There are visitors who successfully tour Los Angeles entirely by public transportation (I've met them both), but we can't honestly recommend that plan for most readers. L.A. is a metropolis that's grown up around -- and is best traversed by -- the automobile, and many areas are inaccessible without one. As a result, an overwhelming number of visitors rent a car for their stay. Still, if you're in the city for only a short time, are on a very tight budget, or don't expect to be moving around a lot, public transport might be for you.
The city's trains and buses are operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA; tel. 213/922-2000; www.mta.net), and MTA brochures and schedules are available at every area visitor center.
By Bus
Spread-out stops, sluggish service, and frequent transfers make extensive touring by bus impractical. For short hops and occasional jaunts, however, buses are economical and environmentally correct. However, we don't recommend riding buses late at night.
The basic bus fare is $1.35 for all local lines, with transfers costing 25¢. Express buses, which travel along the freeways, and buses on intercounty routes charge higher fares; phone for information.
The Downtown Area Short Hop (DASH) shuttle system operates buses throughout Downtown, Hollywood, and the Westside of L.A. Service runs every 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the time of day, and costs just 25¢. Contact the Dept. of Transportation (tel. 213/808-2273; www.ladottransit.com) for schedules and route information.
The Cityline shuttle is a great way to get around West Hollywood on weekdays (9am-4pm) and Saturday (10am-7:30pm). For 50¢ it'll take you to most of the major shops and restaurants throughout WeHo (very handy if you park your car in a flat-fee lot). For more information call tel. 800/447-2189.
By Rail & Subway
The MetroRail system is a sore subject around town. For years the MTA has been digging up the city's streets, sucking huge amounts of tax money, and pushing exhaust vents up through peaceful parkland -- and for what? Let's face it, L.A. will never have New York's subway or San Francisco's BART. Today, the system is still in its infancy, mainly popular with commuters from outlying suburbs. Here's an overview of what's currently in place:
The Metro Blue Line, an aboveground rail line, connects downtown Los Angeles with Long Beach. Trains operate daily from 6am to 9pm; the fare is $1.35.
The Metro Red Line, L.A.'s first subway, has been growing since 1993 and opened a highly publicized Hollywood-Universal City extension in 2000. The line begins at Union Station, the city's main train depot, and travels west underneath Wilshire Boulevard, looping north into Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. The fare is $1.35; discount tokens are available at Metro service centers and many area convenience stores.
The Metro Green Line, opened in 1995, runs for 20 miles along the center of the new I-105, the Glenn Anderson (Century) Freeway, and connects Norwalk in eastern Los Angeles County to LAX. A connection with the Blue Line offers visitors access from LAX to downtown L.A. or Long Beach. The fare is $1.35.
The new Metro Gold Line, which opened in July 2003, is a 13.7-mile link between Pasadena and Union Station in Downtown L.A. Stops include Old Pasadena, the Southwest Museum, and Chinatown. The fare is $1.35.
Weekly Metro passes are available for $11 at Metro Customer Centers and local convenience and grocery stores. For more information on public transportation -- including construction updates and details on purchasing tokens or passes -- call MTA at tel. 213/922-2000 or, better yet, log onto their handy website at www.mta.net.
Public Transport Tip -- The L.A. County Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) website, www.mta.net, provides all the practical information you need -- hours, routes, fares -- for using L.A.'s nearly invisible network of public transportation (buses, subways, light rail).
