maitaitom

Here's a funny (well, I think it's funny) story about our night using public transportation to go out to dinner with friends (link below). A couple of years ago, Tracy and I were feeling quite cosmopolitan and decided to take "Rapid" transit from a metro station near where we live to a restaurant in Hollywood.

The trip (by car) takes no more than half an hour, but as you will see, our journey took quite a bit longer. Fortunately we had dinner at a famed Hollywood landmark, and our trip home was made even more exciting by a chance encounter with a crazy man wielding a crutch on the Red Line. Enjoy!

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...Hollywood.html

mlgb

I've gone from Long Beach to Hollywood on the Metro in an hour, and it can take far longer in a car, especially at rush hour.

How much time did the train take from Union Station to Hollywood? About 15 to 20 minutes?

maitaitom

Yes, probably about 15-20 minutes. If I lived at Union Station, now that would be faster.

Tomsd

I would imagine during the summer/tourist time - the drives from the beach on Sunset into say Hollywood - can be busier - but would think now - if you went in after the morning commute - say 9:30 am or so - it should be fairly smooth.


And - I would plan to leave Hollywood by 2 PM or so to head back to the beach. You can see most of the "touristy" stuff in a couple of hours and if you really want to see it in more depth - go back another time.

Also - suggest you stay on surface streets and don't take the Freeways 10 or 405 unless it's for very short shots, and then listen to AM 1070 to make sure it's not backed up.

And cars do move steadily along on Sunset - but I don't recall it being that much of a white knuckle sort of thing. Just go with the flow and you should be fine, but if you try it and don't like it - check out the public transportation asw suggested.

BTW - get a good map and study it beforehand so you have a better idea of the routes/distances. Here is the route from Santa Monica/PCH into Hollywood - and as you can see - it's only about 15 miles. http://tinyurl.com/9692e2f

Tomsd

Actually - that was using 10 and then the 405 to Wilshire - but the main point was it's not that far (under 15 miles) and you can catch Sunset out by the beach and stay on it past the 405, Bel Air/Beverly Hills and on into Hollywood.

maitaitom

Just looked it up...25 minutes from Union Station to Hollywood and Vine, virtually the same amount of time it takes me to drive from my home to Hollywood & Vine, so the BEST I could do is lose about an hour from when I originally leave my house when using the Gold Line/Red Line vs. driving myself, and that's with my connection at Union Station being perfect.

Even if I'm going out to dinner with Tracy in downtown L.A., by the time I take the car to the Gold Line, catch the train and get downtown, it can take nearly an hour. It takes me 20-25 minutes to drive it, even at rush hour, since I am going against traffic.

The metro in Paris is efficient...In L.A., unless you live at one of the stations and are going somewhere near the next station..it is not.

mlgb

Presumably if one is a tourist staying in Hollywood or downtown (such as at the Biltmore) you walk a block or two to the Station. If you have to retrieve a car, you get to wait for the valet. And then you get to repeat that wait again at your destination.

SeaUrchin

A short hop on a bus on one route is convenient. A bus stuck in the same traffic as the cars can be miserable. I would only take a bus during daylight hours in some/many parts of Los Angeles. I would not want to be stuck standing on a street waiting for a late bus in some areas.

I suggest definitely taking a car. If there is gridlock just pull over and have a coffee or a snack and look at the locals.
Unless you really have timed appointments to make, a drive in a car would be much more enjoyable. Say you are "stuck" on Sunset coming from the beach, pull over in Pacific Palisades and walk around. Go to Will Rogers State Park. There are many stops to enjoy.

Commuters take public transport because they know their route and their schedules, a tourist wouldn't be touring on them.

mlgb

Gee, I didn't realize the Metro RED LINE ran on surface streets stuck in traffic. I always thought it was an underground subway. At least it was the last time I took it between downtown and Hollywood and Vine.

It is very easy to pick and chose routes that are good with a car or by transit to make a case for or against.

Unfortunately too few locals who post here have any personal experience at all (or one trip from Pasadena aka mataitom).

SeaUrchin

I was talking about a bus on the street of course.

I would rather wait for a valet in the comfort of my hotel then stand on a corner in Los Angeles for very long. Unless you want to grab some cash that a bank robber is throwing out of his car in a police chase, lol.

maitaitom

"Unless you want to grab some cash that a bank robber is throwing out of his car in a police chase, lol."

You got it SeaUrchin. That's the excitement of driving in L.A. You never know when that next car chase will whiz right by you.

mlgb

"I would rather wait for a valet in the comfort of my hotel then stand on a corner in Los Angeles for very long. Unless you want to grab some cash that a bank robber is throwing out of his car in a police chase, lol."

Why not just stay locked up at home? You never know when you'll get carjacked, or have that unkempt looking homeless person trying to clean your windshield. LOL.

Tomsd

This is getting a wee bit out of the "ordinary".

During the day - from Santa Monica - through Beverly Hills to Hollywood - it's a very safe area (but there can always be exceptions as in any dense urban area) - and at night - would recommend you enjoy being back at your hotel - without having to worry about traffic or other possible hassles.

Have a blast - and next time - get down here to San Diego.

SeaUrchin

I was joking. I thought Angelinos have a sense of humor.

SeaUrchin

I also said that during the day to stop off at different parts of Los Angeles if you are in traffic.

Some places during the night too but not all on public transportation.