This Trolley is No Folly

I have always been a big proponent of public transportation. In my world travels, taking the local bus, trolley or train has repeatedly produced the most interesting experiences. There was the time in Nadi, Fiji, when I had a free day before the start of a travel job, and hopped on a local bus that circled the island. The trip eventually took me to a small village where a festival was in full swing with live music, colorfully costumed dancers, and food stands. It was amazing, and I was the only non-native there.

It was with this same sense of adventure that I set out to take the trolley from La Mesa to Lemon Grove and back. After parking (for free) at the Amaya Drive MTS Station and buying my $5 unlimited day pass from the machine, I waited for the trolley. The two-car electric overhead train arrived right on time for the four-stop, 12-minute ride to the Grove.

The trolley operates on the honor system, meaning that no one checks your ticket as you board. It was a good thing I was traveling with honor, because the transit police boarded at the Spring Street Station for a spot check of the riders. Sneaking on could earn you a ticket with a fine of, in some cases, nearly $200. Yikes.

San Diego has an interesting public transportation history which includes a number of “firsts.” The city is recognized (except by L.A., who also claims the prize) for having in 1886 the first electric streetcar on the West Coast. Apparently it wasn’t designed well—after a year of people complaining about being showered with sparks while riding, the company folded. Soon there were a number of businesses laying tracks throughout the county. There was even a cable car operation, and another rail line running through the beach areas called the Abalone Express. In the 1890s an extensive rail system linked most of the surrounding communities, including Lemon Grove.

This all worked well until 1949, when buses replaced the last of the streetcars. This made San Diego the first city in the nation to complete the switch from track to trackless. Soon Southern California car culture had nearly relegated public transportation to the dustbin of history.

Over time, the public bus system became woefully inadequate to serve the population, with the poor and disabled most affected. It was difficult, if not almost impossible, to get around without a car until the rebirth of the trolley in 1981.

Now, with the expansion of the trolley routes, there are options to go places without filling the automobile tank with $4-per-gallon gas. The rail system currently has 53 stations on just over 53 miles of double track, and boasts an average weekday ridership of more than 100,000 passengers. You can attend a Charger game at the Q or see the Padres at Petco Park, all via the trolley. The rail cars are clean and comfortable, and the trolley system has an outstanding on-time record.

My ride last Sunday was no exception, and in 12 minutes I reached my destination of the Lemon Grove Depot. It’s the site of the original train depot, which was built for the city in 1895. It was torn down in the 1950s to widen the street, and rebuilt in 1986 as the trolley stop. It’s a cute building, with a sort of Disneyland Main Street feel. The station is right in the center of town, which made for an easy two-minute walk to the for a delicious lunch. Then a little bit of shopping, and it was back to the depot to await my ride. The trolley arrived one minute after schedule, but made the time up on the way back to La Mesa.

The trolley does not work for all trips, but there might be a route that works for you. This is a journey where you don’t have to drive, park or buy gas...sounds good. Think about it. Get out of your lonely car, and have a social experience.

When you are ready for your trip, here is the MTS Trolley website with all the information.