How has the traffic in L.A. affected your life? (house prices, safe neighborhoods)

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Are there things you would like to do if it weren't for the traffic?

Do you try to keep your life within a 5- or 10-mile radius of where you live?

Are there friends or family you don't see often because of the traffic?

In my thread asking for the first five words that come to mind when you think about L.A., traffic was easily the word that was mentioned the most often.

So, how has traffic in L.A. affected your life?

[LALady]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

Are there things you would like to do if it weren't for the traffic?

Do you try to keep your life within a 5- or 10-mile radius of where you live?

Are there friends or family you don't see often because of the traffic?

In my thread asking for the first five words that come to mind when you think about L.A., traffic was easily the word that was mentioned the most often.

So, how has traffic in L.A. affected your life?

I live as close to work as I can afford. Traffic affects my life by taking away approximately 2 hours per work day.

[lamexican]

how has traffic in L.A. affected your life?[/quote]
I moved to NY! Isold my car and take public transportation and couldn't be happier about it!

[BennyPhoenix]

My job involves quite a bit of driving. The traffic has made me noticably less productive in the past 10 years. I am forced to plan my drives better, but some fwys and roads have traffic from 6am to 10pm and no amount of planning can avoid that.

[majoun]

When I DO move back, the traffic will definitely keep me east of the 405.

Traffic is the main reason why I wouldn't live west of the 405 despite some neighborhoods that I really like being to the west of the 405 and other neighborhoods that I might not be fond of but which many people here would be.

[rebagirl]

Traffic definitely affected my husband on a daily basis. Although we only lived 19 miles from his work, it took him anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 1 3/4 hours for him to get home. When he'd get home, his face had an ashen look to it, and he was just completely exhausted.

We also noticed that within the last 10 years or so the term "rush hour" no longer applies to L.A. The traffic is horrendous at all hours. It didn't used to be this way, but now there just isn't any time of day when you don't either sit for awhile or move at about 15-20 MPH. Any of you ever seen the movie "Office Space"? The scene of the old guy with a walker passing up cars on the freeway is hilarious--mainly because it's really not all that far-fetched.

Traffic was one of the reasons we chose to leave (along with smog, overall congestion, unsafe neighborhoods, illegals everywhere and graffiti.)

I know some of you who have your hearts set on moving to L.A. may think I'm just exaggerating or am overly negative. What I write is based on having been born and raised in So. Cal (44 years) and (in my opinion) watching it deteriorate. It truly makes me sad, but I don't see a "light at the end of the tunnel" for L.A. It's going to take some kind of miracle.

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by rebagirl

I know some of you who have your hearts set on moving to L.A. may think I'm just exaggerating or am overly negative. What I write is based on having been born and raised in So. Cal (44 years) and (in my opinion) watching it deteriorate. It truly makes me sad, but I don't see a "light at the end of the tunnel" for L.A. It's going to take some kind of miracle.

I used to think there was something wrong with me because I didn't have the patience for the traffic in L.A., but I'm seeing more and more people saying that they've had enough and that they can't take it anymore. It makes me feel better.

I think there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, but it's so far off, most of us will be dead before it's reached.

[Charles]

There is a bright side, or a light at the end of the tunnel:

First, things will eventually get better, the job situation will improve and stock prices will go up. You got hammered. I got hammered. We all got hammered.
Second, housing prices in LA are falling and falling; a lot of people think one day LA house prices will approach the levels consistent with the income models. Two years from now may be a Southern California Renaissance.
Third, traffic is a problem if you don't live near your home and you work normal hours. Flexing your time an hour makes a big difference. I still do this even in trafficless Huntsville; start at 6 and get out around 330 (having spent my lunch hour and a half at the gym). Gives me the rest of the day to run an errand or coach my kid's soccer team.

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by Charles

There is a bright side, or a light at the end of the tunnel:

First, things will eventually get better, the job situation will improve and stock prices will go up. You got hammered. I got hammered. We all got hammered.
Second, housing prices in LA are falling and falling; a lot of people think one day LA house prices will approach the levels consistent with the income models. Two years from now may be a Southern California Renaissance.
Third, traffic is a problem if you don't live near your home and you work normal hours. Flexing your time an hour makes a big difference. I still do this even in trafficless Huntsville; start at 6 and get out around 330 (having spent my lunch hour and a half at the gym). Gives me the rest of the day to run an errand or coach my kid's soccer team.

Maybe I'm dense, but:

1. I don't see how an improving job situation will help the traffic problems.

2. I don't see how falling housing prices will help the traffic problems.

3. I'm lucky, but most people can't limit themselves only to jobs available near their homes. Sometimes people lose their jobs, or want a better job.

I guess if you limit your life to a 5- or 10-mile radius around where you live, it helps, but what's the point of living in a giant metropolis when you do that? You may as well live in a small city.

I'm not whining. I'm just putting up some arguments for debate - although I do believe in what I've said.

Feel free to attack me.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale

Maybe I'm dense, but:

1. I don't see how an improving job situation will help the traffic problems.

2. I don't see how falling housing prices will help the traffic problems.

3. I'm lucky, but most people can't limit themselves only to jobs available near their homes. Sometimes people lose their jobs, or want a better job.

I guess if you limit your life to a 5- or 10-mile radius around where you live, it helps, but what's the point of living in a giant metropolis when you do that? You may as well live in a small city.

I'm not whining. I'm just putting up some arguments for debate - although I do believe in what I've said.

Feel free to attack me.

You're right...I went off on a tangent....however other posts prior to mine did mention these things.