Transit 101:
The How-to-Ride Guide
Angelenos Against Gridlock www.endinggridlock.org Get Around. Save Money. Save the Environment. Thinking of trying transit but dont know where to start? This guide will help you learn how to master Los Angeles subway, commuter rail, and bus systems. About Angelenos Against Gridlock: We believe the LA region deserves a fully built-out subway and light rail system, improvements in bike infrastructure and bike safety, fixes to gridlocked freeways and roads, high speed-rail, and other short- and long-term solutions and alternatives to the gridlocked status quo. Visit our blog at endinggridlock.org, follow us on Twitter at @EndingGridlock, and look for us in media outlets such as:
The Big Picture
Despite our reputation as a car-centered region, Los Angeles County actually has a wide range of transit options. The fact is that on an average weekday there are around two million transit trips on public transit systems run by Metro and other local municipal transit operators in LA County. We encourage you to try transit too! Its good for the environment, good for your pocketbook, and good for your blood pressureno more driving in gridlock. The options can be broadly divided up as follows: Subways, light rail trains and transitways. Run by Metro. Transit buses. At the daily peak, Metro has around 2,000 buses on the road. More than sixty local cities and regions also run their own bus systems, like the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. Commuter Rail (Metrolink). Big, infrequent commuter trains that travel large distances (e.g. San Bernardino to Los Angeles). Run by Metrolink. Commuter Buses and other options. Specialized commuter buses connect far-flung bedroom communities with job centers. Other options include ridesharing & vanpools, Access Services (for the disabled)and biking and walking!
Subways, Light Rail & Transitways
Subway: the Metro Red Line (running between Downtown LA Union Station and North Hollywood) and the Metro Purple Line (between Union Station and Wilshire/Western) share the same route for most of the way, but split off at Wilshire/Vermont. The Light Rail system consists of the following lines: Metro Blue Line (North-South route connecting Downtown L.A. and Long Beach, via South L.A.) Metro Green Line (mostly East-West route connecting Norwalk with This guide was produced independently of any transit agency, by Angelenos Against Gridlock, Redondo Beach, via South Los Angeles. and is made possible by a grant from Metro Gold Line (connecting Pasadena, downtown Los Angeles, and East the David Bohnett Foundation. Los Angeles in a C shaped line.
Metro Transitways: Metro Orange & Silver Lines Metro also includes bus transitways (also called Metro Liners on maps, and referred to as Bus Rapid Transit) on its Metro Rail map. These are actually buses, but they act a bit like rail routes they go on routes with fewer stops, often on a dedicated roadway only used by this bus, and like rail, you buy your fare (at a ticket machine at the station before boarding. Metro Orange Line: connecting the northern terminus of the Metro Red Line subway in North Hollywood with Warner Center in Woodland Hills, via an East-West dedicated transitway roadway. Metro Silver Line: connecting El Monte, downtown Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, and the Harbor Gateway area.
How to Ride Metro Rail
Once you have checked the system map at on the Metro.net website to see if a Metro rail line serves the route you want to take, verify the hours and frequency of the trains by viewing the timetables (online in PDF format), but generally, during operational hours, you can just head to the station without checking the timetables; a train should be along soon. (Keep an eye out to see if your station has TV monitors near the trains that display the next scheduled arrival times.) Near the station entrance, look for a farecard machine (a big ATM type machine) and buy a farecard (ticket) using cash or a credit card. As of August 2011, fares are $1.50 ($0.55 senior/disabled) for each train or bus boarding, generally regardless of the distance. (If you change trains or buses youll need to buy another ticket.) Day passes ($5) are also available that allow an unlimited number of trips (and make financial sense if you have four or more boardings), but you need a TAP card, a prepaid card you can reload/reuse (details at metro.net/around/fares & taptogo.net).
View full size maps and info at metro.net, or call 323.GO.METRO.
Currently, Metro is in the process of phasing in turnstile gates, and you currently if you have a paper farecard you just walk through the turnstiles (theyre unlocked), or if you have a TAP card you have to TAP it on the blue sensor on the turnstile. Metro sheriffs can demand to see your paper farecard or TAP card anytime (and you can be fined if you dont have a paper farecard or didnt tap your TAP card). As you head to the train platform, keep to the right on escalators if you want to stand (the left is for those in a hurry who want to walk and pass on the left). Then look for the signs listing the destination (last stop) of the train going in the direction you want to go, and wait there for the next train. Allow passengers on the train to exit first, and then walk on board, being sure not to get anything caught in the door as it closes. Its not like an elevator doorit will close on you. Grab a seat or hold on to a handlebar, and dont lean on the doors as the train makes its way. Youll whisk along many feet below the traffic gridlock above, and before you know it, youll be at your destination. As you exit, keep an eye open for possible signs (usually on lighted boards in the center of the platform) listing different station exits and explaining where each exit goes. You made it!
Buses: An Overview of the System
At any time, there may be as many as 2,000 Metro buses on the road, divided up into different set routes. Metro divides its lines into local buses (usually painted orange), which stop frequently, and faster Metro Rapid (usually red colored) express buses. For instance, on Wilshire Blvd, Metro runs the 20 local bus line, which has stops every couple blocks, as well as the 720 Rapid bus, which is significantly faster when going
long distances because it only stops at certain major intersections. The system is good for serving transit dependent riders, and Metro has many innovations that make riding the bus more pleasant, faster, and better. But the bus is still slower than rail, as it gets stuck in traffic, and makes many stops. Where Metro really shines, though, its participation in the NexTrip system (NextBus.com), which tracks buses using GPS and lets you know the real time the next bus is coming (not just the scheduled time, which frankly can be meaningless, due to traffic and other factors). There are also scores of bus lines run by smaller cities or regions (called municipal bus operators), which provide their own service. Their fares, system maps, timetables, and rules are separate and different. Examples range from the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus to LADOT (Los Angeles Dept. of Transportation)s DASH bus system. Some have tracking systems like NexTrip, too.
View full size maps and info at metro.net, or call 323.GO.METRO.
How to Find and Ride Buses
Figuring out what bus to take and when to take it can be mystifying. But dont fear, with this guide, you can do it! First, figure out what bus line(s) serve the route you need to take. The easiest and fastest way to do this is with Google Transit (http://transit.google.com) or Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/, just as you would with driving directions (but on the directions page, click , the transit icon). This will present you with several options and let you visualize the routes path. But while all Metro buses and a number of other bus lines are on Google Transit, many are not. For example, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus is on Google Transit, but Montebello Bus Lines is not. A more comprehensive source (but less user-friendly) is the trip planner on the Metro website, which has data from 69 transit operators. Its found either at http://www.metro.net or http://socaltransport.org/. Both Google and the Metro trip planners not only provide route information, but also pickup and arrival times. If you already know the route (e.g. Metro line 20), you can also manually view timetables & line route maps (in PDFs) on the transit providers website (e.g. Metro.net.) But keep in mind that the times in the timetables, Trip Planner, and on Google are all the scheduled times. Just as cars get stuck in traffic, so do buses. And frankly, waitingand waiting for the bus has been an all too common an experience for bus riders. Until now. A marvelous new system called NexTrip monitors actual bus locations using GPS and lets you know the actual bus arrival time. Its extraordinary. It only works for certain bus systems (e.g. for Metro but not Big Blue Bus). Go to their website on your desktop computer or smartphone at Nextbus.com, or call 511 and say NexTrip. Additional instructions can be found at metro.net/service/nextrip/. Back to how to use the bus: Unlike with Metro rail, you dont have to buy your fare before you board a bus you pay (by cash, not credit card) as you board. There will be a fare box by the driver, and you can insert dollar bills and coins but if you overpay you wont receive change, so try to carry exact change with you. Fares vary by operator; as of August 2011, Metro buses are $1.50. (You can also ask the driver or visit the transit agencys website for information on day passes, transfers, and the like. Metro and some other buses accept TAP cards.) Once youre onboard, there may or may not be audio or scrolling text announcements of upcoming bus stops. If theres not, keep an eye out, or tell your bus driver in advance to let you know when you reach your stop. If you see your stop is the next one, signal to the bus driver to stop by pulling on the yellow pull cord hanging along the windows & walls of the bus, or (on certain buses) by pressing one of the buttons mounted on the
metal handlebars on the aisle of the bus. Your fellow passengers or driver can point these out. This is importantthe bus will not stop unless requested. When exiting, try to use the rear doors.
Commuter Rail: Metrolink
Metrolink is a fantastic commuter train system (so long as their schedules work for you). Picture Amtrak type trains, except double decker, much nicer and more dependable to be on-time, and serving fixed routes such as San Bernardino to downtown Los Angeles and points in-between. Tickets are much more expensive than Metro subways, given the greater distances involved, and service is dramatically less frequent and hours limited. However, these double decker trains are an extremely pleasant way to get around. Prices vary by distance. Weekend passes are just $10. Metrolink routes include the 91 Line, Antelope Valley Line, Burbank-Bob Hope Airport, Inland Empire-Orange Co. Line, Orange County Line, Riverside Line, San Bernardino Line, and Ventura County Line. Because trains are infrequent (e.g. hourly), and many lines do not operate on weekends, you must plan your trip around the schedules, which are online. At the station, buy your ticket before boarding at a machine. An inspector onboard may demand to see it during travel.
View full size maps and info at metrolinktrains.com, or call Metrolink at 800-371-LINK.
Commuter Buses and Other Options
Several transit operators offer long distance commuter buses, which generally are on comfortable coaches. Check details online: LADOT Commuter Express: ladottransit.com/comexp City of Santa Clarita Commuter Express santaclaritatransit.com Antelope Valley Transit Commuter buses: avta.com Rideshare/Vanpool: share a car or van with other commuters. See metro.net/about/commute-services & commutesmart.info. Access Services (for the disabled): asila.org
Tips for Riding Transit
Bringing a music player & headphones, or something to read can make your ride more pleasant. Combining a bike with transit is a great way to get to the stop from your starting point. Most buses have racks for 2 or 3 bikes; see Metro/Metrolink websites for bike on rail details. Getting a TAP card can be a big help. But keep in mind these currently dont work on many municipal bus lines. Instead, more expensive EZ Passes cover a wider range of lines.
Need More Info? Metro.net is very helpful (or call 323.GO.METRO). Or call the 511 system (Go511.com). Want to Improve Things? These Groups Are Working to Improve Mobility in SoCal: Angelenos Against Gridlock (endinggridlock.org) (the publisher of this guide) Mobility 21 (mobility21.org) Fixing Angelenos Stuck in Traffic (fastla.org) Move LA (movela.org) The Transit Coalition (thetransitcoalition.us) Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (la-bike.org) Read transit news at thesource.metro.net, la.streetsblog.org, and at the Metro Librarys losangelestransportation.blogspot.com. And check out our blog at endinggridlock.org.
