Northern California - Has anyone ridden from Fremont BART to Palo Alto (downtown)? (Or from Millbrae BART)

Is there a usual route?
How long is the ride and roughly how long does it take?
Is it a nice ride?
How windy is the bridge?
Is this safe at night (crime/traffic)?
Would it be fun or miserable to do this 2-3 times per week?

In comparison, how is this same ride from Millbrae BART? I would be coming from Oakland, so I would prefer going to Fremont because the ride is shorter, the trains are less crowded, and bikes are allowed on all trains (wouldn't need to take my folding bike). If the ride is much better, however, I would consider riding from Millbrae.

EDIT: After looking more closely, it looks like I would be better off getting off BART at Union City, which is about two miles closer to the Dumbarton Bridge. FWIW, Google Maps (bicycle route) takes me down Decoto, through Ardenwood-Jarvis-Thornton to Marshlands to the bridge, then all the way down Willow Road to downtown. Looks like there are bike lanes most of the way.

Thanks.

Google Maps steered you right. That's the popular way to get to the bridge.

The areas you're riding in this case aren't Oakland; I don't believe you're at any greater risk riding through there.

Cool, thanks. It looks like that might be a pretty nice ride to do a few times a week (if not daily).

There appear to be two other choices-

Default = Decoto (15.4 miles)

1. Paseo Padre (slightly further, but if the lanes and lights are better, it would be worth it) -- 16.0 miles

2. Alameda Creek Trail -- a little longer, but scenic and off the road entirely. Not sure if it's paved or even worth the detour. -- 16.8 miles, but approx. 3 miles on this trail and roughly 5-6 miles (?) on the separated bridge bike lane, so only half sharing the road with cars.

My key concern is how busy/safe these streets would be from a traffic perspective, since I'd be doing it around 7 or 8 p.m., which is after sunset a large part of the year.

I think Millbrae to Palo Alto is quite a bit longer (25 to 30 miles each way depending on your route).

The biggest problem with the Dumbarton route is biking over Hwy 101, which can be pretty exciting at night or in bad weather. There are a couple of bike/pedestrian bridges that you could use (instead of Willow Road), but they are somewhat out of your way.

From what I know most of the alameda creek trail is NOT paved.
The winds might slow you down a lot when on the incline depending on the day.

You can take BART to Embarcadero or Milbrae then jump on Caltrain to PA. Riding over the Dumbarton is not bad. There is also the Dumbarton Express and Stanford has a nice bus with bike racks and Wifi

http://www.vta.org/schedules/SC_971.html

http://transportation.stanford.edu/pdf/EastBay-Stanford_transit_guide.pdf $4 for non Stanford

Going straight down University from the bridge is also possible but be aware that the paving on the shoulder of University east of 101 is horrible. Better in that case to jog-over to Fordham as early as possible (the traffic light at University near the bridge is your friend here -- even at the busiest times the traffic on University comes and goes in definite waves) and then down to Bay -- from there you can return to University or scoot over to Willow before crossing 101.

From what I know most of the alameda creek trail is NOT paved.
The winds might slow you down a lot when on the incline depending on the day.

The Alameda Creek trail is paved for its entire 11 miles on the south side of the creek (north side is dirt). However currently there is a 1 mile gap that is closed due to work they're doing to the creek at coyote hills.

When it's fully open, uou can take the trail to the very end, and then take a left onto an unpaved levy road that takes you right to the bridge itself, but this is nasty muddy during the winter.

Decoto turns into a freeway as you cross over I-880. You have to get on the trail through Ardenwood. The trail starts by the traffic light pole where the southbound 880 exit ramp comes up to the road and cars would turn left to go into Fremont on Decoto. It winds down and goes under the other off ramp. I haven't been there in years, but there was a sharp turn where the trail was covered in sand, so be careful there.
Actually, getting off Fremont BART, you'd head west on Mowry and turn right on Farwell. Go to Central and turn left. Central makes a slight curve to the right and there's a light at Newark Blvd. Go left at that light and you're still on Central. Take that to the end, turn right, and go to the light at Thornton. Turn left at that light and follow that as it curves to the right. Take the entrance by the big sign into Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge. That will take you to the bridge. Make sure you do a foot down stop at stop signs in the Refuge, as there is a ranger that will stop you.
The east side of the bay should be safe at night. I will make no comments about riding through East Palo Alto or Menlo Park at night.

But the most fun route would be: Up Millbrae Avenue to Sawyer Camp Trail, Canada Road, Sand Hill Road, to downtown PA.

Things may have improved lately, but I used to use the BART and Caltrain (at Millbrae) trip from Berkeley to Palo Alto a lot and gave up on it because the BART often missed the Caltrain (delays through SF and Daley City) and then you are waiting for up to an hour in an area with nothing to do that is always colder than everywhere else on the trip. Since you will have your bike, I'd recommend BART to Embarcadero (tends to be pretty reliable) and then ride to 4th and King Caltrain. FYI: There are some amazing routes between Millbrae and Palo Alto, if you want to do some climbing, miles, and be in the trees on your way home (though you'll be into the wind). The direct route is pretty ugly most of the way.

My real solution to dealing with trips to Palo Alto was moving to SOMA, a few blocks from Caltrain. Not the only reason for the move, but a significant one.