suggestions/advice on neighborhoods on east bay (San Francisco, Oakland: renting, condos)

[nrshweta]

Hi,

I apologize if this thread has similarity to others already posted... I checked most of the threads though, and din't find the answers... so here I go:

I am single, late 20's female, who has lived on the east coast for the past 6 years, currently in Austin, TX. I recently took up a job in San Leandro, and am looking at renting/sharing housing with 1/2 roommates in the bay area when I relocate.

Being spanking new to the area, I am trying to isolate neighborhoods that would fit the below requirements... while I am flexible with most of them, I absolutely need to be close to public transport/BART, and be in a relatively safe area (as long as the area is pedestrian friendly, and walking at day or night are not sessions in bullets/mugger dodging all the time)
- find shared housing/roommates to keep renting costs low
- is walkable to BART/buses to get to San Leandro
- Progressive (does not mean hippie/yuppie)community, multicultural atmosphere would be great, but not an absolute necessity
- area where I can live car-free (can get basics done on foot), as I cannot own a car right now (economical reasons)....
- would prefer commuting only by BART to work, but will not mind bus + BART if needed... can manage 1 hr commute one-way if needed.

After doing some research, and checking Craigslist, I see that Oakland, Berkeley fit the bill, but what about the other areas?
I've also read on this and other forums that East, West and North Oakland are unsafe? Is that true? So is Emeryville...
Would El Cerrito, Albany, Hayward, Union City, Fremont etc be places to consider? SF city itself seems expensive to me on all accounts, but do advise on that...

I will be busy during the week, just with work, but on weekends would like to get out and explore.. on foot of course... so a friendly neighborhood with parks, library, cafes would be welcome.....
Let me know if you need more information or if I am sounding terribly confused...
Thanks to all who attempt to reply

[fizbin]

Rockridge in Oakland or the north campus (Gourmet Ghetto) area in Berkeley would be my advice for walkable happening areas, close to BART.

[jeevcy]

San Leandro itself aint that bad. I would suggest my town as well Alameda. No BART here, but you have the bus ....

[nrshweta]

Thanks you two, for the replies... will keep that in mind.

[CalGal48]

I have lived in the Hayward hills all my life. There are some newer condos centered around BART and downtown is walkable, or you have AC Transit busses. Like all communities around the San Francisco Bay Area, there are safer locations than others. I suggest you do some internet research on crime rates or check with the local police for the area you are looking at. Good luck!

[teachcal]

If you choose San Leandro, crime various a lot. Close to Oakland, it is outright unsafe. South to San Lorenzo, it is better, and up in the hills (Bay O Vista) crime is below the national average. I know this as we are looking to buy in the hills. Good luck!!

[nrshweta]

How big are the blocks in the bay area? Are we talking about New York city blocks, or smaller ones..
I see ad's which state BART is 10 blocks away or 5 .... or some are even more vague ... BART is a walkable distance... What is the bay area definition of walkable distance? Any ideas?

[sonarrat]

Blocks vary widely from about 200 feet to a quarter-mile, and "walkable" can mean as much as a mile or more. The best way to figure it out is to use Google Maps to measure the distance between the location and the BART station.