Riding the 30: San Diego’s Most Iconic Bus

Over the weekend, me and my dad took a ride on MTS Route 30, a bus route that connects some of San Diego’s most iconic destinations, from UTC and UCSD to La Jolla and the beaches. We started at UTC Transit Center and rode down to La Jolla Blvd and Forward Street, grabbed coffee at Bird Rock, then rode back north. The experience was clean, scenic, and a reminder of what good transit looks like in San Diego.

Where It Goes:

Route 30 is one of the most frequent north-south routes in San Diego, running every 15 minutes most of the day. It connects:

• UTC/UC San Diego
• La Jolla Shores
• La Jolla Village
• Bird Rock
• Pacific Beach

It’s ideal for students, tourists, or anyone who wants to avoid beach parking hassles.

Our Ride:

We boarded at the UTC Transit Center and made our way through UTC, picking up mostly college students and university staff. After exiting UTC, we wound through La Jolla Shores Drive, passing the scenic ocean views and marine research centers.

As we headed south through La Jolla Shores, our bus started getting more crowded with beachgoers holding surfboards and tourists with flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts. By the time we reached La Jolla Village, where the bus steadily picked up more passengers.

The final stretch down La Jolla Blvd brought us down into Bird Rock, where our bus was almost standing-room only — impressive for a midday weekend trip. We stopped by Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, then caught the 30 back north, retracing our route back to UTC.

What Could Be Better

• Dedicated lanes through La Jolla Blvd could help speed up service
• Real-time info screens for arrival times
• Better bike access from inland areas

The Stats

• Annual Ridership: $1,141,886 (3,483 avg. weekday)
• Cost per passenger: $7.44
• Farebox recovery rate: 16.4%

Final Thoughts:

The 30 is one solid route. If every part of San Diego had a route like the 30, we’d be in a much better place for mobility, sustainability, and freedom. Until then, I’ll keep riding.