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Skateboarding => Travel Guide => Topic started by: raunchyrick on June 16, 2013, 09:11:54 AM

Title: Oakland CA
Post by: raunchyrick on June 16, 2013, 09:11:54 AM
Anyone live there? How is it there? I want to move to the bay area, but my would be roomate made it clear that SF is out of the question due to how expensive rent is and how far it is from work. How long does it take to get to SF from Oakland or Berkely?
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: neko on June 16, 2013, 10:28:45 AM
Depending on where you're at in Oakland and where you're going in the city, it can be anywhere from 10-45+ min. Not bad if you're in West Oakland or downtown Oakland; much more of a trek if you're in Berkeley or trying to get deeper into the city. For example, if you lived in downtown Oakland, it'd take you about an hour/1:15 to get to the Waller St ledge spot near Golden Gate Park. So not the greatest, but doable. The big bummer about BART and the East Bay is that the last train to get across the bay is at 12:30-1am-ish, making it way more difficult to stick around for a show or a bar or whatever. There's some late-night bus that runs across the bridge a few times while BART's down for the night, but I know nothing about it and my gf says it's super sketch. Of course, if you have a car, that's not a problem...though parking and traffic and whatnot are.

From what I hear, Oakland has a pretty rad skate scene of its own. Also, living in the city doesn't have to be as crazy expensive as people make it out to be. Yes, rent's higher than a lot of other cities, but if you lurk Craigslist and are persistent, you can get into an existing roommate situation for an "affordable" price. Finding an empty apt for you and your would-be roommate is just not going to happen; you're competing with the rich tech asshats who will pay extra rent or pay a year's rent up front or other bullshit like that.

But distance from your work can't be helped, I suppose. Really, Oakland's rad. If I worked on that side of the bay, I'd definitely consider living over there. A number of my good friends do, and they love it.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: october on June 16, 2013, 08:04:45 PM
I lived in East Oakland, and it was the fucking worst. West Oakland isn't much better. The entire bay area is really expensive rent wise. My "cheap" place in Oakland was $1800, and my studio in SF was $2200.

The skate scene was awesome though, 510 Skate Shop is sick, and using the BART to go to SF was easy. Berekley is a cool place, and wish I would have lived there instead.

Despite the severe ghettoness, being crazy expensive, I will probably move back one day. Just not in East Oakland.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: Nosferatu on June 16, 2013, 09:33:18 PM
Did you live in a mansion in east oakland for 1800?

I live in north oakland by the macarthur bart stop. Oakland can be a pretty sketchy place to live, though I havent personally had any problems in the year I've been here. Getting to SF for work will most likely be easy. Any job worth a commute is probably in the downtown area.

Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: october on June 17, 2013, 04:58:47 AM
No, I lived in an apartment near Skyline. Moved there after living off of Fruitvale for a few months.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: raunchyrick on June 27, 2013, 10:01:57 AM
Did you live in a mansion in east oakland for 1800?

I live in north oakland by the macarthur bart stop. Oakland can be a pretty sketchy place to live, though I havent personally had any problems in the year I've been here. Getting to SF for work will most likely be easy. Any job worth a commute is probably in the downtown area.



Can you elaborate on this?
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: october on June 29, 2013, 10:42:58 PM
Expand Quote
Did you live in a mansion in east oakland for 1800?

I live in north oakland by the macarthur bart stop. Oakland can be a pretty sketchy place to live, though I havent personally had any problems in the year I've been here. Getting to SF for work will most likely be easy. Any job worth a commute is probably in the downtown area.


[close]

Can you elaborate on this?

Pretty sketchy is a severe understatement. When I first moved to Oakland, I stayed with my girlfriends family in East Oakland, right off of Fruitvale and International. Seriously one of the worst and most dangerous cities in the country. Google it. Highest murder rate, most car jackings, most assaults, drugs, prostitution, etc. My first night staying there I heard my first drive by shooting, which critically injured a neighbor. Being one of the only white dude in the neighborhood fucking sucked too. I stayed there for only 2 months before moving to Alameda, then over to Skyline. Alameda is literally right next to Oakland, but seems like a completely different world. Nice and clean. Skyline is better than alot of areas in East Oakland too.

I liked Berkeley alot, and its a fun place to live too. Even with all the shit in Oakland, it was awesome jumping on the BART and going to SF every day. Just do your research on where you would live in the city before hand.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: Nosferatu on July 01, 2013, 07:26:20 PM
Yeah, I'd stay away from anywhere in the east on international or macarthur or anywhere in between. It is wild out there. Other parts of the city still have plenty of car break-ins and muggings but much less violent crime.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: 93tilinfinity on July 20, 2013, 07:00:42 AM
I lived in West Oakland and worked in SF. Rent was cheap in West Oakland and since I worked in SF I had a lot more money to spend.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: pandarelated on July 20, 2013, 03:11:24 PM
i am living in Oakland right now. anyone want to go skate? hit me up.. [email protected]

i am in the larual disctrict. dont find it much better then bushwick brooklyn. don't be an idiot and youll be fine.

a car would make the area better.  the BART and public works. but it can make for some long train rides.
Title: Re: Oakland CA
Post by: Ayanami on September 19, 2021, 11:39:56 PM
Recently moved up to the Bay Area and the nearest place to skate is the Rockridge Bart station. Really love this place, fun curbs and mellow people. Any recommendations for stuff similar to it?