What are some WALKABLE and public transportation-full (or at least kinda walkable) areas to live NEAR L.A. (safe too)? (Los Angeles: apartment, for rent)

[Ennea4]

Which walkable cities/communities could you just take a quick airplane flight too and be in L.A.?

besides san francisco (I've been to SF many times and I personally wouldn't want to live there)

I'm asking this because jobs are still hard to come by in Los Angeles. I lived in L.A. for a little while last year, but then I moved back home (to the midwest), but I saved up money and now I'm ready to try moving back to the L.A. area again. Incase I don't find sufficient employment there again (a job above minimum wage), I'd rather move to a city that is at least somewhat CLOSE to L.A. (as opposed to the Midwest, which is NOT close to L.A.), so that I can easily take day trips there at least once a month.

Last time I was in L.A., I didn't have a car. And I got around just fine. I made it to all my interviews and everything (using a little public transportation, and a little walking).
So where ever I move to, I want it to be an area where I can do the same thing - get by using public transportation and walking or biking. I want to know what other cities/communities I could do that in. Because I won't have a car. So THEN, my plan is... once I have a steady job established, I could move closer to that job. And then save up money to visit L.A. frequently.

Obviously my number one goal would be to get a job in L.A. But I won't have much time there before I run out of money (if I don't land a job). Without a job, I'd be able to live there for about 3 months. With a minimum wage job, maybe 4 months. But I'd definitely run out of money if I'm spending it on L.A.-Westside-expensive rent and food, and only have a minimum wage job.

Thus, I want to know what to do incase a Plan B is needed. I wouldn't want to move back home again. I'd want to move to a city that is closer to L.A. than my Midwest hometown. And a place where I could get around without a car (then I'd save money to spend on transportation and motels in L.A. when traveling there on weekends once a month). Of course, this goes without saying that this 'place' would cost a lot less than L.A. (or have better job opportunities), making it do-able for me to make a living. I just want an apartment with my own room in a walkable community. That's all I ask for. Oh, aNd in a warm climate.

Thank you in advance!

[bhcompy]

Coastal Long Beach(Downtown, Belmont Shore, etc) would be one of the first places I'd look. Well located for jobs, cheaper than LA/Westside, local public transport(LBT) and area public transport(Metro Rail), safe, walkable, etc. That said, it's relative. You said "close" identifying as a close flight for a day trip. The budget may still not work in Long Beach because it's not that much cheaper than LA.

[richie894]

Irvine? I think it was recently voted one of the safest places to live to the USA.

[saybanana]

Las Vegas is a quick flight and is walkable if you live and work near the strip.

[Mike121]

Originally Posted by richie894

Irvine? I think it was recently voted one of the safest places to live to the USA.

Irvine is not at all walkable. It is very spread out. And it has poor bus service. It does have decent bike lanes, so you might be able to make due on a bike.

[pwright1]

Surely you can find a place between downtown Los Angeles and the beach somewhere off of Wilshire, Santa Monica, Olympic and Pico Boulevards.

[bhcompy]

Originally Posted by Mike121

Irvine is not at all walkable. It is very spread out. And it has poor bus service. It does have decent bike lanes, so you might be able to make due on a bike.

Irvine is huge, so yes, it is not walkable as a city, but there are plenty of completely walkable neighborhoods, particularly in the northwest portion of the city. Up and down Jamboree the apts and condos(that are full of young professionals) are very close to entertainment, shopping of all sorts(grocery and otherwise), and dining(including those open very late to serve those young people). As far as public transportation, there is a stop right around Alton and Jamboree for the bus(15minute intervals I believe) that goes to the train, which goes right into downtown LA.

[Ennea4]

Okay, what else?

[hockfan86]

Irvine is not cheap, which he requested. I am paying far less for rent in LA than I was in Irvine. Irvine is cheaper than some of the upscale west side neighborhoods, but not by much.

[windnsea00]

Well, there are areas of San Diego that are definitely walkable if being ~100+ miles away isn't too far. For instance I live in downtown so I can walk the whole downtown/gaslamp, bay front, east village, little italy, bankers hill, balboa park and even mission hills/hillcrest and golden hill/south park if I want a bit more of exercise. A lot of young people live in North Park/South Park and get around by bike to many of the areas I mentioned.

There are also the beach communities such as ocean beach, mission beach, pacific beach, encinitas, etc. that are walkable.