choose the closest one.
Solano offers many things in walking distance, including
restaurants, doctors, dentists and banks. We only have one
car and hardly use it, and we know many others who also walk
or bike everywhere. Big fan of Albany
Feb 2008
My family and I (two adults, one 16-month-old) are moving back to the
Bay Area after a few years in a bike-friendly European city. Believe
it or not, we don't own a car. Sure, there are some logistical issues
to work out, but it works! The questions:
Are there car-free families in the Bay Area?
Is there a ''good'' city for living car-free?
Are there particularly ''bike-friendly'' cities?
Many thanks!
Otto
I can recommend Albany (where I live), El Cerrito, and Berkeley
as relatively bike-friendly cities with the possibility of
living car-free. There is one principal bike path that runs
underneath the BART tracks from El Cerrito del Norte to North
Berkeley BART, and then there are streets dedicated to bike use
(better in Berkeley than the other towns). A number of people
I know augment their biking with membership in one of the
car-sharing organizations such as City CarShare or Zip Cars,
because there are some trips that are difficult to make on
public transportation. But if you choose your neighborhood
carefully (within walking or biking distance of shopping and
schools, etc.), you can get away without a car by using the
extensive public transport or biking.
Cautionary notes -- cars can be merciless to bikes, and
significant caution has to be exercised on roads busy with
cars. I have been honked at, nudged to the side, and nearly
hit by a car that didn't stop at a four-way stop. Because
almost everyone around you has a car, assumptions will be made
about your ability to get places (sport practices, afterschool
care, etc.) in a car-travel length of time. I have been in
situations where I had to drive because a ball practice was
scheduled way up in the Berkeley hills a half-hour after my
work hours. People are not all that understanding of a
decision to go carless in my experience, so you have to work at
it. Finally, if you do decide to go carless, could I make a
polite plea that you not lean too much on people with cars? I
have some ''green'' friends who go carless and then want me to
cart their kids around, which is not a fair ecological position
to my mind. I just had to say that, though I'm in basic
sympathy with your project.
bikes when able
Yes, you can be car-free in the Bay Area! San Francisco would
be the obvious choice for car-free living - if you like living
in the city - because it has the best public transit system in
the area. Nothing compared to Europe, I'm afraid, but still
very useful. However, I think the East Bay, especially Berkeley
and Albany, are more bike-friendly. If you're comfortable
biking around with your toddler, and with groceries, the
flatter parts of Berkeley and Albany would be great choices.
Having lived car-free in both Europe and the Bay Area, though,
I would like to mention that there is one big difference
between the two. In Europe you can literally get everywhere by
public transit - you can take a train or bus to other cities
and to trailheads, for instance. Here, however, while you can
get around without a car within the city, you'll need a car to
get out, and to enjoy the many parks around here. Of course,
you can do that by occasionally renting or joining a carshare
organization.
Welcome back to the Bay Area!
I know plenty of car-free people in the Bay area, but I don't
think I know any car-free families with kids. Seems like it
wouldn't be too hard though. You could check out CityCarShare
(or Zipcar)--car sharing might be an ideal solution for you
guys for the occasional times you need a car. Also, Berkeley
is really bike-friendly (and walk-friendly). Before my company
moved to Hayward my husband and I hardly ever drove. We're in
S. Berkeley, right by Ashby BART & Berkeley Bowl grocery store
& a park & tool-lending library & farmer's market...and walking
distance to downtown Berkeley & Rockridge. It's great. Good
luck with your move!
Jenny
Alameda is a small island with bike lanes on many streets and
cars are only allowed to go 25mph. We generally only ride our
bikes or drive an electric plugin car (GemCar) on the island.
Lots of stuff for kids to do and no reason to cross the bridge
over to the mainland unless you have to work off the island or
make a costco run. I use to live in Denmark where most of us
road bikes. Very comparable in nature.
Island Living
January 2007
We're thinking of moving to Berkeley (from SF Mission district),
but our knowledge of Berkeley neighborhoods is somewhat dated.
We would really like to be in a neighborhood where we can do all
our daily stuff without a car. We have one car, but we don't use
it, and think we will get rid of it soon.
We do enjoy living in an environment with urban density,
activity, and diversity... but neighborhood safety is also a
concern for us, now that we have a little one.
We need good access to public transportation (probably need
walking distance to BART) and we'd also like to have walkable
grocery shopping, playgrounds and parks, rainy-day play places,
library, bookstores, schools, and just generally nice
neighborhood walks.
Finally, we can only consider lower budget areas like Ashby area,
central Berkeley, or cheaper areas of north Berkeley...
Are we asking for too much? Any advice?
Pedestrian Mama
It's not as easy to get around as SF but I'd say anywhere in Berkeley besides the hills
is do-able without a car. I live in N. berkeley off Gilman and was thrilled to discover
the number 9 bus runs along Gilman right into downtown berkeley. I'm also 10 mins
from BART. I can walk to do all my grocery shopping (Monterey Market) and to our
local library. About the only time I ''need'' the car is to get up to Tilden. Even then
there is a bus, but I haven't figured it out yet. When I lived in south berkeley near
the Berkeley Bowl it was not quite so easy (not so many parks to walk to, felt less
safe walking around alone) but still very do-able. If you manage to find somewhere
in Central Berkeley, the Ohlone Park/Totland area seems ideal to me; completely
walkable, tons of families and very safe. If you ride a bike and have a seat/trailer for
your little one I think you will find berkeley without a car very manageable.
walking in berkeley
Well, this isn't Berkeley but I would like to make a plug for the
Richmond District in San Francisco. We're car free with a toddler
and we love it here. There are tons of toddlers and it is very
safe. The 38 Geary Limited can get you to a BART station in 20
minutes. This neighborhood has everything you are looking for
except for being in Berkeley.
bikermom
Check out Central Berkeley slightly east or west of MLK Ave,
perhaps between Rose and Allston. Also check out Albany and El
Cerrito, the area along Key Route/Ashbury/Central. Both of these
areas have reasonablly priced rentals and you can walk to BART,
shopping, parks, libraries.
-- Berkeley native living in El Cerrito for cleaner streets and lower rent
I think as long as you are north of Dwight, you are OK. I live
near the Sacramento St./University Ave. intersection and we can
walk to Andronico's, the stores all along University down to San
Pablo (post office, library, Mexican market, etc.) and up to
Cal, downtown (with post office, restaurants, shops, YMCA,
etc.), several parks (Ohlone, Charlie Dorr, totland, etc.), the
north Berkeley BART station, etc. I really like it here. I
know people who live south of Dwight and it's more dangerous
(drive-by shootings, etc.).
My two cents
We used to live in Central Berkeley (nr. Allston and McGee) and found it very walkable
and toddler-friendly. Downtown is 10 minutes away, also Andronico's, and the
Berkeley Bowl perhaps 20 mins. There is a nice little tot-lot on Roosevelt, one in the
UC Development at Allston & California, Ohlone park on Hearst, and of course, Totland
on McGee. We found the neighborhood safe, although there are high school students
traveling Allston and the occasional homeless. Good luck,
Anne
I recommend you concentrate on the neighborhoods around the
North Berkeley BART station and the El Cerrito Plaza BART
station. Going completely carless is relatively unusual but you
CAN definitely walk to all the basics (groceries, playgrounds)
in either location, and readily take BART or bus for longer
distance trips. These areas are less expensive than, say,
Rockridge or ''upper'' Albany, but are just as pleasant and safe,
and offer the same kind of family-friendly semi-urban density.
The Ashby area I would say is somewhat less pedestrian-friendly,
although you might find it would work okay for you. And you
could consider the Central Berkeley area just west of downtown.
I know families who live in both places and like it, but
the ''feel'' is different -- more students and non-traditional-
family households, and more economic diversity -- which has its
pros and cons
Likes Walking Too in Albany
I have a three year old and live in Berkeley close to Ashby and Telegraph. It's a great
neighborhood for living a car-free existence with a kid. While we own a car, it is
completely unnecessary that we use it. We are four blocks to Ashby BART, one block
to Whole Foods, four blocks to Bateman Park (great for toddlers), and also close to
Willard Park and the playground at LeConte Elementary School. A short walk east is
Elmwood, with a great range of restaurants, shops, cafes, and a theater and bank. I
would highly recommend the area bordered by Telegraph and Shattuck, and by
Alcatraz to a several blocks north of Ashby for a totally walkable, accessible,
toddler-in-tow life. Avoid the Alcatraz/Shattuck corner of the area I described.
Amy
i would highly recommend our neighborhood...north berkeley
flats. we live on cedar st. (a little too busy for me, but we
are buying our home :)) just by the park on the corner of
chestnut and cedar. i can walk to several different shopping
places (berkeley natural grocery, monterey market, gourmet
ghetto and fourth st) we can also walk to over 6 different
parks, two different libraries and the ohlone bike path runs
through the park by our house. in addition, the bart station
is only about three blocks away. we love living here, and
using our car minimally. my husband even walks to work, on
university which is about 7 blocks away. good luck with your
search!!!
anon
We moved from the Mission to Albany last year -- it's not
strictly Berkeley but it's right ''next door'' and so far it's
working out great for us. My husband BARTs to work (El Cerrito
Plaza station is a couple blocks away). I don't even have a
driver's license so I walk to everything. Great schools are just
blocks away, and most everything you need is also close by --
either on Solano Ave, which is crammed with cafes, two movies
theaters, shops, restaurants, bookstores, bakeries, etc., or at
El Cerrito Plaza, a new-ish mall with a Barnes n' Noble, Trader
Joe's, Pier One, Petco, Albertsons, more restaurants, video
rentals, etc. Other nearby stuff: Starbucks and Pete's coffee,
parks, tons of afterschool programs for kids at the rec center
(everything from karate to carpentry to dance, music and more), a
nice library, and the new El Cerrito Speakeasy -- a pizza n'
movies theater opened by the same folks who own the Parkway. I'm
not sure how ''low budget'' the housing is -- we bought a major
fixer at a great price and have been noodling away on it ever
since and we know other families here who are *far* from wealthy.
It's a really swell place to be -- quiet, super friendly,
diverse. Might be worth checking out!
Pedestrian Mom
Though not as urban as Berkeley, you may want to consider Alameda
- it's a really great place to live with a toddler. I have an
almost 3 year old, and rarely drive anywhere. We walk to several
grocery stores, downtown cafes / restaurants, a great bookstore,
the library, parks, preschool, tumbling, music, etc. The
neighborhoods are quite safe, and public schools are good. The
parks & recreation department runs ''Wee Play'' two mornings a week
for the 0-3 set, and good preschools (2, 3 or 5 days / week) in
almost every park for ages 3-5. Both are very affordable. Housing
costs seem comparable to Berkeley. We can't easily walk to BART,
but my kid loves buses (including Trans-Bay), and the ferry. BART
is only a few miles away.
Good luck!
- a former Berkeley resident
You didn't mention whether you were renting or owning. For safety
though, if you wish to stay in the city there's some good places to
be found in the Russian Hill/Pacific Heights/Marina
neighborhoods. The child density depends on the
neighborhood/building. We're few blocks west of Van Ness, which
is safe but not outrageously priced and importantly, we never use
our car. We bus/BART to work in the East Bay, walk to get
groceries, there's tons of parks around, libraries, Post Offices,
anything you need. The East Bay is great too. Regardless of your
choice, I would walk around the neighborhood of the place you're
considering at various times of day, afternoon, and night before
deciding, to see how it feels for you. Different streets can feel
different, depending on high school traffic, proximity to
shelters etc., as you know, moreover different people have a
differing sense of what's safe. Good luck!
anon
It won't be as easy to live with one, or zero, cars in Berkeley
as in the Mission, but it can reasonably be done. My family of
two working adults and an elementary school child have had one
car for 10 years in Berkeley, near North Berkeley BART station.
San Francisco's transit system and widespread retail districts
allow you to live almost anywhere in San Francisco with few or no
cars. In Berkeley, you need to pick your spots more. I certainly
wouldn't want to do it in the Hills or over west of 7th St. The
areas around the 3 BART stations Ashby, Downtown Berkeley, North
Berkeley are best. Within a 1/2 mile (about 10 minutes' walk)
radius of each station there is at least one supermarket, drug
store, library, post office, park, cafes and restaurants. Some
of these facilities are a little further away from North Berkeley
BART, they're over by San Pablo & University (a junction of two
relatively frequent bus lines) about 2/3 of a mile away. The BART
stations are also all served by a number of bus lines, especially
Downtown Berkeley. Away from the BART stations, the only real
good areas for low car living in terms of stores and transit are
along University Ave. and along Shattuck Avenue.
I think moving your child(ren) around is likely to be the tough
part, especially if you have no car. I'm able to walk my daughter
to school in the morning about 1/3 of a mile but in the Berkeley
public schools children don't necessarily attend their
neighborhood school. Although we have a couple of different
arrangements for different days of the week, the most frequent is
that we pick her up by car at her after school care site in the
North Shattuck area. I have walked home with her from there, but
it's a bit of a stretch, about a mile and a quarter. Sometimes
we've been able to do this by bus, but east-west bus service for
a trip like that is much more limited than north-south bus
service, the only frequent east-west lines are on University and
Solano.
I'm not a big cyclist, but Berkeley certainly looks like a good
town for cycling in the flatlands, lots of people do it, there
are defined "Bike Boulevards" which cross the city but are away
from the major streets. One could presumably handle a lot of the
running around town for errands trips, that I tend to drive for,
on a bike.
Welcome to Berkeley - the more people here who aren't car-oriented,
the better.
this page was last updated: Jul 17, 2012
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