tracyluster

This is a multicultural neighborhood with many apartments and single-family ranch-type houses inhabited by full-time residents and some that are rented out for student housing. Recent Riverside ordinance limits rental houses to two unrelated tenants (without special permit) to prevent owners from subdividing living rooms and dining rooms into additional bedrooms. Permanent resident neighbors are friendly while most students usually have separate lives and keep to themselves.

There are many residential streets with very little traffic while a few major routes (e.g. Blaine Street) that have substantially more traffic. Almost all residential streets in this neighborhood have sidewalks and the major streets include bike lanes. City buses are available though California bus service is not at all like east coast metropolitan service. Campus buses also provide students transportation to and from campus apartments. A car is an asset for students who live in single-family dwellings.

There is also a single set of railroad tracks that parallel Watkins Drive with short freight trains occasionally using the spur. In addition, there is a proposed commuter service which will use these tracks four or six times per day beginning in a couple years. If a person hates to hear the occasional train whistle, it would be important to avoid being close to this part of the neighborhood. Personally, I like it.

Overall, the neighborhood is a pleasant place to live except for the single-family home residents who live next to the occasional party house.