Albany Casual Carpool

Cindie at Albany Carpool

Vicky at Albany Carpool

Our last morning marketing at the 19 Casual Carpool stops in the East Bay. We’re in  Albany on a cold and windy, over-cast Autumn day.  No official sign marks the Casual Carpool along Pierce Street (south of Central Ave), which  parallels  Highway 80.  Cars and people line up facing one another at the beginning of the red curb marking near this empty news stand across from Pacific East Mall.  Its a long walk from condos about two blocks away. The curbside is debris-strewn and  unprotected from the unrelenting freeway noise and gushing wind.  Double layers of jackets barely keep us warm from 7:20 to 9AM, then we’re off to IHOP for a hearty breakfast.  #176 flyers.  

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Fruitvale and Montana ~ Oakland

Montana & Flagg

Montana & Flagg ~ Park 'n Ride

 

 

 

 

 

 Nicely situated under two shade trees, across from the Park and Ride lot under the overpass at Flagg Street.  Grab the morning newspaper at the newsstand; catch a free ride to The City; then do some shopping at Farmer Joe’s for dinner tonight. Most  drivers begin roll down their windows well in advance of our approach to give them a flyer.  7:30 – 9:30AM, 227 flyers.

Emeryville ~ Christie and 64th

Emeryville ~ Christie & 64th

How convenient for the residents of the condos at 6363 Christie:  the Casual Carpool, the Transbay bus, and BART Shopper  all line up along Christie, and the Public Market is just cross this little park!

A man visiting  from  Sacramento casts a sideways look at the carpool lineup, saying he’s never seen anything so…strange!  A young woman reads the flyer, pokes her head out of a waiting car window to ask if I’m the author – she’s thrilled and wants my autograph – imagine.   Two women we met at Powell & Commodore yesterday again walk by, saying they take that walk daily – burrr.  The carpool lineup is relaxed: cars tend not to pull up to the discrete carpool sign, and passengers tend to board from their place in line.  A pleasant 7:30-9:00AM effort; #188 flyers.

Emeryville Marina ~ Powell Street

 

Emeryville Marina Bus Stop

A cold, cold, Bay breeze sweeps our  “sandwich boards” over  our heads on this gray morning. But we are soothed by the warmth of several riders. First there is  Peter, a  British-American who lives on a boat.  He ikes my description of Casual Commuters in line and, as an extrovert,  doesn’t  understand why riders don’t talk en route to S.F., even when they ride together alot.  Then there is Phoebe, a new rider who looks to us for reassurance because she needs to get to an appointment by 9AM, and usually takes the longer route of the “Emeryville Go-Around” to a bus to Bart to the City. And as Cindie’s lips turn blue with the cold and seeks shelter in the bus stop,  an   Hispanic woman  shakes my hand, then gives me a thumbs up as she boards the  “Go-Around”.  Thank you all.  From 7:30-9AM; #92 Flyers.

Under the Overpass ~ Oakland

Under Hgwy 24 and BART

 

The Claremont & Hudson Carpool is located directly under the steely screeching of the  BART overpass and the constant rumble of  Hgwy24. Great protection for a hot or rainy day. But forget about  talking when the trains roll overhead and  join the din of freeway cars in a perfect ‘urban echo’ that caroms off the concrete.