Memories of Cruising

Come along with CVN on a verbal and photographic history of the gone but not forgotten cruising days of Castro Valley.

“Cruising around town was something we all liked to do and highlighted what it was like to be a teen in Castro Valley,” said Marc Crawford, who looked back to the days when hot rods like his 1969 Chevy Nova growled and prowled along Castro Valley Boulevard.

Dating as far back as the 1950s, many local folks would fuel up and rack up miles on an unofficial cruise route that included San Leandro, Hayward, Union City and Castro Valley.

Cruising in Castro Valley was basically shut down in the late 1980s when a plethora of “No U-Turn” signs popped up along Castro Valley Boulevard.

Back in the day, folks would gather at locations like the Castro Village, a gas station where Chipotle is now and the Hutch’s Car Wash at the corner of CV Boulevard and San Miguel Avenue.

There might be a few burn-outs and speed races, but back in the day, cruising was one of the most popular local social happenings!

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