Transport
Transport: Getting around San Diego is relatively easy without a car, with
three types of public transport servicing the city. Buses and the
Trolley light rail cover the city, but service generally stops
around midnight. The Trolley is the best way to get to the border
with Mexico for trips to Tijuana. Passes are available from the
Transit Store for both bus and trolley fares; it also provides
timetables and route information. A Coaster train service operates
during morning and evening rush hours, linking downtown with the
outlying northern coastal communities as well as providing four
services on Saturdays. The Coronado Ferry as well as a water taxi
service shuttle passengers between the city and Coronado Island
(also connected to the mainland by bridge). Privately-owned Old
Town Trolley Tours offers hop-on, hop-off narrated tours of places
of interest for tourists, though this option is a bit more
expensive than the public Trolley. Taxis must be ordered by phone,
but waiting times can be long. Cycling is a popular way to get
around San Diego, and there are numerous bike hire shops and many
designated bicycle lanes. Some bus routes, the trolleys and the
Coronado Ferry offer free passage of bicycles, allowing people to
get to an area by public transport and then explore from there.
Although possible to get around using public transport, many people
prefer to rent a car, especially as there is no public transport
late at night, and some areas are easier and quicker to get to by
car. The city is easy to navigate with well laid out highways, and
parking meters are plentiful. Car rental agencies require a credit
card or cash deposit and a valid driver's license, and the minimum
age is usually 25 years.
