Should I ride the bus in LaJolla?

March 26, 2010 9:50 AM

A question for San Diego transportation experts: Can I get from La Jolla/UCSD area to 2160 Avenida De La Playa (Surf Diva surfing school at the beach) on Saturday and Sunday, reliably and safely, using public transit?

I am trying to plan a trip to the San Diego area this summer to go to surfing school, which has always been a dream of mine.

I'd like to be able to save money by not renting a car. I think a SuperShuttle to/from the airport and some bus fares would be cheaper and less stressful than trying to drive and navigate in an unfamiliar city.

BUT ... I have never been to SD and I know nothing about the city, the geography, etc.

If I stay in a hotel near UCSD or in that general area, it looks like I can take a short ride on a #30 bus that will drop me off near La Jolla Shores Drive and Torry Pines Road, close enough to 2160 Avenida De La Playa to allow me to walk there.

I am comfortable with public transit (use it every day), I am fine with walking up to 1 mile on either end, but I wonder:

1. Would that bus be clean, safe and reliable for weekend service?

2. Would I end up walking on the side of a highway to get where I'm going?

3. Is there a better way to do this that I'm not thinking of?

4. Is there some reason why this whole plan is a *bad* idea, but I just don't realize it? Should I just bite the bullet and rent a car?

San Diegans, please school me on your public transportation options. I want to visit your beautiful city and learn how to surf!

Thank you!!

posted by mccxxiii to Travel & Transportation around Mary Esther, FL (7 answers total)

Those two locations are in the same town in San Diego, both in La Jolla.

Between UCSD and the surf school is only about 2.7 miles, walking. My recollection is that this would be a wonderful beach walk that would take you past the aquarium. You'll see lots of joggers around that area.

1. Public transit is reliable enough. Weekend service is limited compared to weekday service. It helps to know what time of the day you plan on getting on and off the bus. My recollection is that the buses are not dirty, and are in fact relatively clean.
2. There is no need for you to walk on the side of the 5 freeway to get anywhere in that location. I'm not even sure you could walk on the side of the freeway if you wanted. You might have to walk beneath or over the freeway on a bridge
3. Consider renting a bike? Easier on a 2.5 to 4 mile trip than walking, but probably not as expensive as renting car. The town is a college town / upscale suburban area, so it's fairly bike-friendly.
4. Not a bad idea, in my opinion. I lived in San Diego for a long time without a car and made my way around just fine, but it does take longer and requires planning around transit schedules, especially on weekends.
posted by jabberjaw at 10:07 AM on March 26, 2010

I've lived here for six months and like most cities in the West it is a car town. But MTS does a decent job covering the area. Parking can be a challenge in parts of La Jolla so having the bus + your feet can even be a better deal.

1. MTS buses are nice, clean, and safe. Weekend service is going to be less frequent than during the week, but no problem.
2. Lots of sidewalks and walkers in that area. Av de la Playa is a two lane street. Most of La Jolla Shores drive is two lane with occasional left turn lanes.
3. Not really. The more fancy pants hotels near UCSD may have a courtesy van that might be able to drop you off. They won't take you to the airport, but some will have shuttles to shopping and stuff.
4. It isn't a bad idea by any stretch. If you're only going to be coming to SD for the school and aren't going to be all over town, saving bucks by not renting a car will work. But if you're wanting to go all over town, going by MTS is not going to be too fast.

Google Maps has a new aerial feature that includes San Diego which has more of a 3D view. Between that and street view of the neighborhood you'll feel like you've already visited when you get here.
posted by birdherder at 10:13 AM on March 26, 2010

What jabberjaw said about maybe just walking it or getting a bike. There's tons of bike lanes or otherwise bike friendly roads in that part of town.
posted by birdherder at 10:17 AM on March 26, 2010

The 30 bus should be fine for what you need, assuming the weekend schedule works for you. If you are interested in walking all the way, be advised that the campus is significantly uphill from the beach.
posted by expialidocious at 11:02 AM on March 26, 2010

The walk to La Jolla Shores from campus isn't bad, but I doubt you'd want to walk from a hotel near campus (the UTC area) to Shores. There are plenty of hotels near (and even on!) Shores, but those are probably going to be expensive. I assume you've seen SurfDiva's hotels page?

The reason I'm really here is to point you to this Groupon that'll save you almost 50% on a weekend lesson. It expires in 2 days though!
posted by natabat at 11:28 AM on March 26, 2010

Response by poster: +1 @natabat ... In fact, that Groupon is *exactly* the impetus for planning this trip! :)

One of my friends out there sent it to me yesterday and I decided The Time Is Now.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I didn't realize it would be close enough to walk/bike, but I would prefer to do that even more than to ride the bus. The more outdoors time the better in such a pretty place.

I will be wary of the elevation, though. 3 miles uphill is a lot even on a good day, let alone after surfing lessons. (If it's that close, though, a cab also probably wouldn't be too expensive ...)
posted by mccxxiii at 1:48 PM on March 26, 2010

^ Cabs are very, very hard to come by, so make sure you have the numbers for local cab companies handy or programmed in to your cell phone. But maybe you'll make a friend who won't mind dropping you off at the hotel. Enjoy!
posted by jabberjaw at 3:51 PM on March 26, 2010