Gringo : Turistinfo : Transportation |
Busses In and Around (and from) Tijuana. |
U N D E R . . . C O N S T R U C T I O N |
To tell where a bus is going, well, ask the driver! But, if you don't speak Spanish... or if the bus is zooming toward you and won't stop unless you wave it down... what do you do?
Answer: LOOK ON THE WINDSHIELD. Practically every bus will have its chief destination or destinations posted on a small sign, or written in soap right onto the windshield.
YOU WILL NEED TO KNOW: (1) Where You Are Going, (2) What Is The Important Destination There or Beyond There, and (3) What Are The Bus Abbreviations -- "CAM CEN" or "CAM CENTRAL" means Camionera Central (the main bus station and an important destination for all travelers), "AERPTO" means aeropuerto (airport), "PAL" or "PALACIO" means City Hall, and "CENTRO" means downtown.
There is another way to know where a bus is going -- listen for the greeter to shout out the destination. Many busses come equiped with friends/acquaintances of the driver, or hucksters looking for tips, who jump on and off the busses at important stops and shout out the destination. Often these are the singers, entertainers, donation solicitors, who work/entertain the busses, performing this info-service for the driver. Example: at the "LINEA" bus stop near the border (next to a traffic circle beyond the Sea of Taxis) you will hear a constant stream of shouting, "Centro Tercera, subile subile..." which means "downtown Third Street, get onboard, get onboard." Those, incidentally, are the busses which will drop you near Revolución Avenue.
If you aren't willing to play this game of reading moving windshields or listening to the bus shouters, Xanadu suggests that you consider hiring a Taxi Especial to take you wherever you are going. At least you can be sure you will get where you want to go, although it will cost you more than a bus. If you don't speak Spanish, talk with your driver BEFORE getting into his cab, to make sure you understand him and he understands you. Bargain before getting in. And when you get out, don't forget to tip him for whatever courtesy he has shown you.
In addition to your standard big-city bus, there are also hordes of minibusses going every whichway. They too will have their destinations written or posted in the front window.
We emphasize again that the cost for a taxi is often worth the expense, considering the ease of access -- and knowledge of the city -- which the drivers can offer you. Many speak good English, too.
But the fact remains that during the day, bus service is excellent, although sometimes crowded at rush hour, like urban anywhere. (You were expecting what, maybe Tijuana would not be like New York or Chicago? Well, it isn't, but it is, too.)
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Ah yes, the cost. City busses now (2001) charge four-and-a-half pesos (or two quarters -- fifty cents U.S.) which you pay when you get on. The driver will give you a ticket for each fare you pay. This is only a ticket, NOT a transfer. There are NO transfers.
But, unlike San Diego, the bus drivers carry change -- in both pesos and U.S. coin (within reason -- don't expect to get change for a ten or twenty dollar bill). But if you hand him a dollar he will quickly give you fifty cents change. Or if you are two people, just hand him a dollar and he'll give you two tickets. (Yes, Virginia, there is a ticket!)
City busses run roughly between seven in the morning and nine o'clock at night, depending on the route. Much later than that you will need to take a taxi, either a less expensive "ruta" (you will need to know where you are going and where the route goes) -- or spend the money to take a taxi especial.
Most of the "cantantes" -- singers -- have a spiel they give after a song or two. In effect they say something like, "Ladies and gentlemen passengers, I sincerely ask you to forgive my bothering you, I am no great artist, only a simple person trying to make a living, and if any one of you from the goodness of your hearts can see fit to help me with any little coins, I would be most grateful and thank God for your good will...."
You will also see & hear solicitors for various non-profits who will give you a piece of candy in exchange for your donation. Many of these say they represent drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers who with the grace of God are now enjoying the blessings of eternal life and an honest life.
There are also occasional salesmen and women, offering everything from wallets to popsicles (paletas).
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