Parking Safety... tips?
I've never been on the BART before but was planning on taking it in a few weeks. My original plan was to take it from Dublin/Pleasanton to Downtwon Berkeley for a concert at the Greek.
My question is, how safe is it to ride back at 1130 p.m. - 100 a.m.?
Also, is it pretty safe to park at the Dublin/Pleasanton station or should I be worried about the walk from the station to the lot?
You should probably drive.
You should probably drive.
+1 on driving. It's probably
+1 on driving. It's probably safe enough, but I can't think of a more inefficient way of getting there. You would be better off going to Walnut Creek and grabbing BART from there.
My original plan was to
My original plan was to drive, but everyone kept telling me that the parking there was horrible and that I'd never get out.
I would be on the Train by myself... so driving does sound like the better option.
I'd be more worried about
I'd be more worried about missing the last train and getting stranded with no way to get home than safety, but then again I'm stupidly fearless about public transit.
I had thought about that
I had thought about that too... which was one of my reasons for maybe driving instead. Even though everyone tells me it's a mess and it'll take me forever to get out of Berkeley... it's probably better than getting stuck there without a way back to the hotel.
Be worried about being
Be worried about being stranded; it's not that hard after a long day at work, particularly if the intercom isn't working and you can't hear your stop and they make whistle stops, etc., that distract you from your count. Happened to me last FRiday. If you've have a really bad day, it is also easy to do. Even though I work nights, I still start my day early like everyone else and sometimes by 12:00 a.m., I'm tired.
It is really mean of BART, not to have one bus or something going back but no, they rather leave everyone stranded at 1:00 a.m. at a really dangerous station. Contra Costa cab drivers will RIP YOU OFF. I have been riding BART 35 years and have only done this a couple of times, but it is horrible when it happens. Two times, the T.O. was nice enough to get someone to take me one stop back to mine. Last Friday night when this happened to me, the guy would NOT take a female back one stop, only males. Boy did I feel discriminated against and I will be writing BART Management about this and this individual. Do not miss your stop, you will be sorry.
I always support BART personnel when they are on strike but because of that ONE individual, my love towards BART personnel has diminished considerably.
Walnut Creek is not a safe town any more either. Don't fool yourself with a false sense of security.
I am so hating BART right now. If the Bridge was done, I would just go back to driving because you don't save any money riding BART with all the vandalism done to your car.
That article is so stupid on BART's www.bart.gov -- "Why BART Doesn't Run 24 Hours." That plan was from at least 30 years ago and things have changed significantly in the County, public transportation ought to keep up. We are supposed to put up with a fucking 1964 plan in 2008. REALLY! BART should run until 2:00 a.m. anyway to keep the drunks off the road, although they drive out of the station drunk as hell. I always wait for them to leave first. You will also be stuck watching them relieve themselves all over the parking lot. The poor trees. Station Agents won't let them use the bathrooms because it is too late.
In the CIty, they all just pee on the wall at Montgomery before they go down the escalator; it is SOOOOOO gross. Then you see them touch everything. Do you really want to ride BART?
Drive out there this weekend
Drive out there this weekend and plan a visit to the garage. Get out and ask the station agent the very questions you are asking here. Hopefully they can give you some great tips.
Unfortunately, Im not from
Unfortunately, Im not from the area. I'll only be up there during the concerts.
Why not get a hotel in
Why not get a hotel in Berkeley? You get the parking out of the way, get to party some, and no transit hassles.
I had thought about that, but
I had thought about that, but honestly couldn't find any good hotels in the area. I have free stays at the Sheraton in Pleasanton so figured I would just use that. If anyone has recommendations on good and/or reasonable hotels in Berkeley, that are close to the venue, I'll certainly take them, thanks.
The Hotel Durant isn't bad
The Hotel Durant isn't bad (or at least wasn't the last time I had relatives stay there a few years back), and is close by.
You can also rent a room in the Stern Hall dorm that's literally next to the Greek Theater (quite inexpensive, but you'll have to walk down the hall to the bathroom). See the UC Berkeley Summer Visitor Housing site for details.
I used to valet at the city
I used to valet at the city club on durant. One time someone stole all our bow ties and suspenders and another time an angry drunk homeless wheelchair bound cripple veteran dude dumped the entire contents of his colostomy bag right in front of the entrance. Gotta love bizerkeley.
Oh, the dorm room thing would
Oh, the dorm room thing would have been great. Unfortunately, it looks like the last day to do that is August 18 and I won't be there until the week after. I'll have to remember that though. Didn't realize there was such a thing like that. Thanks.
Wait...wait...are you going
Wait...wait...are you going to the Dave Matthews concert?
Yeah, in September.
Yeah, in September.
I haven't heard of any
I haven't heard of any problems at Dublin at night, when the last train pulls in BART police is usually on the platform helping sweep the train.
And the walk is not that far from the station to the lots.
Hm. I read somewhere that the
Hm. I read somewhere that the path from the station to the lot was pretty isolated and secluded and that someone had been mugged there.