Tourists planning a trip to Los Angeles should keep in mind that this city does not have the most convenient and efficient public transportation system. If the bus network serves almost all neighborhoods, you can’t say this about the subway, because it appeared relatively recently. Therefore you will have to spend quite a lot of time to see the main sights. Much of it will be spent waiting for a bus or train, and also to get to the right place from the stop.
The dominant mode of transportation in L.A. is cars. But despite one of the world’s most developed highway systems and multi-level interchanges, traffic congestion has become a big problem for the city. Still, renting a car is the best option for those who want to explore not only L.A., but also its surrounding areas.
Buses
Buses are one of the main forms of public transportation in Los Angeles. More than 1.3 million people use them every day. It’s a great option for tourists who can’t afford to rent a car. There are about 165 routes serving the city and surrounding areas. But keep in mind that each line has a different schedule for weekdays and weekends. Some buses run only during the day, while others run 24 hours a day, and the interval may vary from 5 to 120 minutes. Therefore, it is best to check the schedule of the routes you are interested in beforehand by following this link.
The bus network is coordinated by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Metro Bus (mass transit bus service) and Metro Busway (rapid transit bus service) are part of that network.
Metro
The subway in Los Angeles did not appear until 1990. Before that it was considered impossible to build a subway in such a seismically unfavorable area, but with the advent of innovative materials the problem was solved. Now, according to specialists, the underpass tunnels are one of the safest places during earthquakes.
The Los Angeles Metro Rail system consists of six lines.
The A (blue) line runs north-south, connecting Los Angeles and Long Beach. It has 22 stations, at some of them (7th Street/Metro Center, Pico and Grand) you can transfer to the J Line express bus.
B (red) line – runs between North Hollywood and Union Station. There are 14 stations on the 24.6 km route.
C (green) – connects Redondo Beach and Norwalk, but does not serve Downtown Los Angeles. It is the fastest light rail line in the city. It takes only 34 minutes for the trains to travel 31 km with 14 stops.
The D (purple) runs between downtown Los Angeles and Koreatown. The track length is 10.3 km and trains stop at 8 stations.
E (blue) – connects downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The length of the tracks is 21.1 km and the number of stations is 19.
L (gold) – runs from Azusa to East Los Angeles through downtown. There are 27 stations on the 47.8 km route.
Only two lines (B and D) are completely underground. The others (A, C, L and E) belong to the so called light rail which combines subway and streetcar functions. The total length of Metro Rail tracks is 134 km. Trains run from 05:00 to 00:00, but on weekends late trips are canceled – during this time is being cleaned. You can download route maps and timetables on the Metro website.
You can only pay for your metro fare with your TAP card. You must put it to the validator before entering the station. Metro inspectors periodically check passengers’ cards to make sure they have paid their fare.
Commuter trains
Commuter rail service in Los Angeles is provided by Metrolink. Union Station is the hub station for six of the carrier’s seven rail lines.
Cab
Taking a cab in Los Angeles is quite expensive. Most tourists prefer to ride in rented cars or public transportation. It’s hard to hail a cab on the street – there are cab stands only at the airports, train station, bus terminals and the port. It’s more reliable to order by phone or through a mobile app.
There are several cab companies in the city:
Checker;
Independent;
Yellow Cab;
Bell Cab;
Beverly Hills Cab;
LA City Cab.
In addition, you can use the services of network transportation companies, such as Lyft Pink, Opoli, and Uber.
Cab drivers work on a meter, and at the end of the trip the passenger is given a receipt. In addition to the fare for each mile traveled ($2.70), you must pay for getting into the car ($2.85) and for standing in traffic ($0.30 for every 37 seconds). If the driver has to wait for a passenger, this time is also charged ($29.19 per hour). Special rates apply to out-of-town trips and trips to airports. In addition, a tip of 10-20% is added to the bill. Payment is possible both in cash and by card.