The major drawback is access. On the west side of Alameda, where I rented a 2BR house for a little under $1500/month, has a ferry terminal and a cramped tunnel

The major drawback is access. On the west side of Alameda, where I rented a 2BR house for a little under $1500/month, has a ferry terminal and a cramped tunnel. Great if you have a car, want to take the ferry into SF every day, or don't mind the bus. I worked in downtown Oakland and most of my coworkers lived in west Alameda. The east side has a few well-maintained, very bike-friendly bridges, but they lead to the East Oakland.