BART and You're there?

"Ryanator122" (hawkeye122) 12/16/2014 at 03:07 • Filed to: None

0

8

I was watching an old episode of Top Gear this evening, and I had a thought: What is the quickest way to get to the South Bay (SFO?) from, say, Concord?

This has been a question which has plagued parts of my social circle for about 4 years. Let me explain this for non-California people: The BART is a magic service where you go to an ATM machine-thing, it spits out a paper card which you then place in the turnstile, it then points you toward the platform where you board a light rail to take you to many exciting destinations around the Bay Area.

One day I found myself discussing a recent trip to SF with a friend, it went like this

"Yeah it was fun for sure, but the traffic was wretched as usual."

"Traffic? Just take the train bro."

"BAHAHAHA, the train? No. No no no. Driving is the best, because I'm a car guy. Did I mention I race around cones in a parking lot? I'll see pick you up at 5"

She was so impressed that we went all the way that night. Or not.

While that's not exactly how the conversation went down, you can see the issue.

A year or so later I was forced to learn how to use the BART by a female friend in the area. IT WAS BRILLIANT. You just sit, don't worry about parking, and relax. No one can cut you off! No one slows down in the fast lane!

But I reckon we only did about 65 MPH maximum, and had to stop quite frequently. As someone who lives 187 miles away from this fine city, I'm always very interested in what would be the quickest way to get there. This is where the idea comes into play: recreate the Top Gear London race. Someone will BART, someone will take the Ferry and then bike(they'll lose), and someone will drive. What a bitchin way to waste a day!

Now I'm sure if this got reposted to Valleywag I'd get a pretty solid consensus, but that sounds less fun. What says you, Oppo? Train or Car?

JDIGGS > Ryanator122 12/16/2014 at 03:11

0

bart doesn't go to san jose.

The problem is it's unreliable and dirty. There are is nowhere to get a soda or a candy bar if you have a long wait. The reality is a lot of the time it doesn't provide you any personal time as a way to escape commuting. It's just a different hell.

Ryanator122 > JDIGGS 12/16/2014 at 03:16

0

Damn, I was hoping I could let that one slide- the Airport isn't really South Bay. Meh.

I've noticed that the Dublin trains are usually a bit cleaner? That doesn't help me, coming down from the North but still.

Commuting may be hell, but which is quicker? And for a tourist (Let's say the typical Giants goer from Sacramento) which is more convenient?

Too many M's > Ryanator122 12/16/2014 at 03:45

0

I went from SFO to Dublin, took 1.5 hours. But I was able to load up on delicious ($10 beer) beverages at the airport before riding the train. That and a podcast made the time go quick.

promoted by the color red > Ryanator122 12/16/2014 at 03:46

1

From Sacramento to Pacific Bell/SBC/ATT stadium? If you've got time to kill, it'll be the Megabus from Old Sacramento that was a few hours late when I last took it. If you don't, Amtrak to Emeryville and take the connecting bus that drops you off outside the Embarcadero Hyatt. Then hop on whichever MUNI street car that isn't actively running over/into something and it'll stop right outside the park.

A car has the distinct advantage of being faster until you hit Berkeley. Then it's gridlock, gridlock, gridlock, nearly missing that Outback that doesn't understand merging from the Bay Bridge toll plaza, more gridlock, and $100 parking outside ATT park.

To answer the original question: BART is probably a little faster, but it's going to be crowded like a motherfucker during rush hour traffic. Plus you might catch a break in a car as that direction is somewhat contraflow (people go into SF) so you might be able to do 70-80 the entire way. You can also stay out late in a car when BART trains stop running at midnight.

Of course, if you want to make this challenge REALLY fun, start in western SF where BART doesn't run.

pImpOfThePerverse > Ryanator122 12/16/2014 at 05:32

0

I'm an east bay oppo and I'll participate in your experiment.

Ryanator122 > promoted by the color red 12/16/2014 at 14:32

0

Somewhere like Golden Gate Park?

I firmly believe there's no question that BART is the best way to get to Oakland Coliseum however

Ryanator122 > Too many M's 12/16/2014 at 14:33

0

I went from Bay Point to Millbrae once. That was properly miserable. But perhaps quicker than by car, hence the question.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > Ryanator122 12/17/2014 at 04:08

0

Oddly enough I like this idea...a lot. Just generally doing TG-like challenges like this in our own back yards could be a lot of fun.