Silicon Valley Traffic and Bay Area Bridge Crossings

[Tom]

It's been many years since we lived in the Santa Clara Valley aka Silicon Valley. Started in the South Bay (West Valley) and moved east a couple of times. We've been in the far East Bay (in the Central Valley) for the last 25+ years. This week we had the fun experience of driving to and from Redwood City, on the Peninsula side of San Francisco Bay, crossing the San Mateo Bridge in one direction and the Dumbarton Bridge for the return.

Back in the 80's we'd drive the motorhome into work Friday morning with boat in tow, sneak out early Friday afternoon, and head east to spend the weekend camping and boating on the California Delta. Traffic was somewhat ugly back then, but we'd use commuter (HOV) lanes. I just can't imagine making that commute nowadays, either in a motorhome or a car.

Greater Bay area cities & towns have grown in number (currently over 100) and size. It's one continuous sprawl. Traffic in the Valley is compounded by all the commuters from the East Bay - many thousands of homes were built over the years to accommodate folks who could not afford a house in the Valley.

 

[DonTom]

It's been many years since we lived in the Santa Clara Valley aka Silicon Valley. Started in the South Bay (West Valley) and moved east a couple of times. We've been in the far East Bay (in the Central Valley) for the last 25+ years. This week we had the fun experience of driving to and from Redwood City, on the Peninsula side of San Francisco Bay, crossing the San Mateo Bridge in one direction and the Dumbarton Bridge for the return.

Back in the 80's we'd drive the motorhome into work Friday morning with boat in tow, sneak out early Friday afternoon, and head east to spend the weekend camping and boating on the California Delta. Traffic was somewhat ugly back then, but we'd use commuter (HOV) lanes. I just can't imagine making that commute nowadays, either in a motorhome or a car.

Greater Bay area cities & towns have grown in number (currently over 100) and size. It's one continuous sprawl. Traffic in the Valley is compounded by all the commuters from the East Bay - many thousands of homes were built over the years to accommodate folks who could not afford a house in the Valley.

As you know, Tom & I used to live in South San Francisco. What a hassle to go anywhere far from there north or east. South or west usually wasn't that bad back then.

I worked very weird hours so that helped a lot.

That was all ten or more years ago.

I am glad to be out of that area. I have not been back since, but I have been to Silicon Valley twice since then in my Tesla in year 2019. I stayed South as much as reasonably possible to get there and not during the commute hours.

I never got close to the Bay Bride and SF.

I am glad to be out of that area.


-Don- Verdi, NV

 

[Tom]

I am glad to be out of that area.

-Don- Verdi, NV

We lived in the Tri Valley (Danville, Livermore, San Ramon area) for 10 years before moving out to the Delta. So we've lived outside Silicon Valley for 36 years. It really hit us hard in the face making these two recent trips.