Why You Ride: ES, Koreatown

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: ES
Occupation: Analyst
Location: Koreatown

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

To and from work, everyday.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

From Koreatown to Santa Monica all the way to Ocean Ave.

What lines/routes do you take?

920/720. [Editors note: the 920 is no longer in service as of 12/12/10.]

How long does it typically take?

40-50 minutes in the morning; 50-60 minutes in the afternoon.

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?

Less than $50

Why do you take transit?

Save money, avoid stress in finding a parking spot when driving, go green.

Continue reading

Why You Don't Ride: NRH, Westlake

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: NRH
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
Location: Westlake

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

During the week I drive 0.6 miles to work and back and on the weekends I commute to Whittier. I often take spur of the moment trips to the valley or Long Beach to meet friends.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Traveling to work, to see my mother, or to meet up with friends.

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

1

How long does your commute typically take?

7 minutes.

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

I hate it. There has to be a better way.

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

$100 – $300

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

Sometimes I walk to work.

Why do you drive?

I drive because it’s convenient, despite having a gas-hog, high-maintenance old minivan. I can choose when I want to travel, where I want to travel, and with a smartphone to map my way, I don’t need to plan ahead.

Continue reading

Why You Ride: Manny T, Studio City

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: Manny T
Occupation: Talent Management Assistant
Location: Studio City

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Everyday to and from work and to bars if I’m going out in Hollywood or near me in the Valley. Only and idiot risks a DUI.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Studio City to Hollywood/West Hollywood.

What lines/routes do you take?

218 is the line I take most. The 750, 150 and Red Line combo are the second most traveled.

How long does it typically take?

218 takes 15 minutes or less normally. 150-Red Line to Hollywood/Vine can take as little as 20 minutes if the stars are aligned properly.

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?

Saves money, I can sleep or read instead of stress other idiots in traffic. Also, again it makes a good designated driver if you are going out to bars near home but not near enough to walk.

Continue reading

Why You Don't Ride: J, Los Angeles

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: J
Occupation: Environmental Planner (Air Quality Specialist)
Location: Los Angeles

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

Five days a week to commute work.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Mount Washington to Culver City.

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

1

How long does your commute typically take?

40 minutes.  Music keeps me sane(ish).

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

I hate it. There has to be a better way.

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

$100 – $300

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

I ride bikes and use transit for non-commute purposes.

Why do you drive?

I used to be able to take transit regularly, but due to a recent work change I now work at an office that would take considerably longer to get to via transit.  Everyday when I look in my wallet and see my TAP card with no passes on it, it bums me out.  Luckily, there’s an Expo station going up across the street!  Danga excited.  Yep, danga.

Continue reading

Why You Ride: Monica Waggoner, Atwater Village

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: Monica Waggoner
Occupation: Grant Writer
Location: Atwater Village

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

I take transit to work sometimes; we’re a one-car family, so if my husband needs the car, I ride the bus to work.  He has a shorter commute, so usually he buses and I drive.

We also use transit for recreation at times too; he might drop me and our older son off at the movies, and we’ll take the bus home while he and our younger son go do the shopping.  Or we’ll all use it to go do holiday shopping or other events where the car is an encumbrance.

When we have out-of-town guests, we usually take them on the Gold Line and use the Red Line to show them Hollywood.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

From home to work Downtown on Skid Row (my husband takes the bus to Downtown Glendale); also from home to the Americana or Hollywood.

What lines/routes do you take?

The 92 goes almost everywhere we need to.  We also use the 180/181 sometimes.

How long does it typically take?

It usually takes me 45-50 minutes door-to-door if I’m using the bus to get to and from work.  For my husband, his work commute takes more like 30-35 minutes.

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?

$100 – $300

Why do you take transit?

Behind the wheel, I’m at the mercy of other drivers and their whims.  On the bus, the time is mine; I can read, play a game, or just hear myself think.

When I’m with the kids, they don’t have to be strapped into carseats, so they can see the world go by and I can give them a hug or a kiss whenever I want to.

The bus is safer than a car.  Buses have fewer accidents, go lower speeds, and the passenger compartment is higher than most of the mass moving out on the road.

We save money by only having one car.  Our car insurance dropped by $100/month when we sold one car; we aren’t paying another $150-200/year registration, and we’re paying bus fare instead of fueling up.

With only one vehicle, we think more about where we’re going and how we’re getting there.  We lower our impact on the environment that way, and see more of the world around us.

Continue reading

Why You Don't Ride: Alex Rueda, Torrance

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: Alex Rueda
Occupation: Secondary Teacher
Location: Torrance

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

Five days a week, to work 17 miles each way. Weekend to run errands and go out.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

90501 to 90255 for work.

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

2

How long does your commute typically take?

40 minutes.

Briefly, how would you describe your typical driving 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

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

I tried to use Metro and purchased a monthly pass with freeway bus service.

Why do you drive?

My car is safe when I get to work at my school parking lot.

Continue reading

Why You Ride: Dan Tappan, Valley Village

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: Dan Tappan
Occupation: System Administrator
Location: Valley Village

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Several times a week, mostly in the afternoon/evening to visit friends and social events.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

From North Hollywood to Hollywood, Downtown, and the San Gabriel Valley to avoid traffic on the 101 and the 134.  It takes less time and I find myself not aggravated upon arrival, and if I have a few drinks, I don’t have to worry about driving home.

What lines/routes do you take?

Orange Line, Red Line, Purple Line, Gold Line.

If it had a timetable that worked with my work schedule, the 183 Bus would cover work commute, but I don’t currently take it.

How long does it typically take?

Red Line from NoHo to Downtown is 30 minutes, and slightly to substantially longer to go to the SGV since the Red Line arrival times and Gold Line Northbound departures always seem to be staggered just right so that a gold train leaves right as my Red Line train pulls into Union Station – meaning a wait for the next train.  The 20 minute evening interval (and sometimes more, as cars/trains are removed from the track or taken out of service for the evening) between Gold Line trains has made for some unfortunate delays, but I’m generally not on a deadline to be somewhere when I’m taking transit.

This interval also makes it really impractical to hop on a Gold Line train to get to the Little Tokyo Arts District stop (where I often go), but it’s a pleasant walk form Union Station if you’re not in a hurry.

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?

$100 – $300

Why do you take transit?

Avoid traffic, save gas and I enjoy taking trains.

But mostly because of traffic.

Continue reading

Why You Don't Ride: DLM, Los Angeles

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: DLM
Occupation: Finance manager
Location: Los Angeles

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

I drive daily to and from work, by myself, which is a total of 24 miles round trip and can take as little as 15 minutes each way.  Non-work travel is local or in Northern California.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

See above.

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

1

How long does your commute typically take?

15-25 minutes one way.

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

I love it!

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

$300 – $500

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

No.

Why do you drive?

Convenient, efficient and provides the freedom to establish my own travel times and distances.

Continue reading

Why You Ride: Dennis Hindman, Toluca Lake

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: Dennis Hindman
Occupation: Client services representative
Location: Toluca Lake

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

I take transit five days a week to work and back and I do this due to not owning a car. I do this in conjunction with a bicycle to and from the transit.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

I start from home at the corner of Cahuenga Blvd. and Moorpark St. finishing up at Roscoe Blvd. and Fallbrook Ave. which is where I work. In terms of transit, that would be the Orange Line from Lankershim Blvd. to Canoga Blvd.

What lines/routes do you take?

I take the Orange Line.

How long does it typically take?

1 hour and 45 minutes.

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?

I don’t own a car. It also forces me to exercise every day which is not something I would do if I had an easy and convenient use of a car.

Continue reading

Why You Ride: J.E., East San Gabriel Valley

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: J.E.
Occupation: College student
Location: East San Gabriel Valley

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

Commuting to school, visiting places west of the San Gabriel Valley for recreation.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

My commute is Azusa to UCLA.  Sometimes I visit places like Downtown L.A., Chinatown, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, etc. just to walk around somewhere interesting.

What lines/routes do you take?

Foothill Transit 492. Metro 190, 720, 920, 761, Silver Line, Purple Line, Red Line and more.

How long does it typically take?

Commuting to and from UCLA takes 2.5 to 3 hours one way, but in evening rush hour this is sometimes comparable to taking a car.  Just getting from East San Gabriel Valley to the eastern terminus of the Silver Line at El Monte Station takes about 45 minutes – add on time to that if I intend to go anywhere in the city of L.A.

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?

Less than $50

Why do you take transit?

My home in a mobile home park has only one parking space which is occupied by my mother’s car, so I need my own way of getting around if I need to go far, or somewhere that I can’t share a ride with her.

L.A. traffic is terrible enough that when going to the Westside (by the way: to many San Gabriel Valley people, that means anywhere west of Downtown L.A.), transit and car are often comparable in terms of time.

UCLA vanpools do not fit my schedule since their last return trip leaves campus too early in the afternoon, and housing options in Westwood are extremely expensive compared to living out here.

I also value the environment and believe that more people should try to take transit and cut their consumption in general.

Continue reading