‘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: KiKa
Occupation: Transit Operations Supervisor
Location: Historical Harvard Heights, West of Downtown L.A.

Your Transportation Routine:

How often do you drive and for what purpose?

At minimum I drive 5 days a week.  I commute to and from work (Downtown L.A.) and run errands.

Where are you typically traveling from and going to?

I typically travel from my home to work, Monday-Friday and back.  On my way home is when I run errands – at least once or twice a week.

How many vehicles do you or your family have?

We are a household of 6 and between us all we have 4 vehicles.  On a daily basis 3 of the 4 vehicles are used.  Three of us drive daily and the other 3 commute by bus, daily.

How long does your commute typically take?

From my front door to walking into my building at work takes approximately 13 minutes; 10 of the 13 minutes are actual drive time.

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?

$50 – $100

Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?

Once in a while I will carpool with my husband who works 1 mile away from where I work.  I’ve been known to jump on the bus from time to time, but not to get to work.

Why do you drive?

Driving for me is extremely convenient especially when I shop for groceries on my way home from work.

Your Perspective:

Why can’t/don’t you take transit?

I don’t take transit to work because:  1)  my 6 mile (10 minute) drive to work would actually take more than twice that time on the bus;  2) I would have to leave my home approximately 45 minutes earlier than I do now;  3)  I would have to walk 3 blocks and wait in the dark in the wee early hours of the morning to catch a Rapid bus because the local line that is half a block away does not go as far as I need to travel; 4)  the later Rapid bus would get me to work minutes AFTER I start work!

Have you tried to use transit before? What was your experience?

I have used transit before to commute to work but it just didn’t work out in the long run.  I love to ride the bus and I wish I could on a daily basis.

What could local transit agencies do to encourage you to take transit more often?

Until there is a major scheduling change there isn’t anything that will get me out of my car.

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 probably wouldn’t ride rail.

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

I understand that rail is the way of the future but rail doesn’t work for a lot more people than buses do for others.  I have always thought that the bus side of transportation has been steadily shortchanged since the inception of the first rail line back in 1990.  It’s all about the money!