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East Bay Livin

Oakland

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge

The bridge East Bay residents actually use. The eastern span’s white tower is the front door between Oakland and San Francisco.

From this side of the bay, “the SF bridge” is the Bay Bridge. The western span is the older suspension bridge into the city. The eastern span, replaced after the 1989 earthquake and opened in 2013, is the self-anchored span you see from Oakland: one white tower, a fan of cables, and a bike and pedestrian path.

The path runs from the Oakland touchdown to Yerba Buena Island. It does not continue across the west span into downtown San Francisco. Drivers pay a toll westbound, into the city. Eastbound, coming home, is the free direction. Treasure Island and Yerba Buena sit in the middle, a strange and excellent place to watch both skylines.

The Golden Gate is the orange bridge in the photographs, and it is a day trip rather than the daily door. Ferries, a ride across the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, or a BART-and-transfer plan will get you there. Start with this one. It is the bridge the East Bay lives with.