Do you have your eye on living in San Francisco, but don’t have a car? That’s okay! There are many genuinely viable alternatives to driving throughout the Bay Area, but it’s helpful to understand what they are and how to stay safe. If you’re interested in living without a car in the area, here are a few things you should consider about your options for trains, biking, and more.
BART
While public transportation isn’t commonly associated with most cities outside of New York and Chicago, many places have train systems. In the Bay Area, that’s BART or Bay Area Rapid Transit. Several train lines connect San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco. Like any city’s rapid transit, riders are cautioned to be aware of their surroundings. Still, BART is safe to ride throughout the area and is an excellent alternative to having a car.
Bicycle Safety
While San Francisco and the surrounding areas are made up of hills, bicycling is just as popular here as it is in other cities around the country. San Francisco is considered one of the most bike-friendly and safe cities, with high road safety and accessibility scores. There are bike lanes available on many major streets, and other safety rules in place to protect bikers throughout the area. Get pedaling!
Rideshare
Did you know that the sharing economy began to emerge during the recession around 2008? Technologies were developed that gave individuals an easy way to share what they had, such as a car, with others. While the industry has evolved significantly since that time, rideshare is still a great option for someone without a vehicle living in the Bay Area. While you can always use big names like Uber and Lyft, local taxi and rideshare services are also available.
Electric Scooters
Several years ago, electric scooters like Lime and Bird started popping up in major cities around the country. While many areas created restrictions for their use, they are still a popular tool for quickly getting from point A to point B. Lime has scooters available in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
Do you dream of living in the Bay Area and reducing your dependence on a car?
Call Zachery Adam and the team at GoPrime in California to get pre-approved.
