Why you should consider public transportation

JACKIE MARQUEZ /OPINION EDITOR

Being car-less my first year at USD was beyond inconvenient. I relied on Uber and Lyft, because I didn’t know how to navigate San Diego without a personal vehicle. Not only was it expensive, it was also unreliable at times. Since USD policy  forbids most first-year resident students from parking on campus, getting off campus can be a struggle as you start your college experience.  If you want to go out and explore the city, public transportation is a great alternative to ridesharing apps. 

Second semester of my freshman year, my younger brother  and  I went to see American rapper, Tyler, the Creator, at  Pechanga Arena. To get there we took a Lyft that cost about $10. It wasn’t terribly expensive, but getting back to campus after the show was a different story. 

With everyone leaving at once, there were hundreds of people calling rides at the same time. This led to   surge pricing, an   increase   in price that happens when the demand for drivers is greater than the available  number  of drivers. With this increased rate, a ride back to campus  would cost nearly $30. I decided to just bite the bullet and call a ride, but the app wouldn’t let me request a pickup, because there were already too many requests being processed. When I was finally able to request a ride, my driver canceled on me. After two hours of ride cancellations and waiting, I gave up and called one of my upperclassmen friends to pick us up. 

I wish I knew that public transportation was an option my first year at USD; it would have saved me time and money. 

Public transportation is far more affordable than calling a ride. The cheapest Lyft I’ve had in San Diego was $7 one way. However, taking the trolley or the bus only costs $2.50. The San Diego Metropolitan System (MTS) also offers a two hour transfer policy, meaning if you need to  take  more than one bus/trolley to get to your destination, you don’t have to pay again. To pay your fare, you download the Pronto App and load money onto the digital “Pronto” card it gives you. Then, tap your card before you enter a bus or trolley. If you plan on using the transit system regularly and don’t want to pay every time you get on a bus or trolley, you can also purchase passes through the UC ticket office as a USD student. The ticket office sells monthly and semester passes for $57.60 and $163 respectively. These passes end up saving you money if you’re taking public transportation every day. 

Although public transportation is cheaper than calling a ride, it may seem more confusing. Taking a bus requires you to know where to catch a bus, when to catch it and when to get off. There is a bus stop next to USD’s main entrance, and the Old Town Station is just down Linda Vista Road. But, if you don’t know your bus routes or where your destination is located, taking public transportation can be challenging. 

Luckily, there is an app created by MTS to help navigate San Diego’s transit system. The Pronto App has a “Trip Planner” section that provides users with step by step directions to get to your destination. It allows users to input their starting location, destination  and desired departure time, in order to find the quickest and easiest route. The app also tells users the time and location to catch their bus, how many stops they will ride, what stop they get off at and how long their trip will take. This is a great resource for first years who feel uncertain about taking public transportation. 

Not only is public transportation   easy to use and easy on  your wallet, it’s also better for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people drive less when cities have better public transit systems. Rather than each person driving their own individual car,  multiple people can travel on the same bus or trolley. It’s also important to note that the San Diego trolleys are electric. This decrease in driving and use of electricity reduces pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The pollutants have a direct negative effect on the environment. NASA explains that carbon monoxide affects the atmosphere’s ability to cleanse itself of other pollutants, which leads to the formation of urban smog. The EPA explains that sulfur dioxide also contributes to urban smog. The pollutant harms plants by damaging leaves and harms humans by making breathing difficult. Choosing public transportation over personal vehicles ultimately helps decrease the negative effects of car emissions. 

Maybe if I knew how to use San Diego’s buses and trams, I wouldn’t have gotten stuck outside Pechanga Arena at two in the morning my first year. The public transportation system is a great alternative to Lyft or Uber thanks to its low cost, its accessibility and its benefits for the environment. Venture off campus and give public transportation a chance.