question for those living in the S.F. bay area. how can you live with the traffic jams?...

[Dancing Fire]

today i dropped my daughter off at santa cruz. on the way back about 6:30 p.m. through San Jose, Fremont,Milpitas area, there was still quite a jam.

 

[FireGoddess]

I don''t drive on the highways during those times.

101 and 880 are pretty bad during rush hour. If I have to drive, I try to take 280. But I have the luxury of flex time, so I come into work a little later in the morning (after rush hour) and stay later in the evening, thus avoiding all that traffic.

 

[Mara]

Oh its not as bad as HOUSTON. Oh my gosh...after driving in that stuff I was like...calgon take me away...the SF Bay is nowhere near as bad...nothing like it. It took us 45 minutes to go something like 10 miles because they were doing road work at 7pm on a FRIDAY. Rocket science. Also, the lights are super short and so you are always stuck in some horrible traffic. AHH!

For me I work less than 10 min from home so I rarely drive during rush hours and also Greg takes the trains. So it''s been about a year or more since I have had to deal with commutes. But for years I did Santa Cruz to SJ and then also Belmont to SOUTH San Jose (the biggest nightmare one!)...and then MV to Milpitas which wasn''t bad at all on 237, etc. But after Houston, Bay is like a walk in the park.

 

[FireGoddess]

I also have to agree with Mara here - I moved to the Bay Area from Houston and I have permanent mental-block of that place, for many reasons. But besides the ill-planned road repair (which always seems to go on forever, but the roads still look like crap) and non-synchronized traffic lights, the roads all have metal planks on them instead of true pothole repair....I bought a new car when I was there and when I moved 4 months later....the alignment was completely out of whack. Already.

And don't get me started on the fact that people there take red lights as a "suggestion."

Never have I seen such blatant disregard for a red light. I have to stop now. All the anger is coming back.

Too bad I wasn't in the market for a diamond when I lived there...at least being near to WF would have been some kind of saving grace for me!

 

[Jelly]

I''m sure the people from LA can chime in on traffic jams. It''s a mess down there!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 9/21/2005 1:28:07 AM
Author: FireGoddess
I don''t drive on the highways during those times.

101 and 880 are pretty bad during rush hour. If I have to drive, I try to take 280. But I have the luxury of flex time, so I come into work a little later in the morning (after rush hour) and stay later in the evening, thus avoiding all that traffic.

6:30 pm is rush hour?

how bad is it during the morning traffic? 4:00-5:30 pm traffic?

 

[FireGoddess]

I don't venture out onto the highways if I can avoid it until AFTER the HOV lane opens up to everyone. That's when the congestion starts to dissipate, in my experience, and the HOV lane doesn't open up to everyone till 7pm.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 9/21/2005 1:33:24 AM
Author: Mara
Oh its not as bad as HOUSTON. Oh my gosh...after driving in that stuff I was like...calgon take me away...the SF Bay is nowhere near as bad...nothing like it. It took us 45 minutes to go something like 10 miles because they were doing road work at 7pm on a FRIDAY. Rocket science. Also, the lights are super short and so you are always stuck in some horrible traffic. AHH!

For me I work less than 10 min from home so I rarely drive during rush hours and also Greg takes the trains. So it's been about a year or more since I have had to deal with commutes. But for years I did Santa Cruz to SJ and then also Belmont to SOUTH San Jose (the biggest nightmare one!)...and then MV to Milpitas which wasn't bad at all on 237, etc. But after Houston, Bay is like a walk in the park.

Mara
too many freeways in San Jose.

i always get confuse

coming back to Sacto,it took me a few times to figure out my way home. i know,i know,yes...i'm a dummy.

 

[Jelly]

dancing fire...are you in Sacramento?

 

[MrsFrk]

I was in LA recently, the traffic is a NIGHTMARE. Traffic jams at 11pm. And people drive like maniacs.
I avoid the freeway at commute time. I take the train whenever I can, my husband works from home.

 

[AsscherGirl]

Have any of you ever been to NJ? I drive 12 miles to work every day and it takes me a minimum of 35 minutes to get there. The way home - 45 minutes. 287 is a NIGHTMARE. This may not sound too bad, but I am only on the highway for 4 miles! There are exits that back up to the PREVIOUS exit. And I''ve never had to drive on the Turnpike to get to work, but I hear the traffic reports & there is an accident practically every single day.

I have to say though: I visited L.A. this March & I have never seen such traffic in my ENTIRE life. I would love it if someone could explain to me why there is traffic at 2:30 in the morning.

I was only in San Francisco once for vacation, but I remember sitting on a tour bus (don''t laugh - my mom is the QUEEN of guided tours) for a good hour in traffic.

We need better road planning/public transportation in this country.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I have to nominate DC as one of the worst areas for traffic. The Beltway and 66 are ALWAYS having issues. The problem with living in NoVa is that there are only so many bridges into DC (3 or 4? Key, Memorial, Roosevelt, and 14th Street? Any more?) so that if there are problems or constructions (which there must likely are), the city is paralyzed.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 9/21/2005 9:02:12 AM
Author: AsscherGirl
Have any of you ever been to NJ? I drive 12 miles to work every day and it takes me a minimum of 35 minutes to get there. The way home - 45 minutes. 287 is a NIGHTMARE. This may not sound too bad, but I am only on the highway for 4 miles! There are exits that back up to the PREVIOUS exit. And I''ve never had to drive on the Turnpike to get to work, but I hear the traffic reports & there is an accident practically every single day.

I was born and raised in NJ so I know a bit about it.

Of course, during those years my main destinations were the malls, but I do recall the roads near Woodbridge being a PITA.

It is the most densely populated state after all, so I guess it''s to be somewhat expected!

 

[AsscherGirl]

Date: 9/21/2005 2:19:26 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Date: 9/21/2005 9:02:12 AM
Author: AsscherGirl
Have any of you ever been to NJ? I drive 12 miles to work every day and it takes me a minimum of 35 minutes to get there. The way home - 45 minutes. 287 is a NIGHTMARE. This may not sound too bad, but I am only on the highway for 4 miles! There are exits that back up to the PREVIOUS exit. And I''ve never had to drive on the Turnpike to get to work, but I hear the traffic reports & there is an accident practically every single day.

I was born and raised in NJ so I know a bit about it.

Of course, during those years my main destinations were the malls, but I do recall the roads near Woodbridge being a PITA.

It is the most densely populated state after all, so I guess it''s to be somewhat expected!

FireGoddess - How could I forget about the Route 1/Parkway Disaster that is Woodbridge?!?!?! It''s probably because I haven''t been there in about 3 years due to the awful traffic I used to sit in! During the Christmas season, it can take you literally 1 hour to get out of the PARKING LOT at Woodbridge Mall. Then you still need to go 3 or 4 miles to get to 287 & that is about another 2 hours!

Ahh, NJ - malls, densely packed people, 24 Hour Diners & the impression of smoke stacks every where you go.

 

[fancyrock]

Date: 9/21/2005 2:00:58 AM
Author: Jelly
I''m sure the people from LA can chime in on traffic jams. It''s a mess down there!

I used to live in SF and now I''m in LA (aka by some locals: helLA). I don''t remember yelling at my steering wheel as much as i do now in LA traffic. In the Bay Area, there are "pocket" areas & "pocket" time to avoid to be on the freeway... In LA, every freeway is a pocket area for traffic jam. The funniest thing is if you ask someone in LA how long would it take to go from A to B, most of them would say 20 min. But in reality... it will take alot longer if you factor in accidents, nosy lookers while passing by an accident and that will double or triple your driving time. I have gone out to lunch and be stuck in a jam. SO.... i''ll take SF traffic anyday over LA''s.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 9/21/2005 3:49:56 PM
Author: firerock
But in reality... it will take alot longer if you factor in accidents, nosy lookers while passing by an accident and that will double or triple your driving time. I have gone out to lunch and be stuck in a jam. SO.... i''ll take SF traffic anyday over LA''s.

OMG, I want to take rubberneckers and beat them down!!!!! They cause more time spent in traffic than actual accidents do!!!!

Asschergirl - while I do prefer NoCal, I do miss having 5 good malls to choose from in a 25 minute radius.

 

[hoorray]

Date: 9/21/2005 3:49:56 PM
Author: firerock

Date: 9/21/2005 2:00:58 AM
Author: Jelly
I''m sure the people from LA can chime in on traffic jams. It''s a mess down there!

I used to live in SF and now I''m in LA (aka by some locals: helLA). I don''t remember yelling at my steering wheel as much as i do now in LA traffic. In the Bay Area, there are ''pocket'' areas & ''pocket'' time to avoid to be on the freeway... In LA, every freeway is a pocket area for traffic jam. The funniest thing is if you ask someone in LA how long would it take to go from A to B, most of them would say 20 min. But in reality... it will take alot longer if you factor in accidents, nosy lookers while passing by an accident and that will double or triple your driving time. I have gone out to lunch and be stuck in a jam. SO.... i''ll take SF traffic anyday over LA''s.

I''ve lived in both, and I''ll take SF anyday over LA. The LA drivers are aggressive; they all drive huge SUVs, so you can never see, and between the older freeways and the accidents, it can feel impossible to get from point A to point B.

The SF area is bearable if you have the flexibility to avoid certain hours of the day. (Yes -- DF, 6:30 is rush hour. The Bay area is full of workaholics -- NO ONE leaves work at 5.) There is lots of flex time, which helpsto spread people out on the roads.

And yes, Firegoddess, I agree that the shopping is much better in LA. You just have to get there

.

 

[fancyrock]

As much as i think how cute the sporty 2 seater cars are.... i wouldn''t want to drive one in LA. I sat in one that my coworker owns and all i can see is the big behind of SUVs. I''m already short and certainly don''t need to be shorter in a car. I''m afarid someday I might have to join the big butt SUV club.

 

[hoorray]

Date: 9/21/2005 6:16:45 PM
Author: firerock
As much as i think how cute the sporty 2 seater cars are.... i wouldn''t want to drive one in LA. I sat in one that my coworker owns and all i can see is the big behind of SUVs. I''m already short and certainly don''t need to be shorter in a car. I''m afarid someday I might have to join the big butt SUV club.

Yup--I have a sporty 2-seater, DH has an SUV. I won''t take my car into LA -- I take his, so that I at least have a chance of seeing. (It''s only a mid-sized SUV -- not a huge honker...) My 2-seater was no problem in the Bay Area (SF).

 

[cutes814]

Date: 9/21/2005 3:49:56 PM
Author: firerock
In the Bay Area, there are ''pocket'' areas & ''pocket'' time to avoid to be on the freeway... In LA, every freeway is a pocket area for traffic jam. SO.... i''ll take SF traffic anyday over LA''s.

I agree! I live in San Francisco, and there is traffic, but only during certain hours at certain places. The last time I went down to LA, omg! I can''t believe there''s traffic everywhere and at all times of the day! It takes over an hour just to travel somewhere like 15 miles away! It''s a nightmare down there.

Bay area traffic is not as bad compared to the other major cities in the U.S.

 

[fancyrock]

Wanna hear something even worse... We had guests that came down to LA for our wedding from Northern Cal and they never made it to our wedding.

Guess what happened...??!!!!??

Of course, they were stuck in TRAFFIC!!!!!

AND... during my normal daily commute to work... some days i could be stuck on the freeway at this one spot for 30 min and i only had 2.5 more miles to reach my work. C''mon.... 30 min to drive the distance of 2.5 miles??? Tat''s just ridiculous!!