Why streetcars began declining in the 1930s

Commuting from East Bay cities like Berkeley and Oakland into San Francisco can be dismal. So when people learn there used to be an extensive streetcar system that crisscrossed the East Bay they want to know, what happened to it? The Key System, as it was known, could get a person from Berkeley or Oakland into San Francisco in 35-40 minutes and was a popular way to travel in the early part of the 20th century. What happened to it and were there nefarious forces contributing to its demise?

Additional Resources:

• The Rise and Fall of Bay Area Streetcar Transit Systems
• Read the transcript for this episode
• Uncovering the Real Story Behind the 'East Bay Mystery Walls'
• Crows Are Crowding Your Bay Area Skies. Why?
• Bridge Tolls, Lane Closures and Vanity Plates: Your Bay Area Transit Questions Answered
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This story was reported by Dan Brekke. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED.

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