This is excellent reporting and very informative.
I knew some of the roads I take were bad but happy/unhappy to see them on the list.
I'm a bit dull in the brain but didn't recognize the $1000s of dollars I've spent on automobile suspension repairs is directly correlated to driving on these streets.
Yes, I've heard you can make a claim with city government. I don't feel like dealing with the red tape.
Just another example of the Oakland "tax" we pay for living here.
Kinda amazing that a city renowned for its good weather is plagued by roads that are worse than those in cities that experience many freeze/thaw cycles.
I think our city has really poor quality control on our contracts. The services performed in our public right of ways are often abhorrent. The patch jobs done after EBMUD or PGE tear up streets can be straight up speed bumps or trenches. Pedestrian paint often doesn’t last. Wouldn’t be surprised if contractors know they can cut corners without if the city isn’t checking or if there’s corrupt relationships.
That’s funny. My street is literally rated a “0.” Which makes sense. Beyond the potholes, half of it is washed out so it’s now a one lane street. Somehow the city hasn’t figure out using loose gravel doesn’t solve the problem.
They know. They don't care or cant afford the real fix
They can afford it but someone buddy who owns the concrete and asphalt contracting company can make 10x more money by building it wrong and then fixing it 9 times
Idk how they can claim ANY Oakland road has 38+ years of life remaining when brand new asphalt roads only have a lifespan of 10-30 years when well maintained. We really need to quit putting down these shitty asphalt roads that everyone knows will pothole in a year or two and replace them with 50 year concrete roads.
Do you ever go through the tunnel to Lamorinda or Walnut Creek?
Not very far but it's like we live in the upside down world here.
Much less dumping on the streets. Much less graffiti. Less potholes in the streets.
I'm not advocating to bring that culture here and not planning on moving.
It's just I'm naive and believe we should be able to have some nice things with all the taxes we pay into city government.
You don't even have to go that far. Just cross into alameda. Better roads, very little trash, substantially less gun violence.
That High St bridge reminds me of the border crossing into Tijuana. Clean Autobahn on San Diego side and then potholes everywhere once you cross.
But wait about the culture! We need to keep stealing cars and having sideshows, WE CANT LOSE THE CULTURE
I shared the gun violence map on the regular oakland sub in a thread about safety and got banned lol. Don't get me wrong I live here but also used to live in Alameda and there's some key differences.
https://projects.thetrace.org/gun-violence-map/
If you zoom into the sf bay it becomes quite apparent where the high activity areas are. Alameda is probably like a dozen or so gun violence incidents and Oakland is lit up like our Christmas tree
Wow. I zoomed in like you said. It tells quite a (sad) tale.
You don’t like a culture of not littering and less graffiti?
Really great reporting, kudos to Oaklandside 👏
A few months ago I went to one of the most inaccessible National Parks in America (Wrangell St. Elias in Alaska) which required a 60 mile drive down a notoriously treacherous gravel road. The road is so infamous that all of the major rental companies in Alaska make you sign an agreement that you won't take their cars on it and there is a sign posted at the start of it advising travelers not to drive on it -- and to bring survival gear if they do. Internet forums recommend things like bringing two full size spare tires, etc.
I ended up renting a 4wd jeep from a private individual and making the drive anyway with a lot of research beforehand.
After all of the worry, it was hilarious to discover that the McCarthy road was SO MUCH better than many of the paved roads I drive daily in Oakland that I felt like I was gliding around on a fucking cloud. I came back with a whole new level of disdain for the city's government.
Tho is infuriating.