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  Public Transport in Los Angeles

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Transportation
Guide to Public Transport in Los Angeles

Cheaper by far than taking a cab, a journey anywhere in the city by rail or bus on the LA Metro public transport system will cost you USD1.25 (plus an extra 25 cents for a "transfer ticket" if you have to change to a municipal bus).

There are additionally a number of reduced-price passes available. A weekly ticket costs USD14 but is valid only between a Sunday and the following Saturday, not for seven days from purchase. A better bet is the day pass, which costs USD3 and allows unlimited travel within the city. Alternatively, you can buy ten single-trip tokens for USD11, saving 15 cents on each ticket. You can buy passes and tickets on board buses or at rail stations, and at a number of convenience stores.

Bus
In LA people will think you're crazy if you choose to take the bus voluntarily as a tourist. Buses are often considered the transport of choice only for "people too poor to own a car" or commuters.

That said, the bus system is excellent all over the city and, although the buses are often dirty on the outside, inside they are cool, clean and safe.

Train
Los Angeles urban train system is not as recommended as the bus network - the graffiti has often got inside as well as out and the train, for one reason or another, is not always the most pleasant option. Additionally the train doesn't run to either Santa Monica or West Hollywood (everyone there has cars) which makes it of limited use to tourists.

Amtrak links Los Angeles with the rest of the USA. Trains leave from Union Station (Downtown) for San Francisco, Chicago and other destinations nationwide.

Driving
If you take into account the American love affair with the automobile, LA is the most romantic city on earth. Consequently driving in the city appears to be a nightmare of congestion, pollution and bad tempers, but it is also a unique experience that shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. Let's face it you can't drive down Hollywood Boulevard or the Sunset Strip anywhere else in the world (until they build them in Vegas anyway).

For the city's inhabitants driving is the only practical way to get around LA. For the tourist it is often an initially unappealing prospect, but a private vehicle will save you vast amounts of time and effort getting around. In the hills and along the coast, driving is undeniably very pleasant. Avoid downtown and the main crosstown arteries during rush hour and you might even wonder what all the fuss is about.

Freeways, though, can be a daunting experience at any time. Traffic moves fast and close together in one of the most congested multiple lane highways in the world. Keep calm and keep up and you should be OK. Look out for the lanes marked with diamonds rather than lines. These are the car-share lanes and traffic with less than a certain number of passengers (look for the signs) aren't allowed to drive in them.

A valid national driver's licence is all that is needed to drive in the USA but you should ensure you carry this and your passport/ID with you at all times you are driving a car. It is compulsory to wear a seatbelt at all times. Driving is on the right hand side. All road signs and speed restrictions are posted in miles. The speed limit is 55-65mph (88-104km per hour) on highways, 35-40mph (56km per hour-64km per hour) in built up areas, and 15-25mph (24-40km per hour) in residential areas. Habitually the traffic on LA freeways will flow at five to ten miles an hour over the speedlimit, but any more than this, or if you are going visibly faster than the traffic flow, you risk being pulled for speeding.

Never underestimate the vigilance of traffic cops in LA and drive carefully as getting pulled over can be a genuinely frightening experience. It might sound like the movies but police are armed and you should obey their instructions immediately and without making any sudden moves.

Parking is generally expensive in the metropolitan area and popular destinations. Note that parking is restricted on streets during street cleaning. Check street signs for details of when this occurs in each area.

Car rentals are available at the airport as well as all over the city and rates are relatively reasonable. If you want a car it makes sense to arrange your rental beforehand and obtain the car immediately on arrival.

Click Here to find great deals on car hire in Los Angeles.

Taxis
If you forego a car the cab is the natural choice of transport for tourists. However, be aware that chronic traffic and the sheer size of the city means that they are a very expensive means of getting around. It is amazingly easy to rack up a USD40-50 fare just crossing the city.

Cabs in the city are reasonably plentiful, although not as numerous as in New York, and you can have some difficulty obtaining one at peak times especially if you're outside the main centres of the city. The most common are coloured green or yellow, or black with white bonnets (or hoods in American parlance). Whatever, registered cabs will have their plate (the LA Taxicab seal) clearly visible and all will have a tariff of prices displayed in the cab or on the door.

Ranks are dotted around the city and although you are not meant to hail cabs on the street, in practice an empty cab will often stop if you stick your arm out. Most reasonably sized hotels will have one or two cabs parked permanently in the car park, and the larger hotels often have a rank outside. If there isn't a cab outside when you need one, the concierge at a hotel should be able to obtain one for you.

In smaller hotels concierges may talk you into taking a "Town Car" or "Limo" rather than a cab, and assure you the price won't be any different. The car will almost certainly be unlicensed and you'll be overcharged for the ride by one of the concierge's mates. Although it is fun to take a limousine now and then, for everyday journeys you're better advised to take a taxi. It's cheaper and all cabs are large, comfy and air-conditioned anyway so you're not missing out on much.

 

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