Getting Around: Ferry, Transit & Biking

Alameda is an island, connected to the mainland only by a handful of bridges and two underwater tubes (the Posey and Webster tubes, both to Oakland). That geography shapes daily life more than most cities - but it works in residents’ favor more often than not.

Ferry: San Francisco Bay Ferry (operated by WETA) runs from the Main Street Alameda Ferry Terminal and the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal directly to Oakland and downtown San Francisco - a scenic, traffic-free alternative to driving through the tubes or over the bridges at rush hour.

Transit and driving: AC Transit bus lines connect Alameda to Oakland, and the tubes/bridges put downtown Oakland minutes away by car. San Francisco is a bridge-and-freeway trip from there, or a direct ferry ride.

Biking: Alameda’s flat terrain and grid layout make it one of the more bike-friendly cities in the East Bay, with a growing network of bike lanes and a bike-to-ferry culture for commuters.

Check current ferry schedules and fares directly at sanfranciscobayferry.com before making commute assumptions - schedules change.