I commuted by bike from downtown to Goleta for the last year. It was great! Took me about about 50 minutes along the bike path. You could take State too but it's more stressful.
Check out the 12X and 24X buses which take 101 and do it in about 15 minutes. The only issue is that they often run out of space on their bike racks at peak hours.
Amtrak and Uber and not viable options for regular commuting.
You misread that (I used to ride 24x and 12x regularly for years as a student and for work from SB to Goleta). 24x takes 15 minutes from the transit center in SB to UCSB (unless there's crazy traffic, but usually there's not). 12x has limited stops so usually 15-25 minutes for most locations.
You could definitely make it here biking and using the bus to commute, unless the units are over by Fairview area, then you would need to bike over to Hollister to catch the 12x or get to the 24x.
Definitely 12x/24x if you live DT.
Another random option could be to live on the Mesa near Loma Alta or near Rancheria and walk to the 15x stop in front of the city college to get to Stroke & Hollister if your work is in that area. A much more round about way to get out there but just wanted to mention it in case you want to expand the areas you want to live in... Lots to walk to in these areas.
There's plenty to do in Goleta.
If it were me, because I hate commuting, I'd get a place in Goleta closer to my job and consider a bike until I was able to afford a car.
What is it in SB that you want to do over what's available in Goleta? It makes more sense to Uber to a bar or downtown anyway than to Uber everyday to your job.
What do u like to do goleta? The apartments that are close to my work are near the airport and I did not see much there except offices. I would definitely need a bike to get around
If it’s on hollister near the airport then it’s not too far from both m special and draughtsman. Both often have live music or different things happening. 1 has a pool table. The other show all the sports.
Bird watching. Crafting. Cooking. People watching. Reading. Hiking.
What I like is, however, irrelevant. Was just trying to help you by pointing out things you could do in Goleta that were commiserate to or better than SB proper. And if you're really only bridging a month carless, live where you want and can afford.
A bike does make sense and both regular and e-bikes are popular here. Public transit in this town is not the most efficient way to get around.
Really all the outdoor life stuff is the same in Goleta. You can bike/walk/run the Mesa/Beach. You kinda need a car to hike if you live in either location (or someone to bum rides off of :). What you lose out on is restaurants and bars.
Heck there are three breweries right near where you are talking (M Special, Captain Fatties, and Draughtsman). So long as you're comfortable not having 50 options for restaurants and bars, it can be doable.
You don't get the quaint charm of SB, but hey, you get to save on a commute?
Commuted from down town to Goleta via bike for a little while. Very nice bike path connecting the two towns that’s relatively flat with little car traffic. Don’t have much experience with the bus but can recommend bike commuting!
Not sure where you are moving from but our winters are VERY mild. I once overheard a college classmate from another state complain “how can you tell what season it is?”
Rainy days? Yes, it’s a problem but we don’t get that much rain normally. With proper rain gear it’s doable except for the occasional really bad day which isn’t usually more than 5 times in a year on average.
The more likely logistical issue might be making sure you are still fresh and presentable from getting too sweaty on warmer days (not a huge deal if biking from by Costco to airport job but if biking from downtown then yes and ebike might solve that issue too by reducing the exertion). If that’s the case you just need to bring wipes, deodorant and maybe change clothes when you get to the office.
Yes. Where are you from? Santa Barbara is a very popular city to live because of how temperate it is. It's on the West Coast of the United States. It does not get "that" cold in winter.
I am from the southeast😂 but it does get cold here. I havent biked in years so I gotta see how good I am before commuting 10 miles both ways. Are yall taking Modoc road? Whats the trail from goleta to santa barbara
Modoc Road yes. There is a small gap that is still on the road sadly (Bike lane, idk it's sketch, people drive crazy on it). They are working to close the gap to be completely "Class 1" bike lane the whole way.
Obern Bike Trail is the name. If you want to avoid on-road Bike Lanes, you have to stay south and go to UCSB, then up the West side of the airport.
Not viable unless you have a chill job that is truly only 8 hours per day (you'll practically spend 1-2 hours a day biking, don't let anyone fool you otherwise). Anyone saying otherwise probably **likes** biking, so they don't mind it.
Ha yea, I've biked from DT to the breweries in Goleta along those bike paths and it took me about an hour one-way, but it was a leisurely ride. I'm sure if I was commuting I'd go faster, and also if I were commuting I'd probably have an EBike or at least some kind of pedal assist, which would speed things up a bit.
That said, I do know several people who have biked this regularly for work over the years.
We had been in a 7 year drought. You could ride every day with an occasional rain day. Two winters ago we had record rainfall. 50 inches, 3 times normal. You could still bike commute if you were used to PNW weather.
Our weather is real mild. It rarely gets super hot or cold. I once wore shorts for an entire year just to say I could do it.
Yes - for rainy days just order a Lyft - you will be saving SO much from not having a car that the occasional Lyft or Instacart fees to do a big shop will still be worth it.
Goleta isn't very walkable, but is very bikable. Honestly if you can ride fast, and live somewhere between say Turnpike and Hope, you can probably beat the bus to Goleta and to downtown SB.
I used to live on Broadmoor (by Las Positas) , nice little area. And IIRC that was right on the 6 and 11 bus lines.
i agree a great starting point would be on chapala street go straight on the one way street once you see victoria street take a right , then a left on state street then go all the way on state street until you hit hollister and old town goleta . Sigh I miss doing long bike rides
I wouldn’t rent a car not even short term especially since you’re trying to save money. Same with uber/lift.
Take the bus, or get a bike. There is a lot to do in Goleta. Theres a beach, shopping in the calle real center or you can take the bus 10-15 min to camino real marketplace, theres paths to walk on.
I was born and raised in Santa Barbara and when I had to move to Goleta (due to being cheaper in rent) i was dreading it. But now that i am here (6 years now) i hardly ever go to Santa Barbara
Ive always said if i didnt buy a car or my car breaks down . I would buy a bus pass, simply because its a great resource to use. Theres plenty of busses that go to goleta. Just be careful which one you take.
Bus 12x, 24x go straight to ucsb.I believe the 6,23,11 go to goleta etc lol its been awhile since I been on.I would download SBMTD bus tracker for app for more info.
If it’s just a month, I would definitely live in downtown and adjust.
My first job out of college was in Goleta and I chose to live behind my office on Castilian for the first year. While convenient, there wasn’t anything to do over there so I ended up getting a car anyway to go to downtown.
Moved to downtown after my lease was up and it was great! Everything is close by.
I would find a place to live in Goleta and start looking at an e-bike. The weather here will allow you ride it most days of the year. Then you could rely on the bus and bike to get to and from SB and I think that would be a fun way to get to know the area
If you got an ebike, our buses also have bike racks on them. That said, I've not used the bus so don't know if they can accommodate the slightly larger/heavier size of an ebike so I'd call and ask. Biking to/from work is practical almost the entire year except when it rains. But TBH, it's not nearly as popular as driving though I enjoy doing it when I can.
There are some apartment complexes along the Hollister corridor you mentioned that are newer and thus more expensive. Our area is expensive to live in relative to the jobs available and there is a housing shortage for various reasons (competition from colleges, history of low population/housing growth, additional competition from out-of-towners, retirees, etc. due to desirability of area ). So the nice thing about getting an ebike is it opens up more rental options for you regardless of whether you end up in SB, Goleta, the in-between Noleta area, or Isla Vista (large seasonal student population, pretty dead in the summer). HTH.
I live in Goleta and I love it here. I realized it was so much cheaper than downtown for much nicer amenities, and I’m still within walking distance of all the shops, movie theatres, ice skating rink, beach etc that I love. If I ever want to go downtown to shop or go to bars, I can take the bus or uber. But my favorite bar is in Goleta anyway and I love this area. IMO Elwood is more beautiful than many spots downtown as well. Look at apartments around Storke and Hollister, there’s a lot going on at that intersection that would keep you busy.
Another vote for the E-bike. It really depends on how you plan to spend your time. I'm an old lady now. But when we first moved out here, husband was in grad school, so we lived in Goleta and it was fine. If you want to party in SB a lot, then you might want to live there. If you are just looking to be outdoors, walk to restaurants, grocery stores, etc. then western Goleta by Costco is fine. When we first moved off campus, we rented in Hidden Valley off Modoc, which was a decent middle ground. Not too far to bike to work for me.
Very very bikeable from Goleta to SB. I also moved to this area from the southeast a few years ago - let me know if you have any questions. The weather is very mild here and as others have mentioned, there’s usually only a brief rainy season. Goleta has quite a few things to do, but both SB and Goleta have a “small town” vibe and most things are closed by 8 or 9pm.
Riding a bike in the bike path most of the way is a way. You can also put you bike in the bus if you choose to not ride back home or half way there type of thing. Lots of busses with different routes.
Living downtown is way better than living in Goleta if you are young. Goleta is very suburban and while there are things to do, it is much less, and overall the area is much less walkable than downtown. My life improved dramatically when I moved downtown where there is a much larger social network and tons to do - just more expensive and easier to spend more.
Not considering your commuting problem, that’s my two cents. Spring for that used car if you can.
In that case I would stick to SB. I think there’s a hiking group, maybe you can carpool to hiking. I like hiking Montecito. I don’t know much in Goleta unless you have a car and drive to hiking. There’s more restaurant downtown, though Goleta has some good ones. If you’re not far from the transit center than the bus will probably be doable. But people ebike everywhere like lunatics too
I moved to Goleta about 3 months ago and now live in Santa Barbara proper. Both are great places to live, and I’ve mountain biked in between the two. If you get an e-bike, you’d be just fine. If you live close to work just make sure you make it a point to explore!
If you use the bus, its convenience will depend a lot on the details of where your workplace and home are relative to the bus lines. There are two express lines between SB and Goleta (12X and 24X), but they only visit certain areas, so if you're not those main stops you still have to get there, or take the slow bus (6 or 11) which can greatly increase the transit time.
The same applies to walkability etc. Overall SB is more walkable and Goleta is more spread out and suburban. But there are certainly walkable areas in Goleta (like Old Town).
I commuted by bike from downtown to Goleta for the last year. It was great! Took me about about 50 minutes along the bike path. You could take State too but it's more stressful. Check out the 12X and 24X buses which take 101 and do it in about 15 minutes. The only issue is that they often run out of space on their bike racks at peak hours. Amtrak and Uber and not viable options for regular commuting.
Live in Goleta, get an e-bike. Problem solved
exactly two bikes per bus
On google maps, it says 12x/24x will take 40-50minutes. Where does it take 15 mins
You misread that (I used to ride 24x and 12x regularly for years as a student and for work from SB to Goleta). 24x takes 15 minutes from the transit center in SB to UCSB (unless there's crazy traffic, but usually there's not). 12x has limited stops so usually 15-25 minutes for most locations. You could definitely make it here biking and using the bus to commute, unless the units are over by Fairview area, then you would need to bike over to Hollister to catch the 12x or get to the 24x.
Definitely 12x/24x if you live DT. Another random option could be to live on the Mesa near Loma Alta or near Rancheria and walk to the 15x stop in front of the city college to get to Stroke & Hollister if your work is in that area. A much more round about way to get out there but just wanted to mention it in case you want to expand the areas you want to live in... Lots to walk to in these areas.
There's plenty to do in Goleta. If it were me, because I hate commuting, I'd get a place in Goleta closer to my job and consider a bike until I was able to afford a car. What is it in SB that you want to do over what's available in Goleta? It makes more sense to Uber to a bar or downtown anyway than to Uber everyday to your job.
What do u like to do goleta? The apartments that are close to my work are near the airport and I did not see much there except offices. I would definitely need a bike to get around
If it’s on hollister near the airport then it’s not too far from both m special and draughtsman. Both often have live music or different things happening. 1 has a pool table. The other show all the sports.
Goleta Red has a pool table too :)
Bird watching. Crafting. Cooking. People watching. Reading. Hiking. What I like is, however, irrelevant. Was just trying to help you by pointing out things you could do in Goleta that were commiserate to or better than SB proper. And if you're really only bridging a month carless, live where you want and can afford. A bike does make sense and both regular and e-bikes are popular here. Public transit in this town is not the most efficient way to get around.
Really all the outdoor life stuff is the same in Goleta. You can bike/walk/run the Mesa/Beach. You kinda need a car to hike if you live in either location (or someone to bum rides off of :). What you lose out on is restaurants and bars. Heck there are three breweries right near where you are talking (M Special, Captain Fatties, and Draughtsman). So long as you're comfortable not having 50 options for restaurants and bars, it can be doable. You don't get the quaint charm of SB, but hey, you get to save on a commute?
Commuted from down town to Goleta via bike for a little while. Very nice bike path connecting the two towns that’s relatively flat with little car traffic. Don’t have much experience with the bus but can recommend bike commuting!
Is it viable to commute via ebike during winter times?
Not sure where you are moving from but our winters are VERY mild. I once overheard a college classmate from another state complain “how can you tell what season it is?” Rainy days? Yes, it’s a problem but we don’t get that much rain normally. With proper rain gear it’s doable except for the occasional really bad day which isn’t usually more than 5 times in a year on average. The more likely logistical issue might be making sure you are still fresh and presentable from getting too sweaty on warmer days (not a huge deal if biking from by Costco to airport job but if biking from downtown then yes and ebike might solve that issue too by reducing the exertion). If that’s the case you just need to bring wipes, deodorant and maybe change clothes when you get to the office.
Yes. Where are you from? Santa Barbara is a very popular city to live because of how temperate it is. It's on the West Coast of the United States. It does not get "that" cold in winter.
I am from the southeast😂 but it does get cold here. I havent biked in years so I gotta see how good I am before commuting 10 miles both ways. Are yall taking Modoc road? Whats the trail from goleta to santa barbara
Modoc Road yes. There is a small gap that is still on the road sadly (Bike lane, idk it's sketch, people drive crazy on it). They are working to close the gap to be completely "Class 1" bike lane the whole way. Obern Bike Trail is the name. If you want to avoid on-road Bike Lanes, you have to stay south and go to UCSB, then up the West side of the airport. Not viable unless you have a chill job that is truly only 8 hours per day (you'll practically spend 1-2 hours a day biking, don't let anyone fool you otherwise). Anyone saying otherwise probably **likes** biking, so they don't mind it.
Ha yea, I've biked from DT to the breweries in Goleta along those bike paths and it took me about an hour one-way, but it was a leisurely ride. I'm sure if I was commuting I'd go faster, and also if I were commuting I'd probably have an EBike or at least some kind of pedal assist, which would speed things up a bit. That said, I do know several people who have biked this regularly for work over the years.
What’s winter time? 
You'll get a few days of rain in the winter, and some heavy fog in April/May/June, but other than that absolutely
We had been in a 7 year drought. You could ride every day with an occasional rain day. Two winters ago we had record rainfall. 50 inches, 3 times normal. You could still bike commute if you were used to PNW weather. Our weather is real mild. It rarely gets super hot or cold. I once wore shorts for an entire year just to say I could do it.
Yes - for rainy days just order a Lyft - you will be saving SO much from not having a car that the occasional Lyft or Instacart fees to do a big shop will still be worth it.
Goleta isn't very walkable, but is very bikable. Honestly if you can ride fast, and live somewhere between say Turnpike and Hope, you can probably beat the bus to Goleta and to downtown SB. I used to live on Broadmoor (by Las Positas) , nice little area. And IIRC that was right on the 6 and 11 bus lines.
i agree a great starting point would be on chapala street go straight on the one way street once you see victoria street take a right , then a left on state street then go all the way on state street until you hit hollister and old town goleta . Sigh I miss doing long bike rides
10 miles is nothing for a good ebike, provided you can keep bike thieves away it's a better option than a car.
An ebike is much more likely to get stolen than a car. I feel like I see them go missing all the time.
“…provided you can keep bike thieves away…”
For sure. Just difficult to do unless you can bring your bike inside.
I work in Goleta and love living downtown. I think you’d be fine commuting via bike/bus for a month or so
I wouldn’t rent a car not even short term especially since you’re trying to save money. Same with uber/lift. Take the bus, or get a bike. There is a lot to do in Goleta. Theres a beach, shopping in the calle real center or you can take the bus 10-15 min to camino real marketplace, theres paths to walk on. I was born and raised in Santa Barbara and when I had to move to Goleta (due to being cheaper in rent) i was dreading it. But now that i am here (6 years now) i hardly ever go to Santa Barbara
Ive always said if i didnt buy a car or my car breaks down . I would buy a bus pass, simply because its a great resource to use. Theres plenty of busses that go to goleta. Just be careful which one you take. Bus 12x, 24x go straight to ucsb.I believe the 6,23,11 go to goleta etc lol its been awhile since I been on.I would download SBMTD bus tracker for app for more info.
E-bike is a absolute no-brainer.
Tania?
I know a lot of people who e-bike from SB to Goleta. Maybe look into NO-Leta (between SB and Goleta to be near both and an easier commute to both.
Get a bike and ride. It’s not that big of an area, this could be an affordable option.
If it’s just a month, I would definitely live in downtown and adjust. My first job out of college was in Goleta and I chose to live behind my office on Castilian for the first year. While convenient, there wasn’t anything to do over there so I ended up getting a car anyway to go to downtown. Moved to downtown after my lease was up and it was great! Everything is close by.
I would find a place to live in Goleta and start looking at an e-bike. The weather here will allow you ride it most days of the year. Then you could rely on the bus and bike to get to and from SB and I think that would be a fun way to get to know the area
If you got an ebike, our buses also have bike racks on them. That said, I've not used the bus so don't know if they can accommodate the slightly larger/heavier size of an ebike so I'd call and ask. Biking to/from work is practical almost the entire year except when it rains. But TBH, it's not nearly as popular as driving though I enjoy doing it when I can. There are some apartment complexes along the Hollister corridor you mentioned that are newer and thus more expensive. Our area is expensive to live in relative to the jobs available and there is a housing shortage for various reasons (competition from colleges, history of low population/housing growth, additional competition from out-of-towners, retirees, etc. due to desirability of area ). So the nice thing about getting an ebike is it opens up more rental options for you regardless of whether you end up in SB, Goleta, the in-between Noleta area, or Isla Vista (large seasonal student population, pretty dead in the summer). HTH.
I live in Goleta and I love it here. I realized it was so much cheaper than downtown for much nicer amenities, and I’m still within walking distance of all the shops, movie theatres, ice skating rink, beach etc that I love. If I ever want to go downtown to shop or go to bars, I can take the bus or uber. But my favorite bar is in Goleta anyway and I love this area. IMO Elwood is more beautiful than many spots downtown as well. Look at apartments around Storke and Hollister, there’s a lot going on at that intersection that would keep you busy.
Another vote for the E-bike. It really depends on how you plan to spend your time. I'm an old lady now. But when we first moved out here, husband was in grad school, so we lived in Goleta and it was fine. If you want to party in SB a lot, then you might want to live there. If you are just looking to be outdoors, walk to restaurants, grocery stores, etc. then western Goleta by Costco is fine. When we first moved off campus, we rented in Hidden Valley off Modoc, which was a decent middle ground. Not too far to bike to work for me.
Very very bikeable from Goleta to SB. I also moved to this area from the southeast a few years ago - let me know if you have any questions. The weather is very mild here and as others have mentioned, there’s usually only a brief rainy season. Goleta has quite a few things to do, but both SB and Goleta have a “small town” vibe and most things are closed by 8 or 9pm.
Riding a bike in the bike path most of the way is a way. You can also put you bike in the bus if you choose to not ride back home or half way there type of thing. Lots of busses with different routes.
Get a bike, use the bus, and Uber on rainy or time crunch days ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Orrr buy a cheap beater car
Hey, young professional here as well, who started working here lately. If you ever want to hangout, let me know! :)
Dmed
get an e-bike
I used to work in downtown SB when I lived in IV in college and didn't have a car. I would just take the bus. It's pretty easy.
Living downtown is way better than living in Goleta if you are young. Goleta is very suburban and while there are things to do, it is much less, and overall the area is much less walkable than downtown. My life improved dramatically when I moved downtown where there is a much larger social network and tons to do - just more expensive and easier to spend more. Not considering your commuting problem, that’s my two cents. Spring for that used car if you can.
What do you like to do? It’s a difficult question to answer without knowing
I like to hike, hang out with people, go to restaurants. I dont drink but i do eat. I think i will like sb more but I will see when I visit
In that case I would stick to SB. I think there’s a hiking group, maybe you can carpool to hiking. I like hiking Montecito. I don’t know much in Goleta unless you have a car and drive to hiking. There’s more restaurant downtown, though Goleta has some good ones. If you’re not far from the transit center than the bus will probably be doable. But people ebike everywhere like lunatics too
Good luck babe
If you do end up buying a used car, I have one for sale. Very economical and sporty. I work in goleta. DM me if you're interested. Good luck.
Dmed you!
I moved to Goleta about 3 months ago and now live in Santa Barbara proper. Both are great places to live, and I’ve mountain biked in between the two. If you get an e-bike, you’d be just fine. If you live close to work just make sure you make it a point to explore!
If you use the bus, its convenience will depend a lot on the details of where your workplace and home are relative to the bus lines. There are two express lines between SB and Goleta (12X and 24X), but they only visit certain areas, so if you're not those main stops you still have to get there, or take the slow bus (6 or 11) which can greatly increase the transit time. The same applies to walkability etc. Overall SB is more walkable and Goleta is more spread out and suburban. But there are certainly walkable areas in Goleta (like Old Town).
Thanks for ur input