Since the Dodger Stadium Express service launched a half-dozen years ago, there’s been an ongoing discussion about the best way to get to the ballpark (because driving and parking clearly isn’t). The DSE is still a fan favorite, but one of the most overlooked ways is arguably the simplest: walking.
To prove once and for all that it can be done — okay, in theory you can walk anywhere, but it’s L.A. and we’re fighting long-entrenched stereotypes here — we produced the video above. It shows the fastest route to the stadium beginning at the Gold Line Chinatown Station (map).
As we’d hoped, the video has people talking: Is 27 minutes too long for most people to walk? What can be done to make the walk better? Can’t we just build a gondola system instead?
Join the conversation on Facebook or leave your comments below. We’re specifically interested in knowing what you would fix in the above video?
Categories: Go Metro
It can be a little challenging the first time you do it (I missed the turn to the street for the ped bridge) but I do it all the time now. Especially after the game because it’s downhill. 😀 I don’t usually do it to the game because I generally go on weekdays and I’m usually in too much of a hurry after work.
It’s amazing the amount of people walking huh? What was there……one?
Unless they were traveling faster or slower than the average foot traffic, it’s unlikely you’d pass or be passed by any other walkers… I walk to the stadium all the time from Scott Ave and I probably see 50-60 people doing the same, but we’re all trudging along at the same pace so there isn’t a lot of interaction between us.
Well that’s a start. I can’t imagine the experience one would get walking there and back and having many others doing the same.
No pulling your hair out and fuming behind the wheel, or anything like that.
I’ve done the walk from Chinatown Station. Not too bad, but not really the most pleasant walk by any measure. I usually do the walk from the Short Stop in Echo Park, which is a little easier (although maybe that is because we have already had a few beers in us).
Walking in LA? Nobody walks in LA.
Really, this seems like an option for the more athletic type fans, though I can imagine they might shave off a few minutes by using a faster pace than the couple in the video.
And I agree with Esteban in the need for better pedestrian access coming into the stadium. Stairways or ramps up the hill would make a whole lot of sense, in both reducing walking distance and separating foot traffic from vehicular traffic for safety.
It’ll be less of a challenge for people to walk to the future NFL stadium in Inglewood, due to less elevation change and the presence of sidewalks all a along the route.
It’s easy to miss the turnoff onto the small street that goes up and over the 110. I’ve done it before. Also, walking away from the stadium is not great at night, nor is walking up terribly pleasant later in the season when the sun goes down earlier and you have to avoid people who can’t see you because of sun glare. For sell out games, the wait for the Dodger shuttle can reach 30 minutes or more, so it’s often better to just walk down the hill to Sunset Boulevard and catch any local bus headed in the direction you are going. I would never walk down the Downtown Gate side after a game, though.
No wonder its overlooked! While the walk through Chinatown looks very pleasant, this video clearly shows that once you cross the 110, the sidewalks are narrow and unkempt, and then disappear altogether walking up to the stadium gate.
Some things that could be done for much less money than a gondola, and could invoke a good amount of Dodger Pride:
-Put markers along the sidewalks (maybe painted footprints?) so its easy for people to know the route without a GPS.
-Put signs in the Chinatown Metro Station announcing access to the stadium, and an announcement on the train (“Chinatown Station: Get off here for Dodger Stadium and follow the signs”)
-Its only ~12 minutes (.6 miles) walk to cross the 110. The other 15 minutes (.7 miles) are spent looping around the stadium gate along aforementioned narrow and nonexistent sidewalks. It could surely be made easier with a series of
WIDE, HIGHLY VISIBLE, and SAFE
crosswalks (across Stadium Way and Lookout Dr.) and staircases straight up the hill from the freeway pedestrian overpass.
-Take the opportunity to add signage and decorating to the overpass. I’m sure the Dodgers would appreciate the additional branding opportunity and might per persuaded to defray the cost. Maybe paint it blue and put a sign reading “Dodger Gateway” on the ends. Put posters of Dodger greats lining the inside. Get creative.
-The staircases should be accompanied with some landscaping alongside, or at least shade structures, and a maybe a couple landings on the way up to take a breather, and a look around. Maybe escalators if you’re feeling generous (similar to those at Universal Studios) so people can take in the amazing view of the skyline and LA basin rather than huffing and puffing up and down.
-At the top of the hill, make a PROMINENT, WIDE, RAISED and HIGHLY VISIBLE pedestrian walkway straight across the parking lot to the stadium gates behind home plate. This way, cars maneuvering through the parking lot have plenty of cues to give pedestrians the right of way and go slow when crossing the walkway.
The new pedestrian access route would probably be less than half the current .7 miles required by the current route, much more enjoyable (especially with escalators), and add substantially to the game day experience.
If you want people do walk, give them a reason to.
Nice!
The MTA may have launched the current Dodger Stadium Express six years ago but it was not a new service but instead a resumption of service that dates back to at least service provided by the RTD and canceled by the MTA after the merger. I operated a bus to Dodger Stadium as a RTD bus operator and ran the operation as a RTD supervisor. The biggest difference I have observed is everyone is transported from the stadium immediately as opposed to buses having to return for a second trip when rider ship is heavy. This was accomplished by noting how many passengers were transported to the stadium and ordering extra buses if needed.
27 minutes and virtually all uphill. Not an alternative for many people!
It’s not ALL uphill. Just the finale really. Which isn’t fun, especially when it’s hot, but it’s good exercise!