By Kate Callen / August 28, 2025
When Mayor Kevin Faulconer challenged San Diegans in 2019 to ditch their cars and take public transit, I invited him to join me on my weekday MTS #2 bus ride from North Park to downtown.
In an op-ed published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, I began by assuming that because Faulconer promoted mass transit vigorously, he must be a regular transit user. But in case I was wrong, I gave the mayor a tutorial on the challenges of commuting by bus. And I offered to pay his fare if he rode with me. He never responded.
I’m extending that same invitation to Nicole Capretz of the Climate Action Campaign after reading her August 28 U-T commentary, “Housing Policies Sabotage Families, Climate Goals,” an argument for pro-density Senate Bill 79.
As Capretz tells it, the passage of SB 79 will stack more housing “near transit,” and then commuters will switch from cars to buses and trolleys, traffic will diminish, greenhouse gases will dissipate, and our lives will be happier and healthier.
That’s a tidy scenario. But the reality of mass transit in San Diego is tangled. The only way to learn that is to navigate the cat’s cradle of buses and trolleys to go from Point A to Point B – or, if you must transfer to reach your destination, from Point A to Point B to Point C.
Since I retired from full-time work, I no longer commute by bus, but I often take the #2 to City Hall so I can hector city officials at public meetings. Then as now, the hurdles that deter people from transit use in San Diego fall into three categories: traversing the first mile/last mile, scheduling, and passenger comfort levels.
The rest of California agrees that housing “near transit” means a half-mile or less “as the crow flies.” But San Diego’s “Sustainable Development Area” concept stretches that distance to one mile. The nearest #2 stop to my house makes the cut at eight-tenths of a mile.
That might be walkable if the route was flat. It isn’t. The trek includes a precipitous climb down a canyon embankment then a steep climb up. I’m fit, but I’m not that fit. So I drive to the bus stop, and I park in a nearby residential neighborhood. That concession defeats the purpose of transit commuting.
I can drive from home to City Hall in 15 minutes. The door-to-door bus commute takes 45 minutes or longer. Trolleys, which run on three main lines, can follow schedules closely. Buses, running on 97 routes spread across the city, can’t.
Jammed surface streets and double-parked vehicles slow buses down. And the care shown by bus drivers to elderly and disabled passengers who need help boarding, which is a beautiful thing to see, eats up time.
Then there are riders who take you outside your comfort zone. A disproportionate number of passengers are transients who ride around to pass the time. Some have behavioral or substance abuse issues. They can act out and be intimidating. And some just crave a little kindness.
When I board the bus, I avoid eye contact and stick my nose in a book. But occasionally, a male passenger will try to chat me up. What am I reading? Where am I going? Where did I get my shoes? I’ve learned to respond cautiously but with courtesy and a smile. This guy was someone’s son and might be someone’s father.
I didn’t experience any of this as a transit rider in Philadelphia or New York or Washington D.C. Subway and Metro cars back East were full of people in office clothes and work uniforms, families with kids, and young adults out on the town. The systems ran efficiently, and passengers felt comfortable.
San Diego mass transit is a long way from that degree of user friendliness. But YIMBYs who don’t regularly take buses or trolleys have no idea why ridership is still anemic. So they keep preaching the gospel of public transportation to empty pews.
That’s why I’d like Capretz to join me on a #2 bus ride to see the challenges for herself. My invitation is sincere. I hope she takes me up on it.
I hope she does take you up on that invitation, Kate.
The ability to get around easily on buses is far superior in Mexico and Central America. The forces against mass transit in this country have been successful for 100 years. Think who profits most if there is no mass transit.
Bring back express bus routes. Nonstop from PB to downtown and other routes.
We also need to upgrade the actual bus stops. Most are just poles with the route number. Where are the benches? Where is protection from the sun? Where are the cleaning crews? Where are the transit maps? Where are the timetables?
I know most people have call phones and they can use the app for this. But a few physical maps would be nice.
Also why aren’t there more bus only lanes? Not shared, BUS ONLY!
Oh and better integration with Metrolink, and Amtrak.
If SB79, was modified to use a linear 1/4th of a mile, with buukding restricted to only high resource areas, with infrastructure, and job opportunities and it could only be applied in areas with existing 15 minute or less public transportation ( not future planned) and every project had no less than 35% Affordable Housing, with 1st time homeowner down payment assistance, FHA programs, incentives for public employees, both classified and Teachers, Fire, Police, City and State employees under 110,000.00. I wouldn’t oppose SB79.
I’d be very happy.
Public Transportation must be faster and cheaper than using a car to be useful
Currently, San Diego Public Transportation is grade D, at best, compared to far superior bus and subway systems in Chicargo, DC, New York, and Boston for speed, timeliness, and ease of use for first time riders.
New York and Boston it can take 45 minutes or longer to go 5 miles in the City plus you need to pay $20-$50 for parking spots.
Yet, if you take Subway or ” T” into City, it can take 10 minutes and is always faster than using a car, and much cheaper, every few blocks you can easily catch the subway.
Jamacha Communuty ( not part of Encanto) to Ocean Beach takes, 1 hr and 51 minutes if you walk fast compared to 30 minute car ride.
Walk to bus stop 5 min
Bus #4 ( 7 stops)
Walk
Orange line ( 10 stops)
Walk
Bus #923 (33 stops)
Walk
I’ll never take public transportation to the beach! Not even if my nursing home had a bus or trolley stop by my front door. Id drive or Uber to save 1.5 hours
To each their own. It takes me about the same amount of time (1.5ish) to take the bus from Hillcrest to either OB or MB. Take the 10 and transfer in Old Town. Despite the amount of time, still beats dealing with parking.
sb 79 upzones areas near trolley stations and bus rapid transit. it works for some commuters, and not for others. Would be great if there were apartments near bay park so workers can commute to UCSD or downtown or UTC
There is an empty lot across from the Clairemont Dr trolley station that is owned by Zephyr. It’s been planned for 364 apartments and commercial spaces since Protea owned it 6-7 years ago. Few blocks away on Morena, Mission Bay Chevrolet just closed. UCSD bought that lot. They plan to build housing for students or staff. I suspect all the owners/developers are sitting on their parcels, waiting for the most permissive zoning laws to be passed.
San Diego geography is not conducive to mass transit due to hills and canyons. The #50, an express from Clairemont to down town was canceled when the trolley extension opened. Problems are no parking at this trolley station and infrequent bus service to the trolley. Very poor planning, typical of the city in most areas.
Yes Chris, to each their own. Some people don’t have an extra 1.5 hours to spare in their daily schedule.
Bummer for them. I used to live in Spring Valley. On a typical Summer weekend, if I drove to the beach from home any time after 10 am, there’d be heavy traffic on the 8 heading west, then spending time jostling for parking. It would take almost that long by the time I get out of the car. That’s not to say our public transit doesn’t need serious improvement, but it still beats hassling for parking amongst the crowds.
Hey Chris — when did you move from Spring Valley?
I moved from SV to Clairemont in 2002. 2005 to Hillcrest.
This a blunt and excellent narrative to counter the ecological theorists. The only solution is for mass transit to up its game, but OMG that is expensive and takes public investment.
Great thought Kate. While you’re at it, stop off the bus near one one of the SDRE projects and ask Nicole how she’d like to live on one of these properties.
I rode the #3 from OB to downtown for a number years about 35 min and a short walk to my office. Sometimes some colorful characters made it interesting. I eventually switched to the trolly and would park in Old Town. That would make it easier if I needed a car for work also a nicer ride and a bit more convenient. If your going downtown, ball park or convention center Its a nice way to go and probably cheaper than parking downtown.
Kate Callen is officially the best journalist in San Diego. Or at least my favorite. Keep the hits coming! Great rebuttal!
Beautifully written and informative article. Thank you!
The 1 mile distance to imaginary bus stops is a joke to the vast majority of san diegans. For elderly, disabled, and anyone with young children, it’s an imposssibility.
I’d like to see a day in the life of someone commuting by mass transit here after dropping off their kids at school and stopping for groceries on their way back.
They’d get home at 9pm with a tub of melted ice cream and CPS waiting at their door.
Two thoughts.
First, I recently served on a long jury duty assignment. This afforded me a great opportunity to familiarize myself with riding the bus in SD. Overall
it was a good experience, so much so that I would use the bus go downtown for leisure and cultural events,only there is a problem. The 923 doesn’t run on weekends. This also means a trip to the beach for downtown dwellers is also a problem. Yes, you can bus to the trolley station then continue downtown, but it takes more time and inconvenience.
Second, I was recently in London and had to travel from Heathrow to the area near the O2 dome. By private car the trip took almost two hours. The return by tube and Heathrow Express? About 40 minutes, including changing trains.
We should have such a transit system.
By downtown dwellers I assume you mean people who actually live downtown? They can take the trolley to Old Town and from there either take the 35 to go to OB or the 9 to MB/PB.
Chris, we rec’d a comment under your name and almost the same email address; it was off by one letter. Was that you?
Yes. I guess I fat fingered my email lol.
Chris, as I said that involves an additional stop and a change of modes (trolley to bus) which adds time and hassle, not to mention having to experience the ambience of the Old Town station. A direct bus from downtown to OB (as well as OB to the airport and downtown on weekends) would be much more convenient and desirable.
I guess for me I don’t see one transfer stop as being a hassle or inconvenient. Sure one mode/one line would be ideal but one bus can’t go everywhere. It’d be great if the 923 ran on weekends but since it doesn’t, this is the next best thing. I live close to downtown and consider having to do the one transfer to get to the beach area adequately convenient. The ambiance of the OT transit center is what it is and doesn’t bother me.
And doing that one transfer is still more convenient that dealing with parking on a Summer weekend.
Well, okay then, Chris, the bus works for you, but ridership numbers tell is it doesn’t work for everyone. I think the idea is to get more people, who perhaps are not as flexible as you, to abandon their cars and get onto buses. The way to do that is to have routes that take them where to go quickly and conveniently, not say “it works for me so it should work for you too!”
I moved here in 1977, rode the Greyhound bus from Indiana, I lived in Imperial Beach and worked in Hillcrest, it was a 2 hour bus ride each way, 4 hours a day to get to and from work. That schedule has not changed in almost 50 years. As soon as I got home from my day job, I rode my bike to my evening job in Imperial Beach and back home at 2 am.
I did not own a car, nor did have the money to buy one. The minute my grandma offered to give me a car, I flew back and drove it out. I’m now 69 and know one thing for sure, I will not be repeating any of my past behaviors. Our mayor and city council need to go.
Here’s the problem – no one on the MTS Board knows squat about transit. And transit doesn’t make sense for many areas. I worked on a design for a fabulous transit system, presented it to electeds and they couldn’t understand it or didn’t want to. They believe their SANDAG staff over any other real experts – and the SANDAG leadership doesn’t have the necessary expertise either. Transit has been only considered for so-called “captive” riders – i.e. those who do not have a car by choice or by reality. The transit system we proposed was designed around what would it take for drivers to change to transit. It boils down to three key factors: time, reliability and location (including safe walking to and from).. So the system needs to be designed around who needs to go where and how long it takes. But MTS doesn’t do that. AND they cast out the only leader they’ve ever had that actually knows what it takes to get transit to work. The change of definition from a half-mile (what it takes to get fed funds to provide necessary pedestrian improvements) to one mile is a developer wet-dream and corrupt as hell. Developers want to build density anywhere – whether there is transit or not. and our electeds are stupid as hell to allow it. I am fed up but where are the voters wiling to work on a recall??? Finally the linkage to reducing pollution is not credible with the changing to electric cars. Every empty or under-capacity transit vehicle adds to pollution. I doubt Nicole will take that ride, though I wouldn’t be surprised if she uses transit. But she is wed to the unfulfilled fantasy that transit works in San Diego and it doesn’t. Please let us know her response.
I’ll add to this. Back when I was in grad school, the dominant way to do transportation planning was to conduct origin/destination studies – actually find out where people live and where they wanted to travel to. To my knowledge the only major urban area that still does this is Seattle. I could be wrong, so don’t flame me if you know of other examples.
The result is that Seattle’s transit seems to work pretty well, in my limited experience. Of course when they did their light rail they started more or less from scratch, which we did not.
I know it sometimes sounds like I am anti-transit, but I am only against transit that doesn’t work, like ours.