‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: John Moss
Occupation: Unemployed
Location: Santa Monica

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Daily. For job hunting, medical appointments, social outings, shopping – pretty much everything.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Between Hollywood and Santa Monica. Occasionally other parts of the county.

What lines/routes do you take?

Metro: 704, 4, 720, 920, 217, 780, Red Line, 305, 2

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus: 1, 5, 10

How long does it typically take?

30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I deal with it.

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$50 – $100

Why do you take transit?

Don’t have a car, and even if I did, driving in LA is too stressful. It’s far cheaper to take transit, and despite its flaws, it gets me where I need to go.

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‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: John Y.
Occupation: Law Clerk
Location: San Gabriel Valley

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Monday through Friday to get to work and back.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

I board at El Monte Station and travel to the Civic Center in downtown Los Angeles.

What lines/routes do you take?

I take the Metro Silver Line.

How long does it typically take?

Excluding time spent waiting for the bus, it takes between 15 minutes (on good days) to 25 minutes to reach my destination.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I deal with it.

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$100 – $300

Why do you take transit?

It cuts down on gas use (helps the environment and our nation’s trade imbalance) and reduces the stress of sitting through rush hour traffic. Plus, if I do manage to grab a seat, I can read for the duration of my commute.

Continue reading →

‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Updated 11am 9/27/10 – I mixed up the responses in the “Other Transportation” section. They’ve been corrected and now represent Alex’s answers.

Who You Are:

Name: Alex Boekelheide
Occupation: Director, Online & Print Communications, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism
Location: North Hollywood

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

I take transit to and from work 5 days a week (with the occasional car day for special trips). I also use transit on the weekends if it’s convenient, or I ride my bike, but that’s not very much.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

From my home in North Hollywod to my work at USC in Expo Park.

What lines/routes do you take?

I ride my bike from my house to the North Hollywood Red Line station (about 1.2 miles). Then I take my bike on the train and disembark downtown at 7th/Metro. I then hop back on my bike and ride the final 3 miles to campus. At the end of the day I do the same in reverse.

How long does it typically take?

Anywhere from 40 minutes to 75 minutes, but most often my trip is about 50 minutes door-to-door.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I love it!

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$50 – $100

Why do you take transit?

I take transit for all kinds of reasons! I love the chance to read and let my mind wander during my commute. I love the 40-plus minutes of exercise I’ve built in to my daily routine. I love seeing the variety of Los Angeles in my fellow subway riders. I love riding by the construction for the Expo Line and checking to see how it’s doing. I love being free to set my own pace as I get to work, rather than sitting behind the wheel of my car stuck on a freeway. I love being able to go against the grain in a city where everyone is expected to drive everywhere. I love how taking transit forces me to integrate myself with the physicality of Los Angeles, allowing me to see how this city depends on the interconnectedness of its systems and its people.

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‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: Peter Elder
Occupation: Accounts Payable Clerk
Location: West Hollywood

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Every morning and evening to get to work, and some weekends to go out to the bars in Silverlake… love that the 4 runs 24 hours!

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

West Hollywood to Santa Monica.

What lines/routes do you take?

704 and 4. 720 if I’m making a stop in Westwood.

How long does it typically take?

30 minutes in the morning, an hour in the evening going to and from work.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I deal with it.

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

$50 – $100

Why do you take transit?

Save money and help the environment, and because I got sick of maintaining my car and paying for insurance.

Continue reading →

‘Why You Ride (or Don’t Ride)‘ is a series where you, our faithful readers, share your transportation routines in L.A. and your thoughts on how to make things better – read more about the concept here.

Want to share your story? Take the survey here if you ride transit regularly, or take this one if you don’t ride.

Who You Are:

Name: Jung Gatoona
Occupation: Student
Location: Downtown L.A.

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

I’m car-free 100%, so I take transit all the time, and because of that there isn’t a day when I’m not on a bus or train. I take transit to get to school, to visit my family, to go grocery shopping, to meet up with friends, to explore Los Angeles, and to simply just live life.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

I end up going all over Southern California via transit, but I always start my commute from Downtown Los Angeles. Living in Downtown has its benefits when it comes to getting around without a car, and I love the fact I live right next to a subway station.

What lines/routes do you take?

Red Line, Purple Line, Blue Line, Green Line, Gold Line, Rapid 720, Rapid 733, BBB 10, BBB 7, 420, Metrolink Orange County Line, and more.

How long does it typically take?

Depending on where I go, it can take me on average 10 minutes or 3 hours. Sure transit can be a bit more time consuming than driving around, but I love each second I’m waiting at a stop, or when I’m on a bus or train. I always catch up on the latest news, my emails or social networking thanks to not having to focus on driving.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?

I love it!

On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?

Less than $50

Why do you take transit?

I take transit not because I have to, but because I love to. Sure it helps me save a ridiculous amount of money, but to me it’s more than that. To me, taking transit is a passion, a way of life I really enjoy.

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