<p>During move in day, in order to get from the airport to campus, I’m planning to take the BART to the Downtown Berkeley station, and then somehow get to my dorm. Are there taxis readily available at the station, even if it is raining? Also, is the station really as dirty as some claim?</p>
<p>The problem is carrying your possessions. It is not that bad a walk, shorter to Unit 3, medium to Units 1 and 2, longer to the rest. However, it is somewhat uphill. Walking unencumbered or with just a backback or wheeled suitcase, not too bad. </p>
<p>By any urban standards (NY, Chicago, London), the station is clean. Same for the area right around it - slightly dodgy from a safety standpoint but about like any urban downtown. I wouldn’t call either of them particularly dirty. </p>
<p>Here is a site you can use to discover public transportion (bus) routes and schedule times. [Transit.511.org[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Here are the addressed of the various dorms [url=<a href=“http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/Move_in_2010/directions_sun.html]UC”>http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/Move_in_2010/directions_sun.html]UC</a> Berkeley Fall 2010 - Residence Hall Move In](<a href=“http://tripplanner.transit.511.org/mtc/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&itdLPxx_homepage=secondStep]Transit.511.org[/url”>http://tripplanner.transit.511.org/mtc/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&itdLPxx_homepage=secondStep)</p>
<p>I walked from the BART station to Unit 3 during CalSO. The station is very clean - it’s one of the more popular BART stations, so you’ll be in relatively good company. The walk was very easy. I didn’t even walk through campus, I just walked along streets. It was very flat and very easy, and it wasn’t very sketchy. Granted, I was with two friends.</p>
<p>After dark, you might be cautious, particularly around the Bart station, but daytime it is pretty safe. Just be aware of your surroundings and don’t flash wads of money, expensive jewelry etc.</p>
<p>On move-in day there should be plenty of company walking the same streets.</p>
<p>Oh, so the highly negative reviews on Yelp were quite exaggerated, that’s good to know.</p>
<p>To confirm, to walk to Unit 3, even with a wheeled suitcase, is not too difficult, and furthermore safe, bing during the day? Since I’m new, I’m planning to just go south on Shattuck and then east on Durant - is that advisable?</p>
<p>If it rains, what options are available? Such as if there are taxis, for example. (and if it doesn’t rain, would it be stupid to take a taxi, if there are any?)</p>
<p>I would recommend a slightly different path, not because of safety, but to be more interesting and to increase the number of fellow students you may meet on the walk to unit 3. There will be so many students, parents and cars around that you won’t have a worry in the world when you walk there with either route . </p>
<p>Go east on Shattuck a couple of blocks and turn left at Bancroft Way. That will take you along the south edge of campus. Go up Bancroft and turn right at Dana Street. One block on Dana gets you to Durant. Cross the intersectoin and turn left. Unit 3 is on that block. By this point you should see huge crowds and can ask anyone where you line up to check in. </p>
<p>Really just like your route, except taking Bancroft one block early to walk up parallel to Durant. Durant is taking you through more of a residential area while Bancroft has the university itself. </p>
<p>As far as rain is concerned . . . this time of year, while it is possible to have rain, it is pretty unlikely. Very unlikely. Not worth planning for. For the most part, you won’t see any rain until October.</p>
<p>South on Shattuck* to rider’s instructions. But otherwise, I completely agree with rider’s advice on the route. But switch to walking up Durant if its too busy of course.</p>
<p>Got it, thanks.</p>
<p>Who takes the taxi?!</p>
<p>If it rains, which is highly unlikely, I suggest that you have an umbrella on hand. If that’s impractical, it makes more sense to get soaked than to take the taxi. Yet, taxis are available, but who in the world takes the taxi from the BART station to Unit 3?!</p>
<p>Actually, if it rains, you should take the bus (51B, 49, 1/1R, or Perimeter) to campus, if there is one coming soon. The fare is $2.</p>
<p>By the way, if you are adventurous and feel like saving $1, you can use the AC Tranist 73 to get from the airport to the BART station instead of the AirBART (that costs $3). Not recommended if you have lots of luggage though, especially because it’s a very rough part of town.</p>
<p>Well, normally I wouldn’t consider taking the taxi at all, but normally I’m not carrying a suitcase and plenty of valuables. And then it’s a question of safety - after all, person lugging baggage around, good target to mug, yes? Now apparently that’s not the case, but before people said how would I know that?</p>
<p>Not on the route you are walking, during the daytime, especially on move-in day. The streets will be filled with people with baggage and choked with cars inching around to the drop off points.</p>
<p>Yes, I know that now, but not when starting the thread; hence, was it really so foolish of me to consider the taxi as a viable mode of travel?</p>
<p>Jamie - don’t take excelblue’s post as criticism of you. </p>
<p>Once you are here a while, you would be familiar with the whole area and prevailing ‘culture’ at Cal. Then you would have the same attitude towards taxi. Anyone who is new to the school and area wouldn’t know the distances nor the variety of travel options available.</p>