Author Topic: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA  (Read 3250 times)

gatortator

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Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« on: September 02, 2016, 09:08:51 AM »
http://laist.com/2016/08/29/so_just_how_do_las_legions_of_car-f.php

I read this article last night and am still thinking about it this morning.  I have never been to LA, so have only heard about LA driving.  Several interesting discussion points presented by the respondents.

 
Quote
Lynn, Mid-City
...I feel very free. My expenses and stresses have gone way down, I get more exercise, I feel more like I live in a vibrant city and less stuck in a bubble. I just pretend I'm on vacation and exploring when I'm out, and that makes it fun and helps me see sides of the city I never would otherwise....

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Shane, Downtown Los Angeles
...Too many people say "I could never live without my car because I don't live near transit," but fail to recognize that where they choose to live is a choice. If they're really serious about giving it a try, they need to think about how transportation relates to their other life choices. It's not something you can choose to do in isolation...

modified:  added quote
« Last Edit: September 02, 2016, 09:12:54 AM by gatortator »

Fudge102

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2016, 09:33:03 AM »
I've been to LA more often this past year.  I hate driving around that city.  That being said, if you live in the right areas, you don't need to drive.  Or you can walk, or cab.  It makes a huge difference.  I stayed at my girlfriend's brothers house this past weekend in Westwood.  I was attending a party in West Hollywood.  When I mentioned that, they said, "West Hollywood...  That's so far away."  It's literally 5.5 miles away.  But that's LA for you.  If you live in one of the hubs for attractions and goods you're set.  It's everything in between that's the problem.

I've lived in Tokyo, D.C., been to New York and Boston.  While parts of LA may be good, the fact that they don't have transportation connecting everything is the issue.  I could get around all of the above cities just by train and a little walking.  But LA...  I tried that once, going from Long Beach to Hollywood.  I might as well have driven because of how slow the system was.  LA was designed back in the day for people to drive.  The city planners wanted people to live in the suburbs.  It's slowly beginning to realize that they set themselves up for failure.

I love parts of the city when I can walk sure, but I'd still never want to live there because every now and then you still have to get out, and that means traffic...

jengod

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2016, 11:13:30 PM »
Thanks for this link. There are some useful recs in here that I didn't know about before.

We are a one-car, five-person family in Los Angeles, and we really like taking transit and walking places. I grew up here and it was a mental adjustment to come around to my husband's anti-driving perspective, but I feel like it's significantly increased our quality of life and now I wouldn't have it any other way.

SeaEhm

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2016, 01:47:41 PM »
Fudge102 has great points.  When I travel to areas that have a developed subway system, I don't care for a car.  However, Los Angeles has a really poor public transportation system that is too much of a nightmare to deal with.

Ideally, I would love to retire in a city like Tokyo where I would walk to achieve all of my errands. I love walking and enjoy being in the hustle and bustle.  I don't really see LA being able to get anywhere near the accessibility of places like Tokyo.

mm1970

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2016, 11:46:24 AM »
I've been to LA more often this past year.  I hate driving around that city.  That being said, if you live in the right areas, you don't need to drive.  Or you can walk, or cab.  It makes a huge difference.  I stayed at my girlfriend's brothers house this past weekend in Westwood.  I was attending a party in West Hollywood.  When I mentioned that, they said, "West Hollywood...  That's so far away."  It's literally 5.5 miles away.  But that's LA for you.  If you live in one of the hubs for attractions and goods you're set.  It's everything in between that's the problem.

I've lived in Tokyo, D.C., been to New York and Boston.  While parts of LA may be good, the fact that they don't have transportation connecting everything is the issue.  I could get around all of the above cities just by train and a little walking.  But LA...  I tried that once, going from Long Beach to Hollywood.  I might as well have driven because of how slow the system was.  LA was designed back in the day for people to drive.  The city planners wanted people to live in the suburbs.  It's slowly beginning to realize that they set themselves up for failure.

I love parts of the city when I can walk sure, but I'd still never want to live there because every now and then you still have to get out, and that means traffic...

LA is horrible.  I hate having to drive through it.  I once had to drive my son to UCLA for a doctor's appt.  At one point, when I was on the 405, my gps unit asked if I wanted to go into pedestrian mode.  Because it thought I was walking.

Ramblin' Ma'am

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2016, 02:14:29 PM »
I actually knew someone who lived in LA for at least a couple years without a drivers' license (he eventually learned to drive and bought a car). I visited the city once for several days and got around via cabs/walking. What surprised me was that, while getting to different parts of the city might be tricky without a car, many areas were eminently walkable once you were there. (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood to name a few.) And the city now has 80 subway stations and is building light-rail stations too.


gatortator

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2016, 08:49:41 PM »
another recent article about LA traffic shows some interesting conclusions,,

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-rowena-silver-lake-road-diet-20160929-snap-story.html?utm_content=buffer6c654&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

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Beyond safety, road diets make streets more accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists, bringing us closer to a future Los Angeles unburdened by the polluted, traffic-choked stereotype that exists today. Our analysis of the Rowena project confirms that road diets work — even in the most congested city in America.

I hadn't heard of the concept "road diet" (reducing the number the lanes) before but am now exploring if this has been tested in my own city.

human

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2016, 04:14:50 AM »
I visited LA for a week and public transport is brutal. I was staying in redondo beach and via public transit it took 2 hours to get to hollywood or sunset blvd can't remember which.

I guess if you want to live in your little neighbourhood and rent a car from time time it would fine but to get 20-30 miles somewhere on a regular basis I just can't see how it's doable without a car.

Edit to add, I've been to Nyc a bunch and it's totally doable there without a car.
« Last Edit: October 04, 2016, 04:18:34 AM by human »

zephyr911

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2016, 02:41:38 PM »
I visited LA for a week and public transport is brutal. I was staying in redondo beach and via public transit it took 2 hours to get to hollywood or sunset blvd can't remember which.

I guess if you want to live in your little neighbourhood and rent a car from time time it would fine but to get 20-30 miles somewhere on a regular basis I just can't see how it's doable without a car.

Edit to add, I've been to Nyc a bunch and it's totally doable there without a car.

Well, as noted above, people who "have to" go long distances on a regular basis have choices, including moving. I've stayed in some parts of LA where public transit was more than adequate, and the cousin I stayed with could have easily walked or biked to work. He had a car but barely ever used it.

For those with just occasional car needs, cabs/uber/etc are more economical than owning their own, and help free up parking and road space by having fewer cars per person while still having the capability for all.

human

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Re: Article: Why We Don't Drive in LA
« Reply #9 on: October 07, 2016, 04:00:52 PM »
It jsut seems to me that an area densely populated like that should have better transit. 20 miles shouldn't be a problem. Hell your still in LA out to 40 miles or something ridiculous like that.