Quality (or not) of public transportation in San Diego

[sdurbanite]

^^^I just think San Diegans are too lazy (better yet, spoiled) to be bothered with public transportation on a full time basis. I take it to stadium events, have taken the bus downtown/Hillcrest from Kensington for kicks, but it's just too easy to get around by car around here.

What I have noticed is a huge increase in people riding bikes in the central neighborhoods. A good sign of things to come

New rapid-bus system to eliminate Park Boulevard medians, crossings | San Diego Uptown News

[kettlepot]

If San Diego north of the 8 and east of the 5, (Clairemont, University City, Kearney Mesa, etc, Tierra Santa) was still all farm land and scrub brush, we would have a great public transportation system.

The biggest problem has been the development of large employment centers away from Downtown and the Harbor. There really isn't good mass transportation to Sorrento Valley and Mesa, Kearney Mesa, and the Golden Triangle where most of the higher paying jobs are located. (Yes there is now a train stop in Sorrento Valley, but your office building is still likely to be miles away from it).

Therefore, most commuter public transport is for transporting lower income people to job centers (hotels etc) with a low pay scale (as opposed to tech businesses in the Sorrento Valley area which have a much higher pay scale even for the support workers). This gives our public transit a bad reputation for safety and cleanliness, and retards ridership growth. Compare San Diego's transit riders to the office workers and business professionals who populate the commuter trains heading into New York City. It's night and day.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Thought I would share this if taking mass transit is something you do or looking to do.

If you have Google Maps installed on a Android smart phone, you will now be able to track, in San Diego, where buses and trolleys are LIVE. Pretty neat stuff.

Google LatLong: Know when your bus is late with live transit updates in Google Maps

[JosephineBeth]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

If San Diego north of the 8 and east of the 5, (Clairemont, University City, Kearney Mesa, etc, Tierra Santa) was still all farm land and scrub brush, we would have a great public transportation system.

The biggest problem has been the development of large employment centers away from Downtown and the Harbor. There really isn't good mass transportation to Sorrento Valley and Mesa, Kearney Mesa, and the Golden Triangle where most of the higher paying jobs are located. (Yes there is now a train stop in Sorrento Valley, but your office building is still likely to be miles away from it).

Therefore, most commuter public transport is for transporting lower income people to job centers (hotels etc) with a low pay scale (as opposed to tech businesses in the Sorrento Valley area which have a much higher pay scale even for the support workers). This gives our public transit a bad reputation for safety and cleanliness, and retards ridership growth. Compare San Diego's transit riders to the office workers and business professionals who populate the commuter trains heading into New York City. It's night and day.

+1. I only ever used the Trolley when I lived in Downtown Chula Vista (which was NOT a very safe area!) to go to Downtown San Diego. That's it. Long walk to get to it but it did function.

Unless you are on a trolley line it's ineffective IMHO. I have 2 employees that take it to work - bus- (La Jolla area): 1 from Clairemont and it takes her 75 minutes including transfers and the other from Mission Hills and it takes her from 6:30 to 8AM.

How is that good? I rode the Metro in DC today from Silver Spring to Hungtington VA. ALL the way cross DC starting in MD going to VA and it took 30 minutes.

I disagree that SD Mass Transit works - it only works for limited sets of people. And I drive by the Coaster everyday on my way to work and you are right it's not that close to many offices. I don't see all that many people using it either!

[RadioOKC]

I have to say when I lived in San Diego (La Mesa, SDSU, Hillcrest, Downtown) I LOVED the bus/trolley. I may have to wait a little, but it was nice to chill on the commute and read/listen
to music. I have to say with the smartphone/iPad options now, I could have my inbox cleared
before I sat down at my desk. Sure, you may have to walk a little and wait a little. But seriously,
I would trade my steering wheel for an iPad anyday.

Sadly, I am in Oklahoma City now, and although I LOVE this City the public transportation is
not great. We do have light rail coming in a few years and that should be cool for getting
to a Thunder game, it will be a while before we have light rail like San Diego.

Slow down and enjoy the ride San Diego.


Chris
[URL="http://www.radiookc.com"]www.radiookc.com[/URL]