<p>Useful? Not Useful?</p>
<p>Good idea? Bad idea?</p>
<p>And how's the parking situation?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Most people get along really well by walking and the public transportation (BART (train), ACT transit (bus))...car isnt really necessary, if anything a pain to deal with esp. parking, or the lack there of</p>
<p>Parking at and around Berkeley is really a hassle. </p>
<p>Where are you from and why do you think you need a car? (i.e. off-campus job or something like that) </p>
<p>Are you an incoming freshman (definitely don't recommend a car) or a transfer?</p>
<p>I'm an incoming freshman. I thought a car might be useful because I live like 45 minutes from berkeley and it would be easy just to drive home and visit. Also, I wanted to hit up Frisco and Oakland during some of the weekends maybe and I heard that PT was a hassle (and that it closes after a specific time?).</p>
<p>Bring the car out on weekends, so you can keep it overnight (because it's free after 6 pm and free on Sunday). But for regular school days, there is no need for it.</p>
<p>BoD:</p>
<p>hard to believe you live in the Bay Area....only easterners call it 'frisco'...to everyone else, it's The City. LOL</p>
<p>btw: parking is a BIG hassle, and expensive.</p>
<p>I agree: San Francisco, S.F. or The City, but never Frisco!</p>
<p>Parking around Cal is definitely a hassle, but weekend parking in the City can be even crazier!</p>
<p>Don't plan on going home a lot, not that there is anything wrong with it. Going home on weekends is a safety net, especially for freshmen, but an important part of the university experience is learn how to live away from home, away from mommie and daddy, away from the comfort zone of your click of hs friends. Don't plan on going home more than once a month (really once a quarter), especially during your freshman year.</p>
<p>Yeah I dont really want to go home all that much. Definitely not more than once a month really and maybe for holidays. But still I thought having a car might be convenient, but from the sounds of it maybe not.</p>
<p>Still, what is the state of the PT? Isn't there like a certain time when it closes? I heard its kind of a hassle.</p>
<p>How many kids usually have cars? Do you guys have friends who have cars and is it really that inconvenient?</p>
<p>Most students don't have cars. They're useless. The bus and the BART will take you anywhere you need to go.</p>
<p>About going home, I don't think there's anything wrong with it. I like being independent but I would go insane if I had to spend 4 straight years hanging around dudes who don't shower, using public bathrooms, and more often than not eating crappy food. It's nice to go home and see the family and hang out with my dog and get some privacy. I think next year or the year after when I have an apartment or a single, I'll be more inclined to stay.</p>
<p>Don't bring a car first year. Bart into the City. Parking is nasty & expensive and tickets are more expensive :(</p>