Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

KPBS Midday Edition

Older Adults Planning For A Carless Future In San Diego Consider Public Transit

Older Adults Planning For A Carless Future In San Diego Consider Public Transit
Older Adults Planning For A Carless Future In San Diego Consider Public Transit
Older Adults Planning For A Carless Future In San Diego Consider Public Transit GUESTS:Judi Bonilla, is a gerontologist and founder of We Get Around, a San Diego non-profit that teaches older adults how to navigate the public transportation system in San Diego. Maria Seltzer, has taken classes through We Get Around. She rides the trolley from Grossmont Center to the theater in downtown San Diego.

A 2014 story in the New York Times highlights an issue many older Americans are facing: a carless future.

New concepts of smart growth aside, San Diego County's landscape is still all about the car. So thinking about the day when age or ill health forces a person to give up driving, can be very disturbing.

But there's an organization in town dedicated to helping people — age 60 and over — make the transition from driving to using public transportation. And it's not just a change in mind-set. The group We Get Around, examines bus and trolley routes to various destinations, from fares to weekend schedules.

Advertisement

Organizers admit San Diego's public transport isn't perfect, but learning about it can help keep older people independent.