|
Transportation
Most of San Diego was laid out after the invention of the automobile; a car is a necessity for most visitors. Though public transportation serves most of the major attractions, getting from one place to another -- from downtown to the beaches north of La Jolla, for instance -- can take rather a long time. Two exceptions are the San Diego Trolley, which can save you time if you're heading from downtown to Old Town or Qualcomm Stadium, or to the Mexican border, and the Coronado Ferry, the scenic route from the harbor to Coronado. Public transportation agencies have integrated their services in an effort to provide convenient connections between rail and bus travel throughout San Diego County.
Downtown San Diego streets are on a grid divided largely in alphabetical and numerical order. Numbered avenues and streets run on the north-south axis. East-west streets are alphabetical. North of Ash Street, streets continue as Beech, Cedar, Date, through Upas Street. Below Ash Street is A Street, followed by B Street, etc., with a few named streets in place of letters.
By Bus & Light Rail
San Diego County is served by a coordinated, efficient network of bus and rail routes that includes service to Oceanside in the north, the Mexican border at San Ysidro, and points east to the Anza-Borrego Desert. There are two major transit agencies, San Diego Transit and North County Transit District (NCTD), plus some smaller ones which connect to cities such as Chula Vista, National City, and Campo. Smoking is prohibited on all forms of public transport in California.
San Diego Transit (PHONE: 619/233-3004; 619/234-5005 TTY/TDD, www.sdcommute.com) buses connect with the San Diego Trolley light rail system at the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Lindbergh Field, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and regional shopping centers.
North County Transit District (PHONE: 800/266-6883) routes serve from Del Mar North to San Clemente, inland to Fallbrook, Pauma Valley, Valley Center, Ramona, and Escondido, with transfer points within the city of San Diego. NCTD also offers special express-bus service to Qualcomm Stadium for select major sporting events.
Northeast Rural Bus System (PHONE: 760/767-4287) serves backcountry areas such as Ramona, Julian, and Borrego Springs.
In Coronado, the ATV Van Co. operates a bus service. The staff at the downtown Transit Store (102 Broadway, PHONE: 619/234-1060) can help plan your travel.
San Diego Transit fares range from $1.25 to $3. NCTD fares are $1.75. Community and rural bus routes charge from $1 to $3.75. Discounted fares are available for seniors and for people with disabilities. Most transfers are free; request one when boarding. You must have exact change in coins and/or bills. Pay upon boarding; Day Tripper tickets must be purchased in advance. Schedules are posted at each stop, and the buses usually are on time.
Chula Vista Transit (PHONE: 619/233-3004) serves the Chula Vista area.
National City Transit (PHONE: 619/474-7505) serves National City.
Southeast Rural Bus System (PHONE: 619/478-5875) serves communities such as Campo.
By Car
A car is essential for San Diego's sprawling freeway system and comes in handy for touring Baja California (though the trolley serves the border at Tijuana).
Car Rentals
Rates in San Diego fluctuate with seasons and demand, but generally begin at $30 a day and $230 a week for an economy car with air-conditioning, automatic transmission, and unlimited mileage. This does not include tax on car rentals, which is 7.5%. Click here to reserve a rental car online.
Requirements
In California you must be 21 to rent a car. Some agencies will not rent to those between 21 and 24; check when you book.
When picking up a rental car, non-U.S. residents need a reservation voucher for any prepaid reservations that were made in the traveler's home country, a passport, a driver's license, and a travel policy that covers each driver.
Road Conditions
Highways are generally in good condition in the San Diego area. Traffic is particularly heavy on I-5, I-8, I-805, and I-15 during morning and afternoon rush hours 6-8:30 AM and 3:30-6 PM. Before venturing into the mountains, check on road conditions; mountain driving can be dangerous. Listen to radio traffic reports for information on the lines waiting to cross the border to Mexico.
Parking
Balboa Park, Cabrillo National Monument, and Mission Bay all have huge free parking lots and you are likely to find a space, though it may seem as if you've parked miles from your destination. Lots downtown are plentiful and cost $3-$35 per day. Old Town has large lots off the Transit Center. Parking is more of a problem in La Jolla and Coronado, where you generally need to rely on hard-to-find street spots or expensive by-the-hour parking lots.
Parking at meters costs $1 an hour; enforcement is 8 AM-6 PM except Sunday. Be extra careful around rush hour, when certain street-parking areas become tow-away zones. In the evenings and during events it can be difficult to locate parking spaces downtown. Car renters are liable for parking tickets and towing charges incurred.
Rules of the Road
Speed limits are 35 mph on city streets and 65 mph on freeways, unless otherwise indicated. Seat belts are required at all times and tickets are given for failing to comply. Right turns are permitted at red lights after stopping unless otherwise indicated. Driving with a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.08 will result in arrest and seizure of driver's license. The law is strictly enforced, and fines are severe.
Always strap children age six and under, and weighing 60 pounds or less, into approved child-safety seats. Children must wear seat belts regardless of where they're seated (studies show that children are safest in the rear rather than the front seats). In San Diego, be alert for one-way streets, "no left turn" intersections, and blocks closed to car traffic.
Many California freeways have High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, usually restricted to vehicles carrying two or more persons. There is no law against using radar detectors, but they're not common.
By Ferry
The small San Diego-Coronado Ferry (PHONE: 619/234-4111) leaves from the Broadway Pier daily, every hour on the hour, Sunday to Thursday 9 to 9, until 10 PM Friday and Saturday. The fare is $2 each way and 50¢ for each bicycle.
By Taxi
Fares vary among companies. Taxi stands are located at shopping centers and hotels, otherwise you must call and reserve one. The Transportation Network is comprised of companies that serve the greater San Diego area, including the airport. The companies listed below do not serve all areas of San Diego County. If you're going someplace other than downtown, ask if the company serves that area.
By Trolley
The San Diego Trolley light rail system connects with San Diego Transit buses. The bright-orange trolleys service downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, Old Town, South Bay, the U.S. Border, and East County. The trolleys operate seven days a week from about 5 AM to midnight, depending on the station, at intervals of about 15 minutes. Bus connections are posted at each station, and bicycle lockers are available at most. Trolleys can get crowded during morning and evening rush hours. On-time performance is excellent.
San Diego Trolley tickets are priced according to the number of stations traveled. Tickets are dispensed from self-service ticket machines at each stop; exact fare in coins is recommended, although some machines accept bills in $1, $5, $10, and $20 denominations. Transfers between buses and/or the trolley are free or require an upgrade if the second fare is higher.
Day Tripper Passes are available for one, two, three, or four days ($5, $9, $12, and $15, respectively), which give unlimited rides on regional buses and the San Diego Trolley. They may be purchased from most trolley vending machines, at the Transit Store, and some hotels.
|
|
