Poor Public Transportation is a Barrier to Opportunity

As a former UC San Diego undergrad, I acutely remember the frustration I had towards the poor public transportation system. For my full 4 years, I frequently had to rely on my friends with cars in order to be able to access stores like Target and Walmart, and even to do fun things like eat out. When I searched for a part-time job for extra income, I was limited to jobs only within a convenient bussing distance. And when it came to housing, the rental prices in La Jolla were undoubtedly higher than those in places further away, such as Chula Vista or Pacific Beach. My lack of access to proper public transport limited me, and others that I knew, on many levels.

As a privileged person, I was lucky enough that this was just a mild inconvenience. For my low-income friends, paying for rent in La Jolla was often a stressful event every month. Poor public transportation is a major issue across those who are low-income, as it severely limits housing and job opportunities. Public transportation is important for everyone, because it provides a cheap, convenient way to get around. It’s especially important for low-income folk because it is often the only way they can get to work. However, when public transportation is bad, it means extra time spent, and can often limit which jobs someone can take on. For a low-income person, public transportation may be their only option if a car and gas is too expensive. Additionally, poor public transportation impacts the housing options people have, which, for low-income folk, is already highly limited in San Diego.

Fortunately, San Diego is currently building a light-rail between UCSD and downtown San Diego. I’m sure that the benefits this will have on those who are students and workers at UCSD will be immeasurable. I only wish that it had been around when I was a student. Indeed, much of my frustration manifested itself into a desire for change, and while I may not have been able to do anything directly, I frequently voted in favor of public transportation improvements in San Diego. If you are living in San Diego (or anywhere, for that matter) I encourage you to use your rights as a voter and your voice to push for public transportation improvements.