Image: Pixabay
Whether you live in San Diego full time or part time – or perhaps you are staying here for a few months on temporary business – you can still get around the city and beyond without a car. Living in San Diego is a fulfilling experience for just about anyone. Known for its many quaint neighborhoods, from its famed Gaslamp Quarter to the unique streets of Little Italy, San Diego is well, let’s face it — a fun place to call home. If you need to get around, whether it’s for groceries downtown to see a show, you can always find a way to get there. (And we’re not talking about hitchhiking.)
San Diego has public transportation ranging from the red trolley and taxis to the Coaster and more to get you where you need to go. Car-free living in San Diego, though tricky, is possible!
SDMTS Red Trolley
The SDMTS red trolley can get you to Old Town, to the outer boundaries of the downtown (Gaslamp and East Village) areas, Petco Park (Padres baseball), Tijuana, San Diego State University, Mission Valley and other spots with good shopping or interesting sights. Schedules are frequent. In the downtown area, you can get on and off the trolley as many times as you’d like in a 2-hour period. Tickets are purchased at trolley stations.
Cool Coaster
The Coaster is always a great way to take a ride up the coast. It is a commuter train that stops at beach cities. The schedule has limitations, so be forewarned. The Coaster offers a nice way to see and do simple day-trips without renting a car. The trains link communities and travelers from Oceanside to San Diego, with additional stops in Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Sorrento Valley and Old Town. Fares vary based on the distance traveled. Visit the Coaster site for schedules and more info here.
Amtrak
Amtrak provides service in and out of San Diego from three stations, Santa Fe (Downtown), Solana Beach and Oceanside (North County) is also an option. Check here for schedules and more information.
Ferry Fun
How about a ride on the ferry to Coronado? A cool way to get to see scenic Coronado if you want to visit or if you happen to work on the island. The ferry takes 15 minutes to ride across the bay and it runs frequently. Catch the ferry at the foot of Broadway and Harbor Drive. An added bonus: if you take the ferry to work, commuters ride FREE during early commuter hours between 5:40 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. Click here to view the commuter ferry schedule. You will receive a return ticket from the crew to use that afternoon.
Pedicabs
Looking for a really unique and enjoyable way to get around? Pedicabs are all over the downtown area. To get a ride, just flag down a driver – honestly, you probably won’t have to. They aren’t shy about asking. Pedicabs are a popular way of non-motorized transportation; just sit back and enjoy the ride!
Walking
If you live in any of San Diego’s neighborhoods like Little Italy, Logan Heights, Ocean Beach, Del Mar or La Jolla, to name a few, walking to and from your destination is easy. With sidewalks and areas geared toward pedestrians you can walk pretty much anywhere and everywhere within each community. You can also ride a bike for exercise and for getting around quickly from points A to Z.
Best of the Best
New York might have the subway and San Francisco the trolley cars, but San Diego has much more to offer from beautiful sunsets to the ability to get around without a gas guzzler. Now that you know the alternative transportation types offered in San Diego, living here or staying in a vacation rental should be much easier.