What is the best way to move around in Berkeley, CA?
What is the most reasonable means of transportation for a UC Berkeley student? I have both a motorcycle and a car at my disposal.
The first few weeks here I took the bus everywhere, since it is free to take the bus, once you have paid your tuition. The buses are nice inside -- not smelly or full of scary, strange people, and the bus drivers all seem really friendly. However, at some times of day (around rush hour), the buses are really crowded, and standing is a drag.
I stopped taking the buses because waiting for them is not worth it. On weekends they usually come every 20 minutes, and on Monday through Friday they come every half hour. They are always late. Now I just walk everywhere, even though walking uphill is very tiring (especially if you have a lot of books or a laptop on your back).
I live in the dorms up in Stern, which is next to Foothill dorms, up in the hills, which is east of campus, so I don't live too far away.
If you plan on living in dorms, I would just rely on walking and the bus. The basic needs of life (food, soap, lightbulbs, etc.) are within walking distance. If you are going to live a mile or so away, you'll probably want to bring a car, just so you don't have to use up all of your time waiting for the bus. I wouldn't bring a motorcycle -- too much risk of it being carried away and stolen (some people are very desparate here).
Even with the car, you're going to have to spend a whole lot of money making sure it is in a safe parking lot, so that little pieces aren't stolen while you are in class.
Other reasons to consider bringing a car:
There are no grocery stores within a couple of miles of campus -- no safeway, no trader joe's, no raley's, no albertson's. You will be doomed to stocking up on non-perishable food before you move in, or eating dorm food, or greasy restaurant take-out. There are also no stores like costco, target, walmart, kmart, or anything of the sort, so with no car you won't be able to get any supplies, unless you want to go on a 4 hour round trip to target and back.
Other reasons to avoid bringing a car:
If you want the car in order to go to San Francisco, or do stuff on the weekend in the area, I suggest you don't bring the car. With all of the studying I have to do here, I have no time to do anything else. Perhaps though you are super smart and never had anything less than an A on anything -- then you will be like everyone else here, and you'll have time. But for me, I had a couple of B's in my time, and I haven't gone to my local JC to take advanced classes to get ahead of everyone else, so I must study like crazy -- no time to do any of the fun things I was dreaming about doing before I came to college.
Best way to figure out what you need here is to actually come here. No one can tell you what is right for you until you actually experience it and try it for yourself. You may take your car and realize you don't need it, or you make come without it and realize that you feel uncomfortable without it. Try to make an informed desicsion, and then modify what needs to be modified once you arrive.
