Coaster

I used to live in San Francisco where everyday I wrote the Number 38 bus to work, then climbed six grueling, uphill blocks to Nob Hill. The bus was filled with sullen businessmen in suits, teenagers with bulging backpacks that always ran into me, homeless drunks passed out on several seats and everyone with heads buried in a newspaper and their earphones shielding them from any possible conversations that might strike up with the despicable person sitting next to them. And yet, among all of these colorful characters I felt at ease. The public transportation in San Francisco is outstanding. The buses are usually always on time, you never have to worry about parking and what’s best is you can always stop for happy hour on your way home from work and not have to worry about driving. Since my move to San Diego I have been disappointed in my constant reliance on my car. Southern Californians do not seem to have as great of a public transportation system as the City By the Bay. However, as I perused through the site of NBC San Diego the other day I was relieved to see this headline: “More San Diegans Using Mass Transit.”

The amount of people who take the Trolley or the Coaster increased by six percent last year and hopefully it will continue on an upward climb on into this year. Two of my co-workers are regular “Coasties,” hopping on the train at seven in the morning and riding the rails back home at four in the afternoon. The gas money they save and their small contribution to our clean air campaign is well worth the ride, plus they get an ocean view, much better than the smelly armpit in my face as I stood, balancing myself on the crowded Number 38. With my proximity to the office, it seems pointless to hop on the train only to hop off at the next stop and backtrack. However it is definitely something I will keep in mind for other travels. All Aboard!