<p>is it better to have a car in berkeley? hows the parking?</p>
<p>Parking in Berkeley is notoriously atrocious. If you're living in a dorm, don't bring a car - it's more trouble than it's worth. Everyone gets a pre-paid bus pass that lets you ride on any AC Transit bus for free. There are also free campus shuttles. The dorms have no parking available to students, obviously.</p>
<p>However, if you feel that you'll just DIE if you don't have a car with you, you might want to look on craigslist to see if anyone is selling a parking spot. Expect to pay at least $80/month for a parking spot (in fact, around here, $80/mo is incredibly generous). However, if you're going to be living in an apartment or house, they frequently have parking spots available.</p>
<p>You can walk everywhere in Berkeley, you have your pass to take the bus everywhere, and if you want to go to the city, the BART station is right on Shattuck and Center. I've gotten by just fine without a car for 4 years.</p>
<p>Suck up to your friends who DO have cars.</p>
<p>Hello again,</p>
<p>In general, I would say don't worry about a car. I don't have one and have never needed it. The public transit is one of the best in the nation and can get you where you need to go probably quicker than a car.</p>
<p>As an upperclassman with an apartment, you might have parking at your apartment; then I might consider it. But not now.</p>