‘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: BR
Occupation: Accountant
Location: Marina Del Rey
Your Transportation Routine:
How often do you drive and for what purpose?
I drive my Vespa during the week and go with my wife places in her car on the weekends.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
Work, dinner, out of town trips, etc.
How many vehicles do you or your family have?
2 (1 car, 1 Vespa scooter)
How long does your commute typically take?
10-15 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?
Less than $50
Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?
I bike to work on occasion and will sometimes bus or carpool with my wife.
Why do you drive?
I drive because it is considerably faster than the bus and doesn’t require a stop at the gym like when I bike to work.
Your Perspective:
Have you tried to use transit before? What was your experience?
I used to commute by bus and have ridden all the rail lines in LA, but they just aren’t convenient for me any more. I think the bus is judged unfairly, it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. For some reason, there is a stigma in LA about riding the bus that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the country. I don’t get it personally, it’s not that bad,just slow over long distances.
What could local transit agencies do to encourage you to take transit more often?
Somehow come up with more money for more rail lines in the city.
How do you feel about buses?
I’d ride a bus if there was a route that served my needs.
How do you feel about rail?
I’d ride rail if it there was a route that served my needs.
Given limited funds, how would you address L.A.’s transportation issues?
More PR to show people that riding the bus isn’t that bad.
Categories: Feedback, Metro Lifestyle, Surveys
the bus is convient if you play by their rules i attend school in anaheim, ca; I was informed by mta that is i drove that distance in a car i was looking @ 20a day in gas unforunately have more time than money so i tke the bus to the train to the bus again it takes about 2.5 hrs yet that’s still 20 a day in commute who can afford it go mta