‘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: Brian H.
Occupation: Graduate student
Location: Koreatown

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

At least two trips on most days, for school, errands, and sometimes just for pleasure.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

USC’s University Park Campus, Downtown, and Hollywood.

What lines/routes do you take?

754, Red/Purple Line, 20, 720, 920.

How long does it typically take?

Typical trips take me under 30 minutes, including walking to and from destinations.

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?

II have chosen not to own a car for as long as possible, as a way not only to keep my living costs low, but also to lower my carbon footprint while getting a good dose of exercise.

Other Transportation:

Do you use any other forms of alternative transportation?

I ride my bicycle for shorter trips around the neighborhood.

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

I am currently car-free by choice, as I have yet to feel the need to own a car in my everyday life. Financially, it is also a no-brainer for me to put off car ownership given the extraordinary cost of owning and maintaining a motor vehicle. Furthermore, living car-free is simply one of the best ways to reduce one’s contribution to climate change, a point which I think can never be emphasized enough.

Your Perspective:

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

Make TAP work as a stored-value fare card.

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

More transit oriented development vastly improves the quality of life for people who are dependent on transit for everyday mobility, and improves the feasibility and attractiveness of a transit-based lifestyle. As a small personal example, I have greatly benefited from the recently-opened Trader Joe’s at the Hollywood/Vine TOD development, as well as the farmers market above Wilshire/Vermont station.

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

I moved to Los Angeles fairly recently, so I honestly can’t say if anything has changed. So far however, L.A. transit has exceeded my original expectations.

How would you encourage Angelenos to use transit?

[No answer given]