Transportation system for low-income students and without cars

    San Diego’s transportation system is not efficient for SDSU students to use, as it removes time from studying, being home, and social life. I find San Diego’s public transportation inconvenient because from my house to SDSU, I would take a 50 minute bus ride. From SDSU to my house, I would have to take the trolley and this would take me an hour and a half. 

    While I do have a negative perspective on the transportation system because of how long commuting can be, I do not voice every student’s experience who do not own a car. Low-income students who do not have the means of affording a car, might find the transportation system as accessible and efficient, and necessary to their everyday lives of pursuing an education. The site, simple transit How transit system allows access to education, describes how public transportation allows low-income students to attend school and have access to the campus, libraries, and other necessities.

SDSU students build schedules off of transit system

      These students have to shape their schedules around the transportation system, to ensure they leave on time to catch the bus/trolley. These students also have to rely on this means of transport outside of SDSU from hanging with friends, work, and groceries. The site from SDSU, Trolley system information  provides bus routes that take you around San Diego, and gives information on what bus or trolley to take. A SDSU friend of mine, has been relying on this information since the first semester of Fall 2025, as he has to take the trolley to get by in San Diego. I view having to wake up every morning to take the trolley as inconvenient because for myself, I had my parents willing to take me to school some days of the week. However, for a student like my friend who could not rely on his parents, only knows the San Diego transportation system and occasionally catching a ride from a friend. Therefore to my friend, relying on the transit system has become necessary to his everyday life. The trolley allows him to pursue his education and go to work, and through this he has learned to adapt to the long rides by having time to himself, or doing homework on the trolley.

Transit system saves money

    They also might consider using the trolley more affordable than owning a car because even though rides can be lengthy, students would not have to pay for a yearly parking permit, on top of the money that goes into sustaining a vehicle. The article, Guide To San Diego's Transit System, contains information about discounts for students, allowing them to ride at a cheaper price.

    Despite the fact that I view the transportation system of San Diego as burdensome from how time-consuming rides can be, SDSU students without cars, might view the system as part of their lifestyle.