<p>I have been a student for four years, three of which I lived in an apartment that involved going thru downtown Berkeley (BART area) to get between campus and home. I often don’t get home until past midnight. I never had any incidents. That’s despite the fact that I’m a very short nerdy guy.</p>
<p>That said, it isn’t exactly a safe area either. The homeless guys are mostly harmless, even though they will be annoyances. It’s an urban area, so you better be on guard.</p>
<p>It’s Berkeley, not east Oakland.</p>