IS the LA subway system up the to point where I can go anywhere to the city with it? (live, buses)

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by calipoppy

Quite honestly I will never get those "few" LA people who take public transportation telling those not-in-the-know about LA that they will be OK taking public transportation to get around the city because it just simply is not convenient for the majority of people in greater LA...or else more people would use it.

If you are planning to visit LA...plan on renting a car or else you will feel "stuck" wherever you are. If you ask the average Angeleno "what bus to take to get where" most people are going to look at you like you have three heads and shrug their shoulders in confusion at the possibility of even trying to answer the question.

The trains (I don't really take the busses anymore) are often packed with these 'few' Angelenos you refer to. And, if you are visiting the City and plot out where you want to visit, yes, perhaps you can hit alot of these places with rail and the occasional busride. It's not a complete transit system- far from it. But you CAN hit Pasadena, Hollywood, downtown and areas in-between for $5 a day.

It's a disservice NOT to let visitors know they have options.

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

Cold? In LA? It rarely even gets below freezing there.

It does get very cold at night here on some days, especially when it's windy.

[punkrocker27ka]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

What is the difference between a "line" and a "transitway"? Anyone know?

The Orange Line isn't a subway at all. It is a bus rapid transit system so they labeled it as a transitway. Also because it has right of way until Warner Center.

[MIKEETC]

I say "mix-it up", i.e. rent a car for a couple of days and then take mass transit a couple of days. See which is preferable. Also, tailor your trip around whatever sights are best reached by the method of transport you choose.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by calipoppy

We love our cars way too much in LA to EVER have a comprehensive public transportation system.

And frankly, we don't understand people who keep asking about it, either. I mean, I hop in the car to drive to my gym which really is walking distance. The last time I used public transportation I think I was about 15(and that was ONLY because I wasn't old enough to drive yet)

My cousin has two cars, just in case one is in the shop (and she isn't the only Angeleno who does this)

Public transportation in LA is for children, people who for whatever reason physically can not drive, the extremely poor and/or the extremely eldery.

When gas hits $10 a gallon, would you still feel the same way? How about 20 dollars? Time for us Californians to demand better public transportation options so that we can function without cars. At the rate we are going, only the rich would be able to afford to drive!

[Sorcerer68]

The trains are packed right now. I've ridden them since they opened the Red Line in 1995.

It's amazing what the high price of gas will do to rid people of their SUV's and get more Angelenos to ride PT. I go about business as usual. Tomorrow I'll take the Red Line to Union Station, have my coffee and (sensational!) bagel at Union Bagel and then hop on the Gold Line to my office in Old Pas. I've been doing this since I returned last year.

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by calipoppy

We love our cars way too much in LA to EVER have a comprehensive public transportation system.


Public transportation in LA is for children, people who for whatever reason physically can not drive, the extremely poor and/or the extremely eldery.

I'm not a child, I drive just fine (BMW convertible, Mercedes E Class), I'm DEFINITELY not poor and if you call 39 elderly, so be it.

I can get Downtown in 13 minutes and not have to pay $14 for parking. I can get to Universal Citywalk in 11 minutes and not have to pay for parking either. I have a lovely ride to Pasadena and usually do some reading along the way. I'm not forced to do it but it saves gas, I get reading done and have nice scenery on the Gold Line.

Conspicuous consumption went out in the 80's. I ride the train (once in a blue moon the bus) when I feel like it and especially when I have a great parking space and don't want to lose it (Los Feliz).

Transplants have no issues with the trains, they just wish there were more. As a native Angeleno, I'm one of the rare ones to think this way and we're getting rare period. It seems most of the people I talk to lately come from this-or-that square state.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by Sorcerer68

I'm not a child, I drive just fine (BMW convertible, Mercedes E Class), I'm DEFINITELY not poor and if you call 39 elderly, so be it.

I can get Downtown in 13 minutes and not have to pay $14 for parking. I can get to Universal Citywalk in 11 minutes and not have to pay for parking either. I have a lovely ride to Pasadena and usually do some reading along the way. I'm not forced to do it but it saves gas, I get reading done and have nice scenery on the Gold Line.

Conspicuous consumption went out in the 80's. I ride the train (once in a blue moon the bus) when I feel like it and especially when I have a great parking space and don't want to lose it (Los Feliz).

Transplants have no issues with the trains, they just wish there were more. As a native Angeleno, I'm one of the rare ones to think this way and we're getting rare period. It seems most of the people I talk to lately come from this-or-that square state.

You hit it ON THE NOSE. And I'm 49, take the train, work downtown, ride a bike sometimes. And the trains here are quite clean when compared to London and Boston.

Come to think of it, most of the people I see on the trains are neither kids nor elderly. Where do these 'facts' come from?

[skreem2]

Here's another AMEN in favor of public transportation in LA. I live in Hollywood, very near the Red Line which opens up many opportunities of mobility using trains and express buses. I can fairly easily get to the Valley, downtown, Mid-Wilshire, and the East LA area where I teach high school. The beach communities are still not very accessible. I've used public transportation for over 15 years.

My teacher friends and students marvel at my use of the train and bus, as if it were a herculean sacrifice on my part. I wish I could say that I did this out of some desire to be ecological or socially astute. No, I just HATE to drive in Los Angeles, I mean, truly and deeply hate the sudden cut-offs in traffic and the bleating horns and the middle fingers with epithets.

Another subtle advantage is the "entertainment" that comes with public transportation. How many of you have seen the blind man who pulls out his glass eye as a pity ploy and speaks beautiful fluent Spanish and English? How about the old hippie who strums his guitar and sings Bob Dylan songs with his hat on the floor for coins? Or the Candy salesman who scotch tapes candy bars to the inside of his "flasher" coat and then opens it up to display his merchandise? There's also the prophetess who rides the Red line regularly. She often wears a white veil and enters the train praying in Spanish loudly. Anyone who dares to twitter is met with a pointed finger and call to repent. She will then let people know what Jesus is telling her to say to them. "Jesus is telling me that you need to turn from your sexual habits. You need to fast and pray." On party nights (Friday, Saturday) the late night trains are surreal. It's like Halloween in June.

[katenik]

Originally Posted by skreem2

Here's another AMEN in favor of public transportation in LA. I live in Hollywood, very near the Red Line which opens up many opportunities of mobility using trains and express buses. I can fairly easily get to the Valley, downtown, Mid-Wilshire, and the East LA area where I teach high school. The beach communities are still not very accessible. I've used public transportation for over 15 years.

My teacher friends and students marvel at my use of the train and bus, as if it were a herculean sacrifice on my part. I wish I could say that I did this out of some desire to be ecological or socially astute. No, I just HATE to drive in Los Angeles, I mean, truly and deeply hate the sudden cut-offs in traffic and the bleating horns and the middle fingers with epithets.

Another subtle advantage is the "entertainment" that comes with public transportation. How many of you have seen the blind man who pulls out his glass eye as a pity ploy and speaks beautiful fluent Spanish and English? How about the old hippie who strums his guitar and sings Bob Dylan songs with his hat on the floor for coins? Or the Candy salesman who scotch tapes candy bars to the inside of his "flasher" coat and then opens it up to display his merchandise? There's also the prophetess who rides the Red line regularly. She often wears a white veil and enters the train praying in Spanish loudly. Anyone who dares to twitter is met with a pointed finger and call to repent. She will then let people know what Jesus is telling her to say to them. "Jesus is telling me that you need to turn from your sexual habits. You need to fast and pray." On party nights (Friday, Saturday) the late night trains are surreal. It's like Halloween in June.

your last paragraph sums up beautifully why i want nothing to do with public transportation.