‘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: Mike
Occupation: Coordinator
Location: Torrance

Your Transit Routine:

How often do you take transit and for what purpose?

I take transit 5 days/week to and from work.  And 1 day on the weekend for leisure/fun.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

Work: Torrance to Carson
Weekend: Artesia Transit Center to anywhere in L.A. County

What lines/routes do you take?

Option 1: MAX 3 to Metro 344 to Metro 130
Option 2: MAX 3 to Torrance 6
Option 3: Torrance 5 to Torrance 6
Option 4: Torrance 6
Weekend: Silver Line to Subway/Rail/Bus/Orange Line

How long does it typically take?

Trips to and from work take about 1 hour each way.  Driving usually takes 30 minutes each way, but rather take transit instead.  Weekend trips can take up to 2.5 hours each way, but enjoy the ride and consider it a day trip.

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?

Reduce stress from having to deal with drivers on the road rushing to get to and from work.  I can relax on the bus and catch up on some reading or pay some bills.

Other Transportation:

Do you use any other forms of alternative transportation?

On the rare occasion I will car share.

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

No; use the car to run errands in the evening.  But have really considered going car-free.

Your Perspective:

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

More frequent bus service and more routes in South Bay Area, finish implementing TAP on all municipal lines, real-time arrival info on smartphones or web, improve NextTrip widget (although still really helpful as-is), improve security on Blue Line (passengers get a little rowdy at times; homeless begging for food or money on train), convert to TAP and discontinue paper passes so the new gates can be locked, activate cash on TAP, learn from other transit agencies either nationally or abroad to better our transit (i.e. Hong Kong, Octopus Card).

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

Improve what we already have.

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

It’s gotten better.

Friendlier drivers, more routes, buses are more consistent schedules (not really on-time, but at least consistent everyday).

How would you encourage Angelenos to use transit?

Lower fare, enable loaded cash on TAP to be used to make purchases anywhere and provide discounts at the same time