No matter which big U.S. cities you might visit, you'll find plenty of local sightseeing tours. But you don’t have to pay top dollar for a private tour. In many cities, public transit trips serve spectacular routes at inexpensive transit fares, offering flexible schedules and avoiding extended stops at schlocky souvenir shops. Here are three favorite public trips in the United States that should be on your “must” list whenever you visit the region. I update this list every few years to show current service levels and fares.
In most cases, COVID disruptions have been discontinued, and in all listed cases, the minimum age for senior fares is 65.
Boat Trip: Staten Island Ferry
No matter how many times I update this list, I can’t imagine that any other public transit ride will ever upstage New York’s Staten Island Ferry as the unquestioned “best deal” national champ for spectacular public transit rides: It showcases the iconic lower Manhattan skyline and harbor views that include the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and it runs 24/7/365, every 15 to 20 minutes during commute rush hours and every 30 minutes off-peak and on weekends. And it’s free!Catch the ferry by taking a subway to South Ferry/Whitehall St. station; fare, $2.75. The best way to ride subways and buses these days is to use your own contactless credit card, debit card, or device. Half-price senior accounts require prior application: Check new.mta.info/fares/how-to-apply-reduced-fare-metrocard for info on how to apply online.
Bus Trip: Oahu Circle
Frequently cited as the country’s “most scenic public bus trip,” Monterey Transit’s Big Sur Bus route 22 remains suspended post-COVID. So the temporary title reverts to Honolulu Bus 88A and connections that run on a loop from near Waikiki to the North Shore surfing centers via the coast one way and central Oahu the other. Get off and on along the way with a daily cap.Catch the 88A bus at Ala Moana. Fares start at $3 for up to 2 1/2 hours, including transfers, with a $7.50 full-day cap, plus a one-time, stored-value card fee; for seniors, the fare is $1.35 for 2 1/2 hours with a $3 daily cap. Seniors must apply for special cards at limited locations.
Vintage Tech Rail: San Francisco
You can catch vintage streetcars in a lot of cities these days, but San Francisco’s unique combination of cable cars and vintage streetcars is unbeatable. The cable cars climb one of the city’s most scenic hills between downtown and the wharf area. Despite stiff fares, they’re often packed during the summer. In addition, on the light rail F route, a fleet of vintage streetcars is fully integrated into the regular transit system and not just a tourist excursion route. You ride lots of PCC (Presidents’ Conference Committee) cars, as well as some older units linking the colorful Castro district with the waterfront and Fisherman’s Wharf.Calling the cable cars public transit is a bit of a stretch: Yes, they’re part of the public system, but the fare of $8 per ride is more like a tourist excursion. Seniors can get away with $4, but only between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. The streetcars, on the other hand, require only the usual fare: $2.50 for two hours with a stored-value Clipper Card (recommended), $3 cash; half price for seniors.
Other Trips
Obviously, you can find additional interesting local transit rides in other U.S. cities. Among the most obvious: harbor ferries in Boston and Seattle, Chicago’s historic “L” line circling the “Loop,” “Inclines” in Pittsburgh, again in full operation; coastal regional rail services in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas, some currently disrupted by landslides; Seattle’s monorail; and vintage streetcars in New Orleans. In addition, private transit-like river and lake boat services operate in Chicago, New York, and a handful of other cities, but fares are higher than on public systems. And don’t forget those two mega-projects finally opened mega-late and mega-over-budget: East Side Access with its giant station carved out of Manhattan bedrock and San Francisco’s Chinatown subway. Wherever you go, ride and enjoy.Send e-mail to Ed Perkins at [email protected]. Also, check out Ed’s new rail travel website at www.rail-guru.com. Copyright 2023 Ed Perkins. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
