METRO Rider Spotlight
by Gary Scotty Gregg III
For most, taking the bus seems like the opposite of an adrenaline rush or a heart-pumping workout. But for Cari Johnston, hopping on a METRO bus is just the start of her adventure. It’s her ticket to scaling cliffs and conquering new heights, transforming a mundane commute into a gateway to her favorite pastime: rock climbing.
“I started rock climbing when I was 14,” Johnston says. “It was a popular place for birthday parties, so that’s how I got into it. It was with my family for the most part, but since coming here I’ve been doing it on my own or with some of my close friends. I get there using METRO buses, either straight there, or just downtown and then I bike over by Seabright.”
While for some it may just be a workout, or for others an exciting and daunting task maybe even too intimidating to face, for Johnston it’s more meaningful. “It’s a good way to stay active,” she explains, “but it’s not just a sport to me, it’s a hobby. It’s a way for me to relax and cool down after a long day. I find a lot of community in it, too. Me and my friends go together and, you know, have some healthy competition between friends.”
Santa Cruz METRO is, however, also an integral part of this facet of her life now. “I use the METRO to pretty much get anywhere right now, because I’m a first-year and I don’t have a car.” METRO makes it not only possible but convenient to make it to just about all of the spots she currently enjoys climbing.
“Well here I climb mostly in the gym, Pacific Edge. I’ve done some outdoor climbing, too, at some beaches, and also on the UCSC campus there’s some boulders, but I climb mostly at the gym.” Whether she’s headed to the Pacific Edge climbing gym, or UCSC campus, METRO has it covered.
“I usually take the bus downtown and then bike from there, but there are some buses that run right next to the climbing gym which is really nice, especially when it’s raining.”
When it comes to why she chooses METRO, for Johnston it boils down to a few key things: dependability, affordability, and punctuality. “I think that it’s really nice especially that they run late-night because when I’m trying to get back home I don’t really wanna get an Uber cuz it’s kinda expensive. It’s really nice to have that option to ride the bus instead.”
She goes on to say “And it’s nice that they run so late that you can be out and enjoying yourself, and know that there’s a way to get back home at the end of the night.” Finally, it comes down to not only knowing the bus will be there for you, but knowing when it will be there. “They’re very reliable timewise, which is great because I have classes and appointments to get to.”
Cari summarized her view on METRO buses with one final thought. “Yeah, I think they’re great.”
If you’d like to be in a future article, please email interview@scmtd.com, or fill out our form at