Commuting by bike in LA? (Los Angeles, Santa Monica: lease, houses, neighborhoods)

[lekker]

Which neighborhoods in Los Angeles are the most bike friendly?

[Charles]

This is the best way to answer this question.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bi...a_bike_map.pdf

[lekker]

Originally Posted by Charles

This is the best way to answer this question.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bi...a_bike_map.pdf

This is great, thanks.

[BRinSM]

Originally Posted by lekker

Which neighborhoods in Los Angeles are the most bike friendly?

the neighborhood that is closest to your work

[Rocketed]

I've spent time riding and commuting in several areas. My favorite is Venice, Santa Monica area. For two reasons, the cooler temperatures, and the number of other outdoor-oriented people there. Also the beach trail can actually get you places except on weekends.

Here's some crude generalizations about other areas and the people who drive there:

Hollywood/West Hollywood - too many people on meth driving.

Brentwood/West LA - selfish, self asorbed, "I'm gonna let you know, I'm important" coked out a holes driving their leased cars in very violent fashion.

The Valley - too dang hot to ride most of the time! But also dangerous from too many women on their cell phones driving SUV's the size of a small houses. Several near-death experiences at the hands of above said women.

Silverlake - poor pavement conditions and steep hills, but OK people.

Beverly Center area - watch out for cabbies and aggressive men from the middle east.

Malibu - watch out for Nick Nolte and other washed up drunk actors behind the wheel.

Hope this offended at least on person without a sense of humor. And I hope this helps. I say Venice Beach - all the way! It's interesting to me that a stop light in that area, you can be stopped with up to 4 or 5 other cyclists. I was used to being the only bike at a red light.

[lekker]

Originally Posted by Rocketed

I've spent time riding and commuting in several areas. My favorite is Venice, Santa Monica area. For two reasons, the cooler temperatures, and the number of other outdoor-oriented people there. Also the beach trail can actually get you places except on weekends.

Here's some crude generalizations about other areas and the people who drive there:

Hollywood/West Hollywood - too many people on meth driving.

Brentwood/West LA - selfish, self asorbed, "I'm gonna let you know, I'm important" coked out a holes driving their leased cars in very violent fashion.

The Valley - too dang hot to ride most of the time! But also dangerous from too many women on their cell phones driving SUV's the size of a small houses. Several near-death experiences at the hands of above said women.

Silverlake - poor pavement conditions and steep hills, but OK people.

Beverly Center area - watch out for cabbies and aggressive men from the middle east.

Malibu - watch out for Nick Nolte and other washed up drunk actors behind the wheel.

Hope this offended at least on person without a sense of humor. And I hope this helps. I say Venice Beach - all the way! It's interesting to me that a stop light in that area, you can be stopped with up to 4 or 5 other cyclists. I was used to being the only bike at a red light.

Funny and good information. Exactly what I was looking for!

[absurd_planet]

Downtown los angeles is one of the best locations by far.

[lekker]

Can you take bikes on the metro downtown?

[uptown_urbanist]

Originally Posted by lekker

Can you take bikes on the metro downtown?

Yes. People wheel them on quite frequently. It can get crowded, and I'm not sure what the technical rules are, but people certainly do it. You can also take them on the bus; not on as in "in" the bus, but they have bike racks on the front of the buses where you can stick them while you're riding. Just make sure to tell the bus driver when you get off that you'll be getting your bike.

[Green Irish Eyes]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

You can also take them on the bus; not on as in "in" the bus, but they have bike racks on the front of the buses where you can stick them while you're riding. Just make sure to tell the bus driver when you get off that you'll be getting your bike.

The only caveat I'll add to this is that the buses can only carry, I believe, two bikes at a time. One day I was talking to someone at a bus stop, and she said she'd already had to let two or three buses go by because there wasn't room for her bike. Just plan ahead, I guess, and allow extra time in case you have to wait for a bus with an open bike rack.