‘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: Derek
Occupation: Student/Intern
Location: Eagle Rock, Los Angeles/Fullerton, Orange County

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

3 days a week to downtown Los Angeles for my internship.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

To Union Station from either Eagle Rock, Los Angeles or Fullerton, CA.

What lines/routes do you take?

Gold Line (park and ride), Metrolink

How long does it typically take?

15 min on the Gold Line, 45 on Metrolink

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?

Save time from traffic, save gas money, help the environment.

Other Transportation:

Do you use any other forms of alternative transportation?

No.

Are you car-free? If so, why? If not, why not?

Not yet.  There are too many locations in which it is faster to drive than take a series of buses.  Hopefully once more rail is built I can ditch my car.

Your Perspective:

If you could make one change to improve your transit experience, what would it be?

I would change the TAP card system so it could be used more like an ATM card (allow me to add as much/little money to it as I please).

Given limited funds, how would you address L.A.’s transportation issues?

Spend less on freeways and much more on rail service (including express trains).

Do you think L.A. transit is better or worse since you started riding? What’s changed?

Much better.  More rail lines make trips much quicker.

How would you encourage Angelenos to use transit?

Make it easier for people to know when their bus or train is coming so they are less worried about using transit for the first time.