Rode the Red Line on Sunday. Never again! (San Diego, San Francisco: low income, income)

[jm1982]

I've taken the red line , goldline and blue .
Worst was the Blue , then red then gold . Just in my experience though .

I have taken the subway in NYC too . Most memorable was a homeless guy that smelled really really bad . Everyone was covering their noses and waiting to get over to another train car

Took the subway( Le metro ) in Paris every day multiple times and didn't really experience any crazies or bad smells . People get generally seemed more civilized . But they could be rude in certain ways like bumping into you or trying to cut you in lines
Didn't have any issues on the metro though .

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by SandyCo

I realize that the traffic in L.A. is only going to get worse, and that public transportation is supposed to magically save us.

However, I will never ride the Red Line subway ever again. Why? Because it smelled so bad, like old urine and sweat. On our way to Pershing Square from North Hollywood to go to a restaurant close by, there was a guy spread across two seats who looked like he was sleeping except for his death grip on a plastic-encased pastry he had bought.

I have no idea what the subways are like in other cities, but this is a disgrace. I can live with graffiti etched into the backs of the seats in front of me, but that smell almost made me sick. Can't the city do better than this?

I think you should give it another chance, I have taken both the Gold Line and the Red Line and have had no issues, and believe me I don't like bad smelling environments....LOL.

I grew up in NY and even as kid I thought the subways were awful, back than they were covered in graffiti and miserable in the summer.

The LA subways are a cakewalk and very clean compared to NYC.

[NyWriterdude]

I have seen where bums have taken a dump on the NYC subway. If you see an empty subway car during rush hours while the rest of the train is crowded, it is usually because of a homeless person or persons who smell so bad nobody wants to be in the car with them.

This problem with public transportation is definitely present in other cities, especially NYC.

[jm1982]

Yeah I'm not sure what the solution is. It seems that the homeless have discovered everything public.
Public transportation, public parks, public libraries.

But I think even if something is public, there should be certain rules that should be obeyed.

I know for a long time people were getting away with not even paying for public transit in L.A..I don't know if that's still happening.
If the homeless are getting on they should at least be paying their way.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by jamills21

Never take the train in NYC, CHI, or any major metro in the U.S. if this bothers you.

If? Why under any circumstances would anybody not be bothered by it?

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by majoun

Especially driving west of Fairfax (the more money and the closer to the ocean, the worse the drivers are)

I know the type, but keep in mind they're not really representative of actual Americans.

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by majoun

I know there are hassles and issues with public transportation here - still safer than driving, and they'd have to be way more dangerous for the dangers to be on the same level as the dangers of driving. Especially driving west of Fairfax (the more money and the closer to the ocean, the worse the drivers are)

Yeah true. I see accidents pretty much everyday driving in L.A
The other day driving in the Hancock Park area , I saw a FOUR car pile up..on city streets.
That's the first time I saw something like that and I've lived in L.A my whole life. One thing to see it on the freeway , but another to see it on the city streets.

There are definately a lot of crazy driving on the Westside...but also Hollywood too. The valley doesn't have as many crazy drivers besides on Ventura Blvd in Studio City people seem to drive really fast and some crazies in Glendale...but Burbank, Woodland Hills, and most of the rest of the valley just don't have the same aggression level it seems.

It's amazing how much risk people will take with their own lives and the lives of others just to "get there faster".

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

I rode the BART with my dtr. & SIL, who takes it to work every day...horrible, nasty. I think the only thing that saves him is that he's a big, tall guy that no one messes with & his employer pays for it. I remember when the BART was new, it was nice.

The NYC subway was downright scary...yikes.

Cleanest & most safe, at least for me, was London's tube.

[jm1982]

I just find it hard to believe the fantasy that Westsiders will give up their Priuses, Teslas,Mercedes and other vehicles to ride the subway.
Especially if the Westside lines are going to have the same 'standards' as the other lines.
It's different in a city like NYC where it's been multiple generations that have grown up and used the subway.
It's going to be a brand new thing for Westsiders.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by jm1982

I just find it hard to believe the fantasy that Westsiders will give up their Priuses, Teslas,Mercedes and other vehicles to ride the subway.
Especially if the Westside lines are going to have the same 'standards' as the other lines.
It's different in a city like NYC where it's been multiple generations that have grown up and used the subway.
It's going to be a brand new thing for Westsiders.

Considering where a lot of those Westsiders are from though, it shouldn't be....