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A quarter may not seem like much, but these days every cent counts.
Metropolitan Transit System officials must have had this in mind when they raised the fare for a one-way trip from $2 to $2.25 and stopped allowing transfers. Now each bus requires a separate fare.
MTS must get some revenue from all those ads on buses and trolleys, but still no new bus routes. Many Southwestern College students want to see more buses.
"They could probably get more buses, maybe more express buses," said Alex Aguirre, business finance major.
More buses would be helpful in high density corridors such as H Street. There are many shopping centers down that street, as well as a hospital and connections to several schools. It is no wonder that H Street buses are so crowded.
"Sometimes, at 8 a.m., it is so full you cannot breathe," said Omar Machain, architecture major.
Due to California's deficit, finding a solution to the problem will be difficult. In fact, public transit funding has been cut. Bus fares have increased and the number of buses decreased.
Public transit in San Diego County needs improvement. Buses only leave SWC every 15 minutes, 30 minutes on weekends. Buses stop running after 9:30 p.m. Students taking night classes had better not be late.
A light weekend schedule makes it tough to come to school for library time or sporting events.
Inconvenient as it is to take public transit, it is the only option for thousands of students without cars. It is mostly the working and poverty classes that languish on buses every day. Fewer buses that are more expensive make it harder to attend college.
Cutting public transportation may seem penny wise but it is foolish. Raising fares and eliminating lines may save money in the short term, but could force legions of people out of money, jobs and school.
California cannot afford to do that. For our state to recover we need to rebuild from the working class and the young. Otherwise, we all miss the bus.
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