Don’t be fooled by bus schedules that pinpoint the exact time the bus will arrive at your stop.  Such schedules encourage false hope by leading passengers to believe that, with careful planning, they may reach their destinations on time. Those who lament our need for instant gratification in society only need a few minutes waiting at the bus stop to realize the beauty of Pay-Per-View and the Starbucks drive-thru.

The bus is a people-watcher’s dream. San Diego Transit has failed to capitalize on the entertainment/travel market, letting overpriced cruise ships get bloated and lazy with country singers and conga lines. Folks, the real entertainment is here. One passenger speaks to Mr. President on a “telephone” which is in fact a Kermit the Frog puppet. I’ve had five minute conversations with homeless women that were more therapeutic than an hour with a therapist. If, by chance, you get a kick out of strangers’ rantings on every conceivable topic—which you might, considering you’re reading this article—take a seat, friend. Welcome home.

Motorcycling

Many car owners fantasize about motorcycle ownership. Besides the obvious romantic connotation motorcycles have with danger and defiance, we have all experienced gridlock. We have all seen motorcyclists maneuvering gracefully between lanes, past traffic, disappearing into the wonderful world beyond. We have been bitter.

The fantasy of motorcycle ownership is rooted in truth, yet motorcyclists have some reservations.  “When I got my motorcycle, I thought I’d have it made. Cheap gas, rock-star parking, and splitting through traffic seemed very attractive to me,” commented Jesse Magallanes, a recent car-to-bike convert. “But the first day I rode my bike, I was pretty disappointed. The gas was cheap, and traffic was a breeze, but parking was still a problem.”

There’s also the death factor. If the mere thought of motorcycling alongside Southern California drivers on a rainy day does not scare you, you are a braver person than I. Nevertheless, Magallanes insists that “people on bikes definitely have it better than people in cars.”

Walking

San Diego is a hot city. Some might classify it as temperate, pleasantly sunny, even slightly cool. Those people don’t walk. For those so inclined, walking is great exercise. It’s productive, it cures hamster-on-the-wheel gym syndrome, and you can listen to any music you want. Walking is satisfying in that it provides intimate familiarity with one’s community that riding in a car does not. Neighborhood markers like trees, pets, and small stores most often go unnoticed by the time-conscious driver.

That said, the complacently flabby among us can resolutely cross this option off our lists. Maybe you don’t mind walking three miles to satisfy an urgent craving for blueberry and cheese blintzes, but even so, San Diego is entirely too hilly and hot to make pedestrian travel a practical option for the average rotund, time-crunched American citizen. If you don’t fit that description, however, I highly recommend the old fashioned walk. If homeless ladies on the bus are scarce in your neighborhood, a stroll down the street provides free therapy that’s nearly as effective.

Biking

Local bicycle enthusiasts cite varied terrain, mild weather, and an expansive bike lane system as the reasons why San Diegans should leave their cars at home. According to Stephanie Canton, who switched over to the bike side after a car accident, area bicyclists quickly learn the necessity of defensive biking skills. “Drivers don’t have much patience,” Canton says. “I almost got run over a couple of times, even though I had the right of way.” Canton also mentioned that the hills and valleys of the San Diego landscape that go unnoticed by drivers can prove difficult to handle, at least until frequent biking whips novices’ legs into shape.

Still, biking is an efficient way to combine commuting and exercising. Kathy Keehan, executive director of the San Diego County Bike Coalition, points out, “The benefits are so great in comparison to the safety risks. It’s cheaper than driving a car, better for you, and you end up at work in a way better mood.” The San Diego Bike Coalition offers classes on defensive biking for safety-minded bikers.

Gas prices are rising, and biking in San Diego will definitely keep you in shape—at least until it rains. At that point, three bucks a gallon might not seem that bad.