Neighborhood tips
The practical stuff neighbors wish someone had told them on day one: who to call, where to park, how to get around, and how to plug in.
Start here
Six things neighbors wish someone had told them on day one.
Library card perks
Borrow tools (and books)
An Oakland Public Library card gets you books, e-books, and more. Also check out the Oakland Tool Lending Library in the Temescal branch, with 5,000+ tools to borrow for free.
Free museum passes
Your library card also unlocks Discover & Go: free and discounted passes to Bay Area museums, science centers, zoos, and theaters. Alcatraz tickets sometimes appear too, but they go fast! Open to Oakland, Emeryville, and Piedmont residents 14 and up, with two active reservations at a time.
Oak 311
Oak 311 is how you report non-emergency problems to the City of Oakland, like potholes, illegal dumping, graffiti, broken streetlights, and blocked storm drains. You can:
- Dial 311 from an Oakland phone, or (510) 615-5566
- Report online at oaklandca.gov
- Use the Oak 311 app (built on SeeClickFix) to snap a photo and pin the location
Tip: reports with a photo and an exact location get handled faster. If an issue keeps coming back, have several neighbors report it too. Volume helps.
Your council member
Bushrod is in Oakland City Council District 1, represented by Zac Unger. His office can help with things 311 doesn't resolve, like traffic calming, recurring dumping, and neighborhood concerns. Email zunger@oaklandca.gov or call (510) 238-7001.
Utilities & trash
- Water & sewer: EBMUD
- Electricity: Ava Community Energy is Oakland's default provider, with PG&E handling delivery and billing
- Trash & compost: WM (Waste Management). Recycling: California Waste Solutions (CWS). See Oakland Recycles for schedules and what goes where, and trash & recycling tips below.
Trash & recycling know-how
Free bulky pickups
Old couch, mattress, or a garage full of junk? Bulky pickup is included with your Oakland trash service, for owners and renters alike.
- Single-family homes get a free curbside pickup and a free drop-off each year. Once you've used both, you can book a second free curbside pickup 45 days later.
- Apartments and condos can book too, but get a smaller allowance. Check when you schedule.
- Up to about 4 cubic yards per pickup, plus a few appliances, mattresses, tires, and TVs or monitors.
- Set items at the curb by 6am on your pickup day, and no more than a day early. The city can fine you for early set-outs.
- No hazardous waste, dirt, rocks, or concrete.
Book it: call WM at 1-888-WM-BULKY (962-8559) or schedule online. Details at Oakland Recycles.
Recycle motor oil at the curb
Change your own oil? You can recycle used motor oil and oil filters with your regular recycling pickup. No trip to a drop-off site needed.
- Request a free kit from California Waste Solutions: a one-gallon oil jug and a zip-top filter bag. Call (510) 625-5263 or email OaklandCS@calwaste.com.
- Pour the oil into the jug and cap it tightly. Seal the filter in the bag.
- Set both next to (not in) your recycling cart on pickup day. The crew takes them and leaves you a fresh kit.
- Only CWS jugs are accepted for curbside oil.
Other options: many auto parts stores are certified oil collection centers. Antifreeze, oily rags, and other car fluids go to the Oakland household hazardous waste facility.
Parking & street sweeping
- Street sweeping is enforced with tickets. Look up your block on the city's street sweeping map.
- Watch the posted signs near the Shattuck and Telegraph commercial strips, where time limits apply.
- Don't block driveways, even partly. Neighbors do call for towing.
- Park behind the curb line near corners and crosswalks. California's "daylighting" law bans parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
- Don't leave anything visible in your car, not even a bag or a charging cable. Car break-ins are the most common property crime in the Bay Area.
Getting around
BART
Ashby is the closest station for most of Bushrod. MacArthur has transfers between all lines and trains to SFO and OAK. Get a Clipper card, or tap your phone or contactless card.
AC Transit
The 18 runs on Shattuck and MLK, the 12 on MLK to Temescal, and the 6 on Telegraph. Real-time arrivals are on the AC Transit site.
Biking
The neighborhood is flat, and quiet side streets are great for biking to Berkeley or downtown. Bay Wheels bike share docks are scattered around North Oakland. Lock your bike well, with a U-lock.
Driving
Highway 24 and I-580 are close by. The Bay Bridge is about 15 minutes away when traffic is light, which is less often than you'd hope.
Safety & emergency prep
Everyday safety
- Emergencies: call 911.
- Non-emergency police: find the current non-emergency line on the City of Oakland’s police pages.
- Know your police beat. Every beat has a Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) that meets regularly. Find yours on the OPD beat map.
- Porch packages: bring deliveries in quickly, use a lockbox, or pick up from a locker.
- Leave your porch light on and get to know your neighbors. People looking out for each other is the best crime prevention there is.
Be earthquake ready
The Hayward Fault runs just a couple of miles east. Every household should have water (a gallon per person per day, for at least a week), food, medications, a flashlight, and a family plan.
- Take a free class through Oakland Fire's CORE program, which offers personal preparedness and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training.
- Sign up for AC Alert, Alameda County’s free emergency notification system.
- Find out where your gas shutoff is, and keep a wrench next to it.
- Organize your block. CORE helps neighborhoods set up their own emergency response groups.
Get involved
Say hi on your block, join the Bushrod group on Nextdoor, and come out to the park on a sunny weekend. It's the fastest way to feel at home.
Nextdoor: Bushrod
The most active online neighborhood group for lost pets, recommendations, and local news.
JoinReddit: r/oakland
Reddit's Oakland community, for city news, questions, and recommendations from all over town.
VisitReddit: r/OaklandCA
Another Oakland subreddit for local news, events, and neighbor conversation.
VisitThe Oaklandside
Nonprofit local news covering Oakland's neighborhoods, city hall, and food scene.
ReadOakland LocalWiki
A community-edited wiki about Oakland. Add what you know about Bushrod!
ExploreTemescal District
The business district next door, which puts on the Temescal Street Fair and other events.
VisitVolunteer at the park
Youth sports always need coaches and helpers, and park cleanups are a great way to meet neighbors.
Park infoHelp build this site
Share a tip, suggest a place, or tell us what's missing. This guide is only as good as what neighbors share.
Contribute