Traffic Patterns in LA (very general advice) (Oxnard, Glendora: home, university)

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaDreamin'

I have a hypothetical question.

I'm planning on moving to LA next year and hopefully finding an apartment in the West Hollywood area. If for instance I would be working in downtown LA, would I be able to take side streets to work without ever getting on a freeway or is that impossible ?? Also, approximately how long would the commute from WeHo to downtown be ?

My reason for the question is a) to avoid the heaviest traffic and b) as I've never driven on freeways before, they kinda scare me LOL

Yes, you can take surface streets. But 23,000,000 other people thought of it first so traffic will still suck. At least its not that far.

[SurekRZA]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaDreamin'

would I be able to take side streets to work without ever getting on a freeway or is that impossible ?? Also, approximately how long would the commute from WeHo to downtown be ?

My reason for the question is a) to avoid the heaviest traffic and b) as I've never driven on freeways before, they kinda scare me LOL

Yes, you can take the streets. When I drive from West Hollywood to Downtown I usually take Beverly Blvd. For some reason that street doesnt have as much traffic as others do. Be careful once you pass Vermont St. because Beverly Blvd turns right instead of going straight so remember to look for this once you pass Vermont. If youre going to use the streets you should leave at least a half hour early depending on how early you leave your house.

[Simonprog]

Originally Posted by Rats

Still, our freeway system is one of the most navigable in the world. Ever tried driving in Canada or Italy? some of the signage literally has you driving in circles to get to places.

I am from Italy and admitedly out of the highways can be a little tricky locating certain points.

On the highways I never had problems although I am not a frequent car driver and the highway I use the most has not interchanges for some hundred miles.

The only thought of driving in LA traffic, BTW, scary me... I never saw in my life a road with more than 4 lanes

[CaliforniaDreamin']

Thank you EscapeCalifornia and SurekRZA for easing my mind ...... a bit. I guess I'll need to make friendly with the other 23,000,000 then

[JackSparrow]

Originally Posted by Charles

The 405 is the San Diego Freeway even though it doesn't go to San Diego.

It's called the 405 because it takes 4 or 5 hours to get anywhere.

Freeway numbering conventions: the 405, 605, and 805 augment the 5, the 225 (Here in CO) augment the 25. The 580, 680, and 780 augment the 80.

Also, odd numbers run north/south, even numbers run east/west. Exits are positioned at mile markers (unless they fall within a mile, in which case they get an alpha designation exit 56a for example). All rules of thumb of course.


~

Original poster: live where you work. It's as simple as that. Anything else is a headache, unless you can telecommute.

[Sorcerer68]

[quote=JackSparrow;1526043]
Original poster: live where you work. It's as simple as that. QUOTE]

I've been telling people this for years. My idiot brother in law just gave himself a 2 hour commute on purpose.

[JackSparrow]

[quote=Sorcerer68;1530019]

Originally Posted by JackSparrow

Original poster: live where you work. It's as simple as that. QUOTE]

I've been telling people this for years. My idiot brother in law just gave himself a 2 hour commute on purpose.

After my first job in LA when I was commuting to Burbank from SEAL BEACH, I figured it out. It was pretty easy on the motorcycle. I could do it in 30-45 minutes. Until I got hit by a car, and had to drive into work. An hour and a half plus... NO THANKS!!!

After that, I vowed I would live near where I work. Since I work in film, I know where 90% of the gigs happen: On the west side. Guess where I live now?



Now, I am mad when my commute goes over 6 miles.

[financedot]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaDreamin'

I have a hypothetical question.

I'm planning on moving to LA next year and hopefully finding an apartment in the West Hollywood area. If for instance I would be working in downtown LA, would I be able to take side streets to work without ever getting on a freeway or is that impossible ?? Also, approximately how long would the commute from WeHo to downtown be ?

My reason for the question is a) to avoid the heaviest traffic and b) as I've never driven on freeways before, they kinda scare me LOL

You will be better off taking metro

[Rats]

weho to downtown isn't that bad. take Beverly Blvd. all the way. you can get there in less than 30 minutes.

[Charles]

Want to point out a cool (new?) feature on google maps. On the standard google maps display you can view traffic conditions real time superimposed on the map. OK, everyone knows that.

However there is another feature which allows you to see traffic at different times of the day for different days of the week. For example, say it's 1PM on Tuesday and you are slacking in the office and you want to know what the traffic is like on Thursday evenings at 6PM. Go to the traffic tool and change the display to "Traffic at day and time". Pretty neat.

aliso viejo - Google Maps