Using public transit in San Diego
 

We head out there next week. This is our 3rd visit but first without a car.

Will we be able to get around easily enough using bus, trolley etc to get to most places? We are staying in Gaslamp and will be heading to Balboa Park one day. Can we get to LaJolla and Coronado as well using some form of public transit?

Also, I have looked at the transit.511sd.com and am trying for understand if you can get senior price on bus by just showing your driver's license or medicaid card [as opposed to having a MTS senior card] . It looks like you can but am not 100% sure.

Thanks~

Public transportation is not really an issue in San Diego,

Using your link... http://www.sdmts.com/fares_discounted.asp

You're not trying very hard, are you?

As far as routes go... http://www.sdmts.com/Tripplanner.asp
Plug your addresses in, and take it from there.

I read the site re: discounted fares. Wasn't sure. Was asking for clarification IF someone knew for sure.

Deb: It sounds like you have the correct interpretation. Here's the relevant paragraph:

"Trolley code enforcement officers and bus drivers will require proper identification of people using discounted fares. Acceptable identification are:


• Driver’s license (for seniors)
• Medicare card
• Valid MTS Senior/Disabled ID card
• Valid NCTD Senior/Disabled ID card
• State of California DMV Placard ID (the white placard receipt from the DMV)
• State of California Senior ID card"

Since you are not a California resident, you wouldn't have the last two items anyway. I didn't even know there's a State of California Senior ID card and don't have a Medicare card.

You don't need all of those forms of ID, just one.

If you're really in doubt, call them.

Have a great trip! Beautiful city you are visiting!

Just ask for a senior fare. If you look old enough they won't ask. A license will suffice if asked.

Getting to Coronado is easy. The bus leaves from downtown and goes straight across the bridge. #9, I think? Or you can go down to the foot ferry, near the Star of India. It will drop you on the bay side of Coronado.

From there it is about 11 blocks to the Hotel Del or Beach. You can walk up Orange Avenue (with places to stop and eat or drink) or go up C Avenue for a more neighborhood scene. The best though is to rent a bike. Ride it east along the bay (under the bridge) and you'll come out on about 6th & Glorietta. Turn left and head up toward the Hotel Del and the beach. You could walk this route too.

If you rent bikes on the San Diego side, you can take them on the foot ferry as well.

Balboa park is quick and easy from Gaslamp by bus. La Jolla night be a looong bus ride. I'd be tempted to rent a car for the day. Or call nanabee and ask her to pick you up.. >:-)

I've taken the ferry to Coronado from downtown. It's extremely easy and fun. Coronado is so small that getting around on foot is a pleasure as it's a pretty neighborhood as well.

Getting to La Jolla, I think is another matter entirely.

Now using the transit system link. You may be fooled into thinking that you can go from Gaslamp to La Jolla Village Square.

Put in the exact street addresses. It's takes an hour to go from the Gaslamp to Pearl Street in La Jolla. It's only a 15 minute drive.

We have plenty of people from out of state, your DL looks like it will suffice.

My FIL took the bus everywhere but he didn't stay out at night. It's slow but looks like you could get around that way.

Have fun.

You're coming at the perfect time. The Jacaranda trees are starting to bloom so you should be welcomed by some beautiful purple trees. :)

The website may or may not give you the best plan for getting from downtown San Diego to La Jolla. Basically you want to hook up with Bus #30 at the Old Town transit center, probably using the Green Line Trolley. I would buy a Day Pass and break it into several legs, stop and explore Pacific Beach, than pick up the 30 again when you don't feel like walking. I recommend getting off at Bonair and walking down to Wind N Sea Beach, one of the hidden gems in La Jolla.

It's about an hour from Old Town to La Jolla, but then add in the half hour time to get to Old Town from wherever you are staying in the GasLamp.

mlgb, do you take the bus often? I'm just wondering because when I read this, I'm scared for Debit.

Why would you be scared Lsky? Have you never ridden a bus?

Yes, when I visit my sister and don't want to pay for parking downtown, I take the bus.

BTW the NCTD bus route 101 is a really nice ride..almost worthy of riding in and of itself. You can link up with Rte 30 in La Jolla, and ride it to Torrey Pines (and farther north). I used it to get to the Farmers Insurance golf tourney, it was a lot more efficient than the tournament shuttle.

So many Fodorites in the area, should have planned a GTG!

Thanks for the insights. We are very used to taking public transit whether it is in San Francisco, NYC or Paris. Just hadn't done it in San Diego and had the "car" mindset going.

You can also use the Amtrak "Coaster" for travel to the N County beach towns- Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside- does not stop in La Jolla though

I would certainly recommend taking the bus or foot ferry from Downtown SD to Coronado. You can also easily take the bus from downtown up to Balboa Park & the Zoo.

Other than those two places it is really a chore to take a bus to somewhere like La Jolla. I would not recommend it.

San Diego doesn't really have good public transportation unfortunately.

Check the prices for Amtrak - they are (at least as I recall) very expensive.

So far, we have taken the bus from the airport to hotel; to Bertrand at Mr. A's and back last night and
to /from Balboa Park today.

the Coaster is great to hit the lovely "villages" in North county. You would start at the main train station and I would recommend checking out Solana beach to do the Cedros design district (especially sunday when the farmer's market is there), or Encinitas, which is larger and has lots to offer, or Carlsbad. I don't know if they sell a day pass but that would be fun to hop on and off the train.

Trying to get around San Diego without a car sounds like a challenge, but since you've been there twice before it might be interesting to find out how locals get from place to place without a car, taxi, limo, etc. At the minimum you will get to rub elbows with San Diegans and learn something about the workings of the city that most visitors don't.

Enjoy, and let us know how it goes.

HTtY

PS A few years ago we took a commuter train down to the border and walked into Tijuana. That was an interesting experience.

Used the bus again today to head back to Balboa Park - felt like an old hand.

Tomorrow we will use the trolley to get to Old Town; then the ferry to Coronado and bus back and then bus up to Little Italy for dinner. Last trip on Saturday on bus back to airport.

It has been easy and very inexpensive and not time consuming either. Two thumbs up on this way to get around SD.

Where are you eating in Little Italy? We had a good meal at Davante.

I love Little Italy.... great vibe. If you have room for dessert, make time for Extraordinary Desserts, it is only a few blocks away. Art for the palate.