Best place to live when carless in LA? (Long Beach, Pasadena: home, safe neighborhood)

[ceresc21]

I would like to move to LA within the next year or so. I currently live at home to save money and help take care of my mother. We share a car. It is her car, not mine. TBH, I don't really even like driving, and would be fine relying on public transport. One less thing to worry about paying for. But I've heard both good and bad things about LA's public transport system. What area of the city is best to live in if I might be doing a lot of walking, or maybe biking? Also for a not-super expensive, relatively safe neighborhood.

[saybanana]

Living along/near a Metro Rail line is one of the best choices for carless people because they are fast, reliable, frequent and good connections to many bus lines. If you want a city that has it a lot to offer in terms of walking and relatively safe, check out Pasadena. For fairly safe small town feel go to South Pasadena, but it is slightly more expensive.

[ceresc21]

Ah thanks, I will check that out.

[transitfan]

Another possibility is Mid-Wilshire. Back in 1977 to 1979, I lived there (4th & Hobart). I didn't have a car, but I was within walking distance to RTD (now MTA) buses on 3rd St, 6th St, Wilshire Blvd and Western Ave (and not that far from Normandie). All those buses are still around, albeit different routes than in the 70s, plus in addition, the Metro Rapid line 720 on Wilshire, as well as the Metro Purple line (subway). Alas, the neighborhood isn't what it used to be these days, from what I hear, but it is a possibility.

[Troof]

South Pasadena is lovely.

But doesn't qualify under the "not super expensive" prerequisite.

[ragnarkar]

Originally Posted by Troof

South Pasadena is lovely.

But doesn't qualify under the "not super expensive" prerequisite.

How about North Pasadena then (within walking distance of the gold line)?

[munchitup]

I live in Hollywood mostly carless... There are plenty of neighborhoods just make sure you are close to a Rapid Bus line or a Subway/light rail line.

• Hollywood,

• Wilshire Blvd area from Western to Hoover (neighborhood is actually pretty nice again - in reference to transitfan's post)
• Downtown LA
• Pasadena
• DT Long Beach
• Los Feliz
• East Hollywood
• Silver Lake and Echo Park aren't bad, but not great either but buses are the only transit option really
• Koreatown
• Miracle Mile (have to take buses, no subway)
• West Hollywood (have to take buses, no subway)

In a month when the Expo line opens, there will be about 5 more neighborhoods you can add to this list (Exposition Park, Jefferson Park, Adams.



I would check walkscore, but also dig deeper to make sure the score is not inflated by bodegas and such.

[Senshi]

Hollywood or Downtown.

Pretty much anywhere along the red line though. Downtown has a ton of transit options but it's lacking in other areas that Hollywood isn't.

[SlowMotionApocalypse]

Originally Posted by munchitup

[*]Silver Lake and Echo Park aren't bad, but not great either but buses are the only transit option really

However there is a line 2 or 4 running along Sunset Bl every few minutes all night.

[munchitup]

Originally Posted by SlowMotionApocalypse

However there is a line 2 or 4 running along Sunset Bl every few minutes all night.

It is the 2 bus, it runs like every 20 minutes until about 2AM and then runs once an hour for night owl service. It is also not that far of a hike to a red line station if you live near Sunset Junction.