Bay Area Pet Peeves?

I am taking a page from the New York forums and starting a similar thread here - excuse the negativity, but what pet peeves do you have about living in the Bay Area? Not that there are that many bad things about it...

My big ones are all related to driving - the consistent traffic makes it impossible to get anywhere fast, and parking is often expensive and tough to find. I also think the tolls are astronomical, although it is nice that they only exist in one direction.

I've said this before, but it is a symptom of living in such a great, desirable area...
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
3 people following
this discussion
Report

4 Comments

Tracypie 2yrs+
@StephSF - Here's my politically incorrect list but since you asked: homeless people, really really bad drivers (there seem to be a lot around here), unfriendly rude people, cyclists who think they rule the road and cause major traffic jams, pedestrians who could give a hoot less about walking in front of your garage ignoring the flashing light & siren sound and people with double wide strollers - reserve those for Noe Valley and the suburbs where the sidewalks are larger thank you.

Do I sound angry? But there are so many things I love about the city, these are a small list in comparison to things I love. :)
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
StephSF 2yrs+
How about insane parking regulations? I know I mentioned this already but I just got a call from the police department telling me that my car was parked illegally and is getting towed immediately. Well, I'm in Vegas and my roommate borrowed it, which shows how much I can do about it right now. I know that these things happen everywhere, but it seems that California roles out an abnormal amount of parking violations.

Sorry for the negativity. This will probably be my last time posting on this thread but I needed to vent.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
Definitely the parking in the city--though I still think the traffic is mild compared to the LA area. (I'm not kidding--2 am traffic jams).

This is probably the same most places but, I hate how the school system is made for parents with one to two kids. They expect you to do volunteering and they sneak in a bunch of hidden fees from the boosters to paying for extra supplies etc. And it seems like every school is on its own schedule, so if you have kids at separate schools like I do its a real pain to coordinate things. I cannot imagine how a single parent would manage this system--we can barely manage it.

Orinda, by the way, is especially bad because its the sons and daughter of CEO's and upper level middle managers. They seem to think we have all the time in the world not only to take the afternoon doing homework but to come in during the day to help in the library, to donate at least $500 for the boosters, to run the school fair, etc. etc. I guess people around here don't have jobs outside of parenting or have help.

Walnut Creek is totally different. Much more aware of work schedules and other time pressures parents may have.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
StephSF 2yrs+
Wow, I can't even imagine. That sounds frustrating just hearing about it. I actually think that that is more of a California not having an educational budget problem, and less of a Bay Area-specific problem, just based on the fact that I have heard similar gripes from other parents in other parts of the state. They are pulling from funding wherever they can, and unfortunately the wealthy parents are an easy source to tap into.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.

Add a comment

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More