Contact
510
Berkeley, like most of the East Bay, is in the 510 area code.
Internet access is widespread. Most coffee shops offer wireless internet access. Public terminals are available at the UC Berkeley Doe library. University guests can request access to the "AirBears" campus-wide wifi network.
Mobile phone coverage is generally understood to be excellent.
West and South Berkeley, especially near Oakland, can be unsafe at night. In 2001, Berkeley was reported to have the second-highest crime rate for large California cities, though many Berkeley crimes are drug-related. While the north side is quieter and generally safer, use common sense and avoid walking alone at night. Also be aware of your surroundings: the more bars on windows, generally the less safe the area. Bicycling is a safe way to get around at night; for those who prefer not to ride, free night escorts are provided by the University of California police near campus: call +1' 510-642-WALK 9255.
Do not ever wear red Stanford color especially if a Cal football or basketball game is scheduled for the day. Wear blue but not UCLA light pasty blue or gold yellow passes to be safe. If you do wear red, expect to be showered with chants of "Take off that red shirt!" more and more as you go closer to campus. If you wear a red shirt to a Cal game near Cal students, be prepared to get kicked out.
Berkeley has a well-deserved reputation for protests, riots, and strikes, and you may see a protest or two in progress during your visit. However, the vast majority of protests today are raucous but strictly nonviolent. The last time the National Guard was called in to patrol the city was 1991.
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The eastern area of the UC Berkeley campus is surprisingly forested, and might be a good place to get away from some frustrations. The Marina has a nice one-mile loop walk. It's windy enough for kites almost every afternoon but is often wind-free in the morning. The Whole Foods on Telegraph at Ashby has massage therapists standing by to ease your tensions.
Note that the entire downtown and campus area is extremely packed, and traffic correspondingly congested, on Cal football game days. These take place on about half the Saturdays during the fall semester, from late August to mid December.