zbikem

I was wondering if anybody here might be able to point me towards a route from Oakland(ish) to Livermore?

I live in SF (near the panhandle) and will be heading to Livermore for work every Saturday. Seems like Oakland-Livermore is about 30 miles. I don't have a car, so I was thinking of taking BART to Oakland and then riding out to Livermore.
Any suggestions on a good route to take? Hopefully, it's nothing too hilly! (I've just started getting into cycling and suspect it'll take me a bit to work up my climbing ability).

Thanks!

pfn

Why don't you BART out to Dublin/Pleasanton instead? It's under 10 miles to Livermore from there... and much more likely to find a convenient route. Grow your route as you become more comfortable on the saddle.

ROJA

I second the BART plan. Riding from Oakland to Livermore can be done, but on a bike it's more than 50 miles each way and very very hilly (as in several thousand feet). From there, it's even further to Livermore. Definitely not a commuting ride and only for very fit, experienced riders. I once rode from Dublin to Oakland. Nice ride, but it almost killed me. Here is the route I took: https://www.inl.org/bicycle/palomares.html

Even going by BART will take at least 2 hours, I would guess. You might want to check out Zipcar or City Car Share for a trip like that.

jwill911

I live in Alameda and ride to work in Pleasanton twice a week, I take my bike on BART the other days. It is exactly 26.4 miles from my house, east end of Alameda near High St bridge to my office near Hopyard and 580 freeway. Not really hilly at all only a couple of bumps, you'll only get 1500 feet of ascent. Takes me; my best time is 1:33, I usually do in in 1:40ish. I agree SF to Pleasanton BART is your best bet then ride from there to Livermore unless you want a good ride then ride from any of the east bay BART stations. I can send you a decent route that avoids all the busy roads.

jw

ROJA

Wow. My way is taking Redwood through the hills. Can you post your route? Does it have much traffic?

jwill911

I use that route when I ride home when there is enough day light. But I always seem to get a lot of grief from the wife when I get home late. So getting up early and riding in works better for family life. We have showers at work and I just bring my change of clothes the day before so I don't have to carry a back pack.

Off the top of my head:
Since I'm riding from Alameda I exit Alameda over the Bay Farm bridge to:
Doolittle south til it ends
left onto Faralon
right onto Wicks
first left onto Manor
left at Farnsworth (goes over 880)
road changes names a couple times but follow it you'll cross Washington, and Hisperian and go by Bay Fair Mall, cross E14 th and go over 580 to the first real climb Fairmont ~700 feet about a mile. On the other side of the hill it becomes Lake Chabot Road.
left at 7 Hills (this avoids all the traffic on Castro Valley Blvd)
7 Hills ends at Madison go right
left at first street Ray, real steep but short
right at Center and follow it down the hill to Castro Valley Blvd
left at Castro Valley Blvd and follow that up the Dublin grade the next climb but it is gradual. On the other side of the hill I go right on Laurel Creek which turns into Stoneridge at the light at the bottom of the hill.
I follow Stoneridge over 680 and go left on Franklin where I work.

Very little traffic I even saw a 6 point buck walking around on 7 Hills yesterday morning, when he saw me he started bound effortlessly along parallel with and adjacent to me across several front yards until he turned and disappeared into someones yard.
I'll be doing that route tomorrow morning.

jw

ROJA

Very cool! You are lucky to have a commute like that!