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| Home > City Guide - San Diego - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (tel: (619) 238 0100 or 233 3004 or (800) 266 6883, for info; fax: (619) 696 8159; website: www.sdcommute.com) operates three types of public transport within the County of San Diego. Public buses and the trolley operate daily throughout the city every ten to 20 minutes, with buses generally operating between 0600-2400 and trolleys around 0400-0100 (times vary depending on the route). The Coaster train service provides increased transport to outlying areas, linking seven coastal communities as far north as Oceanside. Six Coaster trains serve the morning rush hour and six run during the afternoon rush hour, with two extra midday services. There are also four services throughout the day (approximately 0930-1930) on Saturday. Bus fares are usually US$2 but vary according to the distance travelled. Trolley fares within downtown cost US$1.25, otherwise they vary according to distance travelled and cost US$1.25-2.50. Coaster fares depend on distance and cost US$3-4.75. Fares are paid on embarking – exact change is usually required. Passes – known as The Ready Pass, good for both bus and trolley fares, and The Econo Pass, which is only good for San Diego County bus fares – are both available from The Transit Store, 102 Broadway. A one-day pass costs US$5, while a three-day pass costs US$10. The San Diego-Coronado Ferry (tel: (619) 234 4111) shuttles commuters and visitors between the Broadway Pier at the intersection of Broadway and Harbor Streets and the Coronado Shopping Centre on Coronado Island. The ferry leaves the Broadway Pier every hour on the hour 0900-2100 Sunday-Thursday and 0900-2200 Friday and Saturday. The ferry leaves the Coronado Ferry Dock every half-hour 0930-2130 Sunday-Thursday and 0930-2200 Friday and Saturday. The fare is US$2 per person and US$0.50 for bicycles. Taxis Yellow Cab (tel: (619) 234 6161; website: www.driveu.com) operates throughout San Diego County. It is best for visitors to request a taxi by telephone, although it is possible to hail them in the street. Waiting times for taxis can be anywhere up to one hour. Taxis cost US$1.90 per mile and a 10-15% tip is appropriate for good service. Limousines Cloud 9 Shuttle (tel: (858) 505 4900; e-mail: cloud9@cloud9shuttle.com; website: www.cloud9shuttle.com) provides a wide variety of services, including Cadillacs and limousines. Prices vary according to the distance and time required – from US$35 to the airport, up to US$90 for a round trip. 1st Class Limousine (tel: (619) 283 6300; website: www.1stclasslimo) offers limousines at rates starting from US$40 per hour. Driving in the City San Diego is well laid out with several well-maintained highways that serve as major arteries to outlying districts. Highways are generally easy to follow, although California’s Interstate highways maintain high speeds and can be unnerving for first-time visitors. As in most Southern California cities, early morning (0630-0900) and late afternoon (1500-1900) are peak rush-hour times and driving during these periods should be avoided. Areas such as Downtown, Mission Bay, Coronado Bridge and the major beach areas are high congestion areas during rush hour – highways and major streets leading into these areas are usually heavily congested. The high occupant vehicle lanes (HOV) are designed for vehicles carrying two-three passengers or more (highways differ in their minimum limit of passengers). There are stiff fines for vehicles carrying less than the stated minimum number of passengers. Left lanes that are not HOV lanes are reserved for passing vehicles. Public parking in the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach areas is usually at a premium on weekends and holidays. Residential areas often have signage indicating the days and hours that visitors are allowed to park on the street. Vehicles that do not obey the regulations may be towed away. Parking prices are US$3-7 per day in parking garages and US$1 per hour for metered parking. It is best to use the bus, trolley or train to reach most areas, although there are a few more remote attractions best reached by car or tour bus. Car Hire Car hire agencies in the United States require a credit card or cash deposit when hiring out a car. The minimum age to hire a car is usually 25 years and the driver must be in possession of a valid driver’s license – an international driver’s permit is not required but is accepted. Some agencies (Budget and National specifically) will allow drivers aged 21-24 years to drive but will charge an extra fee of US$20-25 per day. Insurance is mandatory when driving and car hire companies normally carry their own optional insurance. Customers who have their own US car insurance are normally covered while driving a hired vehicle. There are several major agencies located in the city. These include Avis (tel: (619) 688 5030 or (800) 331 1212; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (800) 221 1203; website: www.budgetrentacar.com), Hertz (tel: (800) 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (619) 497 6777 or (800) 227 7368; website: www.nationalcar.com). Rates are around US$25-50 per day for a mid-sized car. Bicycle Hire Cycling is a popular past-time in San Diego and the city has no shortage of bicycle shops to accommodate this. Bike Tours San Diego, 509 Fifth Avenue (tel: (619) 238 2444; fax: (619) 238 1617; e-mail: biketoursd@aol.com; website: www.bike-tours.com), provides both bike hire and guided bike tours and is centrally located in the Downtown area. Their rates start from US$18 per day. They also offer both standard scenic tours and trail bike tours within the San Diego County. San Diego Blazing Saddles, 3221 Mission Boulevard (tel: (858) 488 9595; fax: (858) 488 9597; website: www.blazingsaddles.com), offers bike hire and free self-guided tours. They are located in Mission Beach, close to the boardwalk and parks. They also carry mountain bikes for those intrepid trail-riders who prefer the uncrowded backcountry. Rates start from US$28 per day. |
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