This video has been getting a lot of traction recently so wanted to write a few thoughts, as I now did this a year ago! 1) There was a service interruption and a free shuttle offered. Metro workers were there to guide people towards the lines to the buses to 7th St Metro. I thought it would be more fun and entertaining to take a Metro Bike and see DTLA - so that was my doing. 2) LA Metro isn't THAT bad, and I wasn't trying to showcase that. Just, when compared to NYC - totally different. LA is just so spread out. 3) Here's a newer video and a more introspective look at surviving LA without a car: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2fLkGStrb17n8U 4) Cheers!
@angelperezmonarrez98922 жыл бұрын
Nah LA metro is abysmal
@williamerazo39212 жыл бұрын
So no shuttle buses or Work advisory. New Yorker my self and did the same route on my last vist to LA
@gd18cyclist222 жыл бұрын
Michael, piece of advice if you ever plan to travel to Hollywood again from Santa Monica: Take the E all the way until you get to 7th Street/Metro Center and then you can just transfer from MC to the red B line that can then take you straight to Hollywood. I've gone that route several times when trying to get to West Hollywood.
@profitpeeps2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Michael so basically without the interruption the train would have took u straight to 7th st and you could have just crossed into the b train for free or it would have cost another 1.75?
@profitpeeps2 жыл бұрын
@@gd18cyclist22 he tried he said there was a interruption and they had to get off and offered a bus ride for free but he chose to ride the bike and thank you my friend for this comment cause u actually helped me when I go next week.
@AlexCab_492 жыл бұрын
As someone who has lived in LA most of my life and still don't own a car, riding public transportation here becomes a skill but it can be frustrating. Ps. We Angelenos rarely go to the walk of Fame cus it's where all the tourists go.
@jennifertarin47072 жыл бұрын
much like New Yorkers avoid Times Square for the same reason. I used to go because my favorite movie theater was there.
@imdumbaf36652 жыл бұрын
Same in miami we don’t really go to miami beach mainly ocean drive
@SexyButCurious Жыл бұрын
Orlando ppl like me avoid International drive due to tourists since its near universal and may 20mins to Disney and sea world
@trainrover Жыл бұрын
that tourist trap was weird; I'd thought Hollywood's waning popularity enough as to make that strip seem deserted nowadays..!
@MitchellBPYao4 ай бұрын
Almost every day I didn't come here to
@Darmok_2 жыл бұрын
LA actually has an incredibly efficient and comprehensive bus system. But people here look down on riding the bus and refuse to use it.
@quanbrooklynkid77762 жыл бұрын
That's crazy
@stache19542 жыл бұрын
It's been over 30 years since I lived there but transferring took a very long time.
@Darmok_2 жыл бұрын
@@stache1954 the elderly are our link to history
@matiastorresz2 жыл бұрын
It’s not very effective, also unsafe and kinda scary. Plus takes longer to take the bus or the metro which doesn’t get you everywhere
@Darmok_2 жыл бұрын
@@matiastorresz nah you’re just elitist and classist.
@the_clueless_traveller3 жыл бұрын
I rode the metro almost everyday on my holiday from north Redondo to Hollywood, Santa Monica, North Hollywood - I thought it was pretty solid and not as bad as people make out! Was cheaper than hiring a car at least for me.
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
Wow!! I guess it can be pretty effective if your start/end location is in close proximity to the train. Main problem I think is the additional walking when your destination is nowhere near the train, since LA is so big! Good to hear it worked so well for you!
@hw62712 жыл бұрын
That's a holiday. Living with it fir real? This system is flat out garbage
@TohaBgood22 жыл бұрын
@@hw6271 That's nonsense. Millions of people already use it. It's does not have the coverage it needs to have but they are literally building more and more of it precisely to make it more useful to more people. This is the only way to end up with a useful metro rail network - you need to build enough of it to make most trips comfortable to take. The people who take it now are the people who live near a station and have destinations near another station. The more lines and stations there are the more useful and "good" the network will become. This shouldn't be so hard to grasp!
@cordeep2 жыл бұрын
@@TohaBgood2 It's not nonsense at all. Even the route OP described of North Redondo to Hollywood is a huge pain in the ass, and takes 2-3 times as long as driving. Living in LA without a car is much more difficult than with one for the vast majority of people. It's very rare to meet someone who decided to ride the metro because it was more convenient or faster than driving. For the second largest city in the US, LA's transit network is indeed garbage. The fact I could ride a train directly out of Cleveland's airport but not LAX speaks volumes to me.
@TohaBgood22 жыл бұрын
@@cordeep Sure, it doesn’t have good coverage yet and needs to be expanded to become more useful for more people. But what did you expect? That’s what it’s like when you have an incomplete network. For some trips the system works and for others it doesn’t. That’s normal. The system can’t just all be built at once and immediately be complete. The solution to that is to continue to expand the network to make more trips viable.
@billvalley2 жыл бұрын
Cool video! As a native, I honestly think that Metro in LA isn't as bad as everyone makes it seems but definitely pales in comparison to cities like NYC, Chicago, and DC. The upcoming infrastructure projects in anticipation for the 2028 Olympics should help tremendously!
@danielleporter18292 жыл бұрын
I agree, as a native myself who has taken metro several times over the years, recently earlier this month, it really isn't that bad. Once the Crenshaw-LAX line opens later this year (fingers crossed given the back ups thanks to "Rona), connectivity will even be better.
@TohaBgood22 жыл бұрын
LA has made incredible strides in the Metro department. The more they build the more useful the system becomes. It's important to keep going and let the haters pound sand!
@Undecided02 жыл бұрын
I would even say it pales in comparison to Boston, NJ, & Philadelphia.
@marykatherinegoode27732 жыл бұрын
Give it time. My own opinion is that LA developed differently than the others in that LA was developed as a series of neighborhoods whereas New York had already filled out its general shape by 1880. Up until recently there was nothing to tie LA together nor a reason to do it; NYC has a grid system that was put in place after the Revolution; You can still tell which part of the city is the oldest because once you get above 14th St. the grid begins. LA c. 1915 was a sleepier place that still had patches of orange groves and it made a lot of sense to just have highways and byways run straight through. Now it is outgrowing that. With any luck LA Union will see expansion that can zoom you up to Seattle on a bullet train.
@Undecided02 жыл бұрын
@@marykatherinegoode2773 LA had a robust street car system, but the automobile industry lobbied to have it shut down.
@shawng86133 жыл бұрын
Nice video. So that this doesn't scare everyone since there are already enough scary things about LA Metro. Like all cities, NYC included, there can be track work closing part of the line for maintenance. When that happens Metro provides free buses at the station that make the same stops that rail would make. Also, this trip would take half as long by bus as the train route is indirect. It takes a little over 1 hour by bus.
@hw62712 жыл бұрын
Given how short that distance is, an hour is total crap
@sitdowndogbreath2 жыл бұрын
Apparently the 217 bus but you got to know the direction you're going to apparently you can take the blue trolley Subway thingy and then get off and take but if the bus is running late then stay on the trolley and switch to the red line
@TohaBgood22 жыл бұрын
@@hw6271 You're just a hater! Admit it! You hate public transportation and are out here trolling to discourage people.
@nataliajimenez18702 жыл бұрын
Even google calculates the quickest routes using public transit. Any person using a transportation system for the first time can get a little confused (it's very easy to determine direction in LA: West is the ocean, North are the Mountains)
@sitdowndogbreath2 жыл бұрын
@@nataliajimenez1870 i guess he didn't wanna play with the buses but the trolley subway.
@tayzonday2 жыл бұрын
I used to live in the Hollywood Hills by Runyon Canyon. 1) It’s easier to walk down on the south side and climb up on the north side than to do the long walk up the incline the other way. 2) Just drive from Santa Monica, park on a side street and Uber to Runyon for $7.50 or so each way . You just have to pick a side street near Laurel Canyon but on the east side - like the Mt. Olympus neighborhood.
@MichaelMartello2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! Yeah driving is way easier, but wanted to give myself an excuse to try out the metro lol
@eddiew23252 жыл бұрын
fggg
@trexinvert28 күн бұрын
@@MichaelMartello Come on don't be so "fancy" real angeleno's hike Griffith not Runyon. Most areas to park are free unless near observatory. Park on the north east side near the ranger station/visitor center. Enjoy.
@joshsalcedo24072 жыл бұрын
I have lived in LA all my life and have been taking the metro by myself since I was fifteen. At the station where he got off, he just had to go around the corner and get on the blue line. That way he wouldn't have to ride a bike to 7th street station.
@04mdsimps2 жыл бұрын
I assumed as much. As an LA local what would you recommend someone do as a fast paced 5 day first time visit? Any suggestions? Not interested in celeb side of things.
@joshsalcedo24072 жыл бұрын
@@04mdsimps i recommend going to grand central market in downtown LA. There's a lot of different foods to try and fun scenery. If you want to go to the beach, I recommend taking the blue line south to Long Beach. I say this because Santa Monica Beach is very crowded, hard to walk, and rides are not worth the price. Venice Beach is disgusting full of homeless. Long Beach is less crowded and more relaxed feel of the beach. As well as more shops and restaurants nearby. Hollywood blvd. and Sunset strip is really good for the night scene because of the bars. During the day Hollywood is pretty busy because of the tours and more families are out through the day. Shopping i recommend the grove or Glendale galleria because of the scenery at night is great for photos. Tons of shops. At the grove the farmers market that also offers variety of different foods. Let me know if you need more recommendations.
@04mdsimps2 жыл бұрын
@@joshsalcedo2407 Thats great Josh thanks for your reply. Usually I stay in hostels for trips like this but in LA i think I’m going to stay in a different hotel/hostel everynight to aid with the size of the place. I’ve been to san francisco but expected LA to be a different culture even though its just round the corner
@Fulgum Жыл бұрын
One mistake you made. You got a one way ticket which is only good for one trip. When you switch lines, you have to get a new ticket. If you got a one day pass, you could have taken any line you wanted AND you could have taken the bus home if you take a Metro bus. Metro buses are on all the major streets in LA, certain streets in Santa Monica.
@fiveoctaves Жыл бұрын
@@Fulgum Interesting. I didn't realize that though I would never purchase a one-way fare myself. Metro really should change that since it it's pretty rare for someone to not have to transfer.
@msongs2 жыл бұрын
"and it feels so good to be back in my car" - spoken like a true southern california resident lol
@bjtwuk2 жыл бұрын
You could have taken the E-Line from Downtown Santa Monica to La Cienega / Jefferson; then transfer to a northbound 217 bus exiting at Hollywood Blvd / Fuller Avenue. It would've taken you 1 hour and 10 minutes, leaving you with a 2 block walk to your trailhead in Runyon Canyon Park. The fare would have been $1.75. There was no need for you to go out of your way to DTLA or the Chinese Theater for this excursion. You only made it hard on yourself, which is perhaps because you're not familiar. But since you mentioned that you used Google Maps, then I really don't understand why you couldn't figure this out because I used Google Maps to create my routing.
@toddlithgow2 жыл бұрын
I think most people who live in places with effective transit systems don't expect that they will need to change mode if that one goes there, unless it is for a really niche location. Especially as a tourist. You don't see tourists getting on the trams or buses in Paris, or people getting on suburban rail in London or Barcelona, if their destination is served by the metro.
@tima49292 жыл бұрын
Bottom line though is LA SUCKS!
@nataliajimenez18702 жыл бұрын
@Joe Forge It used to be way harder when you had to calculate yourself the routes comparing timetables from different transit agencies (I still remember when I had to carry bus & train timetables). Now you can do it with Google maps
@michaelz.71402 жыл бұрын
@@toddlithgow I go on suburban rail in London because its the only thing that connects london with my hotel, the tube is like 1km away
@michaelz.71402 жыл бұрын
@@toddlithgow but his destination is kinda a niche location...
@kylebrown-harris32032 жыл бұрын
People don't realize how spread out LA is. Thanks for showing the la Metro. I'm not sure if I would call Hollywood the Eastside 😅. But everything is east of Santa Monica
@MichaelMartello2 жыл бұрын
Lol, yikes, forgot I called hollywood the east side 😩I was wayyy too new to LA and it shows!😂
@DAZE12202 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello You weren't even in the east side when you got off to ride the bike at the trade tech station lol, there's still a whole lot more LA east from there!
@ArtIsDrawing2 жыл бұрын
excuses excuses!!
@brtny43212 жыл бұрын
I’m so glad someone said it.
@liner22 жыл бұрын
That smile is infectious! Love riding the metro in New York. And you are so correct LA needs a lot of catching up when in comes to metro-train infrastructure.
@chnalvr2 жыл бұрын
I have lived in Los Angeles before and the only way I'd consider moving back would be if I were to live near a Metro station. The gridlock traffic most times on the freeways and surface streets just leads to high blood pressure, being overweight and not interacting with people. Public transit is much easier since one does not have to deal with traffic, you can read a book, talk to people and even walk and get some exercise. It's my preferred way to get around any city, along with using a bike.
@ginacantabene86292 жыл бұрын
I rode the MetroLink train from my home in Orange County, transferring to the Metro at Union Station, every day for over 2 years. Once you figure out where you’re going and what lines will get you there, you’re fine. It’s the same as NY Subways, you have to put a little effort into figuring it out.
@JimRuel Жыл бұрын
Love the Metrolink.
@kiernanoh9 ай бұрын
One thing of note. The oldest rail was only built in 1990, and now we have all of this in only 30 year. Over 100 miles of rail built and 101 stations. Compared that to nyc who since 1990 has only built 10 new stations and a measly 3 miles of track.
@gizmo73653 жыл бұрын
Your cost should be only 1.75 as it includes a 2 hour transfer. Keep the tap card as it’s reusable. The metro buses are free right now. If you learn more about the metro (including buses) you’ll realize it can actually be convenient for some trips.
@seekingwisdom82 жыл бұрын
I used the metro exclusively in LA. I hated the parking lots AKA freeways and truly enjoyed riding the metro along the 210 as it becomes a parking lot in the afternoon. While living in Arcadia, I worked crowd control at various venues, ranging from the Hollywood Bowl and the Colosseum to the Rose Bowl. I brought my bicycle to travel to and from each facility to and from the metro stations. One day, my wife and I decided to have an adventure by taking the metro to Simi Valley. That required several transfers, including North Hollywood. After 2 hours riding just to make it to N Hollywood, we decided it wasn’t as fun as we thought it was going to be. The metro was my exclusive form of transportation, and I appreciated it, but I think we were spoiled using the Gold Line from the first day it opened. Everything we needed or places to go were all accessible via the Gold Line. When we decided to visit Simi Valley, it was our first experience riding on the older metro lines, so we were not accustomed to seeing homeless people sleeping or groups of teenage wannabe gang bangers. Plus, the trains were crowded and hot. Just the same, I used the metro to travel to the locations mentioned previously.
@concertino582 жыл бұрын
Just to make things easier- Take the E Line to La Brea and then catch the Northbound bus and get off on Hollywood. You save yourself time from having to go all the way into DT and then making a horseshoe turn back west to Hollywood. You would save yourself about 30 mins and made the whole trip an hour (not including walking to Runyun- that doesn't count)
@MichaelMartello2 жыл бұрын
Oh cool, thanks!!
@themoviedealers2 жыл бұрын
212 bus
@danielleporter18292 жыл бұрын
@@themoviedealers Does line 210 (Hollywood to Redondo Beach ) go to Fuller St? Just curious.
@danielleporter18292 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello It'll be interesting for you to take the Expo line to the Crenshaw-LAX line (once it opens later this year) and get as close to LAX as you can sometime time next year
@oceanlover35302 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed your vlog Michael. As a native Californian I will say our public transportation, or lack of, sucks big time! Traffic is just so bad anymore it gives me anxiety to drive. I’d gladly use public transportation in lieu of driving if it was expanded and rider friendly. Thanks for posting! Stay safe! ✌🏻🙂✌🏻
@TohaBgood2 Жыл бұрын
This is the thing though, as non-transit riders we have no idea how to advocate for the type of transit we want. Everyone around here assumes that transit just grows out of the ground by the will of god, or something. No! You have to pressure your elected representative to build you the system that you would want to use. You have to yell at them until they clean up and secure the lines that exist and until they build you the lines that you want to use for your daily trip. With enough of this work, you'll have the transit system that you want. But people actually have to do the work! If you don't care (not saying you don't) then no one will!
@freda98092 жыл бұрын
This video provide an insight and perspective on traveling through L.A. First of all, L.A. is really spread out over a large area. Depends on where you are/live that will determine access to public transit services. Also, those that talk about traveling through 'horrible' or 'crappy' places, some of us live in those places (freeways go above/through us). That's where these projects go through. They may be allowed adjacent to nicer more pristine communities, but not in them. They really don't want them there. The further away you are from the L.A. area, the less frequent regular transit services are. Then you're dependent on local services to get around those areas. The main goal is for commuting to/from major areas for workers. Additionally, L.A. hosted an Olympics in 1984 with the transit system as it was then (and car/tires/aerospace, etc., still active & thriving here). No commuter rail service. Very little traffic, as businesses altered workweeks and/or shut down during the Olympics. Some visitors to L.A. only use public transit. I've met them while commuting. Enjoy your next visit!
@MitchellBPYao4 ай бұрын
Maybe I just didn't think of it much
@whynarwhal3 жыл бұрын
Wow, interesting video! I had to choose between job offers in LA and NYC and this makes me so glad I chose NYC actually haha
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
LA is amazing for different reasons! But enjoy NYC :)
@greggibbs36392 жыл бұрын
So main problem was the 'service interruption' - but other than that, seems to work. LA is a massive place, bigger than NY area. I'll try to the metro next time I'm in LA.
@antemortem82702 жыл бұрын
I used to ride the metro all the time when I was younger and didn't have a car. It's been 12 years and I kinda miss it sometimes. I have friends who've lived in the LA area as long as I have and never rode the metro. They always say they're scared to ride, which yeah I've seen some stuff but I never had anybody bother me, just the occasional stranger trying to make conversation.
@MitchellBPYao4 ай бұрын
Alone time
@skyscraperfan2 жыл бұрын
I tried to get from Downtown to Newport Beach in 2006. It took me three hours with the metro and buses and the same time on my way back. So six hours in total. A lot of room for improvement, but perhaps today there are trains that would get me to Newport Beach faster than the buses.
@chadwick-ma2 жыл бұрын
that is called uber
@alexperazzo97612 жыл бұрын
Newport Beach isn't in LA county, so you'd need to transfer systems. Really the only convenient way to get around socal is by car.
@skyscraperfan2 жыл бұрын
@@alexperazzo9761 A good public transport system should not make you feel that you cross the "border" to another county. To get to Newport Beach I had to first take the Blue Line of the metro to Long Beach, then take a bus to that giant "Veterans Affairs Department" and from there take another bus to Newport Beach. Instead there should be a local train with not to many stops from Downtown Los Angeles all the way to San Diego and a high speed train on the same route for people who want to go all the way. Los Angeles-San Diego is a good example of a trip that would last way below one hour with a fast train. An ICE or TGV could do it in 40 minutes. At least the prices were extremely low. $3 per day for all public transport in LA County and another $3 for Orange County. I am sure though that prices went up since I went there.
@HollywoodF12 жыл бұрын
Normally you wouldn’t have to make that bike transfer. They’re testing a new extension to that line under Downtown right now. But Runyon and Santa Monica are as far apart as JFK and the Brooklyn Bridge. Not a short trip.
@roachtoasties2 жыл бұрын
I don't know why you got off the Expo Line before it got to the 7th Street Metro Station. Maybe there was some sort of track maintenance. If so, there should have been directions where to go to a connecting bus. The MTA doesn't just let things dangle like that, leaving passengers wandering for miles.
@MichaelMartello2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I think I mentioned this somewhere in the video - there was a free bus shuttle transfer but I chose to take the bike for a more scenic and solo route, and not wait around for the shuttle :)
@roachtoasties2 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello Thanks. I don't take the Metro that often, and mainly for when I have to meet people downtown. Rail service is limited in L.A. when compared to elsewhere, but it's better than nothing.
@concertino582 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello The bus shuttle (free so you don't even have to Tap/transfer) from the Trade Tech station to 7th/Metro is like 5 minutes. You wouldn't have had to bike and exhaust yourself.
@alvaroprieto20922 жыл бұрын
Work on the Regional Connector fyi
@martinusher12 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello That's a quick way to discover that DTLA is not only quite large but its got some quite steep hills in it.
@bandog3573 жыл бұрын
Thx for the ride Michael. Always happy to be on a nice trip like this with you! :-)
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
Thank you!! Appreciate the kind words!
@chicuelo72392 жыл бұрын
I love LA, I never been there but I hope know it very soon and make a lot of videos from there. Greatings from México!
@MichaelMartello2 жыл бұрын
I hope so too!
@mysticsoul72842 жыл бұрын
I love this video lol I had a friend that visited from London and she was shocked at how poorly our transit system was, as well. L.A. definitely favors cars over metro rails, tho they are relatively new - hopefully they'll improve over time. They really need a better transfer access from the metro rail to the subway station!!
@DrCruel2 жыл бұрын
Los Angeles is actually one of the better places in the US for public transit. Many US cities don't have light rail.
@Canleaf082 жыл бұрын
@@DrCruel Portland has put money not on highways but on the MAX light rail. Going there by train and bus is a dream. I was able to travel from my airport Hotel at PDX to a rental car station in Beaverton, OR to get my rental. Even smoother than in Germany.
@DrCruel2 жыл бұрын
@@Canleaf08 Probably a good idea. Many of Portland's roads and sidewalks are blocked by meth gypsies.
@TohaBgood22 жыл бұрын
@@Canleaf08 As usual it depends on where you live and where you need to go. I lived in a crappy place for transit and Portland's light rail was less than useless for me. It's the same thing in LA. It's only useful if you happen to live next to a station. But this problem fixes itself as they built more lines. Thankfully, this is exactly what LA is doing and at a pretty rapid clip compared to the rest of the country!
@andrewmagic70143 жыл бұрын
what an adventure, Michael! well, now I see it's possible to survive in LA without a car
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
It’s possible, but not very convenient 🤣hopefully in a few years!
@hw62712 жыл бұрын
Lol it's not possible to survive in la without a car
@andrewmagic70142 жыл бұрын
@@hw6271 yeah I get it 😂
@jk475002 жыл бұрын
@@hw6271 Yes it is, I've been doing it for 14 years.
@karlabritfeld71042 жыл бұрын
Not easily. I used to live in los Angeles. Public transportation isn't good.
@gatblau12 жыл бұрын
I live within walking distance from the Madre Street metro station in Pasadena and my girlfriend and I were always taking the metro to downtown LA on weekends to visit the museums and see the other interesting stuff downtown LA has to offer. It was usually about a 40 minute ride. There’s a lot of work being done to the metro at the moment so some of the stations we used have been closed, and since Covid hit the conditions on the metro have deteriorated a bit with lots of people with mental issues using the metro as a home. Our use of the metro has been put on hold a bit until things hopefully improve.
@HowToCleanLikeAPro2 жыл бұрын
I discovered this video because I sought out LA Metro content after popping my metro cherry yesterday. Having lived my whole life 40 miles from DTLA but rarely, if ever, venturing there, I was just so amazed that such a system existed that I willingly overlooked all of its obvious flaws. I spent 5.5 hours roundtrip traveling a distance of 40 miles and it was not good but the potential is there and so I'm hopeful for the future of SoCal, ill-advised though it may be
@ReaverLordTonus2 жыл бұрын
I never had a problem getting from Santa Monica to Hollywood, it's pretty straight forward. The 7th street Metro Ctr station at the end of the Blue Line has a transfer Point to the Red Line that runs all the way to Hollywood, It's a two train journey. Now I've come in from Azuza so to reach Santa Monica it's a three train journey, I've had to take the Yellow Line all the way to Union Station, transfer to the Red Line, then to the Blue Line at 7th St.
@RJHadleyFlorida2 жыл бұрын
Im an ex Chicago guy who loved the CTA and EL trains. On a recent visit to LA staying in Santa Monica i took the exact same train and like you finding the Metro station was a chore. Once on getting to near Silver Lake was easy. I did use a rental bike from the station back to near where i stay in Santa Monica
@hen-rex Жыл бұрын
I don't understand the hate public transportation gets in the US. When I was in LA I was stuck in traffic for 3 hours during the Summer heading to Santa Monica. And the Expo line in comparison took 45 minutes or so.
@fawfulfan2 жыл бұрын
I love the LA Metro and know it like the back of my hand, the way you know NYC. It's cool to watch someone figure it out on the fly.
@hw62712 жыл бұрын
Unless you live within a ten minute walk of the few stops that exist, this system is just about totally useless. No Express service? Committing by metro is something only a tiny percentage of ppl can honestly do here
@ben-andyhein74972 жыл бұрын
If you'd taken the bus from Wilshire and Ocean and changed at Wilshire and Sta Monica, you could have been on your hike in about an hour. Yes, bus seems slower, but with the construction on the Expo Line [there used to be a shuttle to 7th Metro], that was your bike hole. If you'd taken the PCH bus to Sunset, you could have gotten closer, but the bus runs less frequently. And you didn't magically become used to the NYC subway, you used it for 10 years. Yes, LA Metro could be better, but you could have gone online and planned your trip.
@themoviedealers2 жыл бұрын
You should have got off the train at LaBrea, then take the 212 bus which would have dropped you off within blocks of the entrance to Runyon Canyon. Normally the train would have been quicker even with a longer route, BUT, the track work closure meant the bus ride would have been quicker.
@ACG1861 Жыл бұрын
LA needs desperately a growth of their Metro network. The purple line will be extended until UCLA, but it's necessary other extensions.
@nirsholiday4913 Жыл бұрын
As a tourist, we used the Metro from Hollywood to Santa Monica. It was very easy, quick and cheep. No parking problems. Perfect service!
@CancelYoutube0266 ай бұрын
Santa Monica is the best line.
@vitasoy14372 жыл бұрын
I have tried taken a "leisure" ride from Monterey Park to Santa Monica 2x now. It takes 2 hours coz I have to walk to a nearby bus station to get to 7th/Metro, which is an hour, and the transfer, which takes me straight to the end of the line is another hour. The last time I do it, I didn't tap my card on the bus properly, so even though I paid, the fare wasn't loaded. I had to pay again when I was transferring. After riding the metro trains and busses are few times, I am surprised the busses are much cleaner compared to the trains. The trains usually has trash and that smell, and the busses don't.
@whatsonhermind17683 жыл бұрын
I really loved this video!! I have heard so many things about how bad the metro is in la compared to places like nyc and Chicago but I like how you actually show it
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
Thanks!! It’s not necessarily bad, just less convenient IMO
@hw62712 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello lol take the long beach line at night and you will quickly think different
@TohaBgood22 жыл бұрын
@@hw6271 Hey hater! Still trolling against public transportation I see. Cool!
@Aasinp2 жыл бұрын
I don't get it. If he's an original New Yorker, why only ten years on the NY subways? I'm from New Jersey and taken the the subways more than him somehow.
@swicheroo12 жыл бұрын
Next time get an all day pass. Right now, it costs the same as two fares on the Metro. And you get unlimited access until 3 am the following day. You will find that the Metro is great for bridging long distances quickly but you need to combine it with a bus to hit with pinpoint accuracy. I live in West LA and own a car. But I find the Metro/Bus system very useful for local distances, when parking is an issue. I just returned from a vacation. And found out I could take the Culver City bus from LAX to a stop 3 blocks from my house. It cost a dollar and was just as fast as an Uber. The bus was uncrowded and safe. And there were also students from UCLA who were doing the same thing! Saved my 65 bucks!
@gracioussunchild9877 Жыл бұрын
Don’t even get me started with the atrocity of Google Maps Transit directions in LA…lolll
@louiswhite4909 Жыл бұрын
It is also very touristy to call Hollywood “the Eastside”, although it is east of Santa Monica. LA. Is so big spread out Runyon is not even east Hollywood. The way I translate directions to people not from here. The beach areas from Malibu to El Segundo heading east is the “lower-Westside”. Passed “the” 405 is the westside up until Main Street or just east of “the”110 Freeway. The Eastside begins east of Main street.
@loui302 жыл бұрын
As a L.A. native I have never taken the Metro, and would imagine exactly this experience, which is why I depend on my car.
@mariajosesaizlopez357411 ай бұрын
That’s why people of LA prefers their cars
@jasminegonzales42622 жыл бұрын
Hello! LA metro worker here, whenever a train doesn’t go all the way to its usual final destination, we usually provide free shuttle buses. Did they not announce shuttle buses ? I find it strange that there wasn’t employees directing patrons to the shuttle buses. I’m sorry you had to walk/scootered and go through the trouble of finding 7th/metro station.
@jasminegonzales42622 жыл бұрын
Also if you did take too long to where your transfer expired, always find a worker and we will gladly get you in for free because tourists get lost all the time and their transfer expires.
@MichaelMartello2 жыл бұрын
Great to know, thanks! There was a free bus shuttle but I willingly chose to take the bike. I believe I said that in the vid but should have been more clear
@jasminegonzales42622 жыл бұрын
@@MichaelMartello oh ok maybe I missed you saying that. Glad you had fun tho.
@lewr37382 жыл бұрын
The expo line connects to the red line at 7 and metro.
@schellenator9 ай бұрын
It makes me sad to see this trip being so much more arduous than it should have been. Transferring from the E line (Expo) to the B line (Red) should be incredibly simple at the 7th Street Metro center, can the train made it there. Maybe this interruption was due to construction of the Regional Connector? Don't give up hope! LA Metro can be very liberating to use if you take the time to learn it's quirks and limitations, and enjoy NOT being in a car!
@hikecamptrekk1540 Жыл бұрын
Another faster option is The Big Blue Bus from Santa Monica to Wilshire and Western and then the Purple line to Wilshire/Vermont and then the Red Line to Hollywood and highland
@joelmoreno42232 жыл бұрын
Only someone from Santa Monica would call Hollywood the 'east side.' For a native Angeleno there's a whole lot more territory to cover heading east before you get to the 'east side.' Well, we'll see how much transit improvements LA can accomplish before the next Summer Olympics, really, only five years of building time. Not much time really. Angelenos will probably be seeing a lot of road detours, closures, and resulting added congestion during the next six years or so. I've read that they're studying bringing back the electric street cars. Good luck, be patient, stay cool.
@user-bb4on2sm3m Жыл бұрын
Great video and very informative. I’m flying out to LA from Germany in July and plan to use the metro to get around the sites with my family. Should be fun.
@brentsummers7377 Жыл бұрын
Pretty frustrating for tourists too. Back in the day there were bus companies that would do 1 day tours from the Disneyland area to places such as Universal Studios, Longbeach Queen Mary etc. And the same company did transfers from LAX to the Disneyland area. Last time I was in L.A. I hired a car to get around and that was 10x easier than public transport.
@MrStevenjv2 жыл бұрын
Years ago way before the Metro was even built I tried to take the bus from Mt Washington via Figueroa/Santa Monica Blvd to Santa Monica to have a day at the beach. Should have left at dawn - it took 2 1/2 hrs each way - no express buses going west and coming back - no express buses. My first Metro ride was between Hollywood and downtown LA when there was only that one line operating. Nice looking stations and notice in this video they have added fare gates. When it first opened they had an honor system w/LA cops checking fares.
@CancelYoutube0266 ай бұрын
you can go to universal studio soley by LA metros now.
@BDavinci064 ай бұрын
This was me about 20 years ago when I visited L. A I saw my uncle out there. The LA Subway in his built up. As it is now, but having to walk everywhere is a huge challenge even as in New Yorker. Oh yes, the crosswalks take a huge amount of time even when you think you have the light. I had a driver yell at me saying I was crazy for Jaywalking while on the crosswalk. Although it was impossible, I managed to get to where I was going. And you're talking to a person who took a bus from Downtown LA to Disneyland and back. The thing ISL a Sol's spread apart. That you can't even get to certain places within walking distance. You literally have to drive everywhere. Except in Downtown LA and in Hollywood, where it's somewhat walkable. I would love to come back to LA 20 years after my first visit and see the vast improvements they have made on it's Subway/Light Rail system. And start getting used to LA traffic!!
@Violinna3 жыл бұрын
Omg thanks for making this video. This NY-er here is about to take her first trip to LA. Hopefully it's less crowded after labor day. Probably gonna get unlimited pass
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
Good luck and enjoy LA!!
@danielleporter18292 жыл бұрын
Hope you kept the TAP card you bought for this trip. Ir's reloadable , you can call the regional TAP service center or got to a station , or go online to find vendors like Ralph's supermarkets near you to reload or add more stored value. The RTSC number is on the top of the back of the card and the Tap card number starts with zero and is on the bottom right hand corner on the back of the card. You'll need that when you call to reload or to add $ to it. If you do call the RTSC to add $, do it a couple of days before you plan on traveling. As a rule of thumb, it can take up to 48 hours for any money to be posted on the card, but really it's on there within 24-36 hrs at most. You can also call RTSC to register your TAP card, and if you lose it and have to buy another one, the CS rep at the service center will see if it is registered in their computer system and transfer any remaining balance from the lost card to the new one.
@SebastienGonzalezChile8 ай бұрын
I've just visited LA and I found the metro system pretty good. I also used Metrolink to go to Burbank and I love it.
@LAPKMMEX2 жыл бұрын
I'm from LA but am currently in the military so I haven't lived in LA for about 3yrs and a half but from I remember all you have to do is tap on the other station and it automatically transfers and it's simple as that I'm pretty sure you got off too early but either way looked like a fun trip
@jmtz85612 жыл бұрын
I always loved going on Metro. I used to go with my grandma to her work on the metro railroad but after she got disabled we couldn’t anymore. We still go on the busses but we don’t go on the railway anymore. Long bus trips do scare me a bit whenever my grandma wants to go to downtown LA since it is almost a 1 hour trip on just 1 bus and since she’s on a wheelchair I do have to paw attention to where we are going. But my grandma does know her way around lol.
@Vassil002 жыл бұрын
Doesn't google maps tell you how to get their using Public Transport? ......and take your car or get a moped.
@SeaBassTian2 жыл бұрын
I stayed in DTLA this Spring and I stayed right near the Pershing Square metro station and I was able to get around just fine to destinations like LACMA, the Grove, the Wiltern and (yes) even the Hollywood walk of fame. I had wanted to take the light rail to Santa Monica too but I ran out of time. Next time!
@edwardmiessner65022 жыл бұрын
I'm familiar with the New York City map and on it the 8th Avenue Subway which has the A Train is indicated by a blue line. The LA Metro system map you showed indicated that their A Line is also indicated by blue and used to be called the Blue Line!
@norwegianblue20172 жыл бұрын
I love how New Yorkers and Europeans always want to go to "downtown" when they come to LA and are invariably disappointed. Almost as disappointed as when they got to Hollywood Blvd. LA is a collection of sub-cities and you really have to know it well. Terrible tourist town. Especially if you don't have a car. Oh, and did you notice how intense the sun is and all the hills and how giant the city blocks are? Not exactly like walking around Amsterdam, is it?
@Nagranddan2 жыл бұрын
That's fair enough. I cringe when people want to spend a whole day(?!) at Hollywood. Traffic to get there and it's dirty - apparently it was worse decades ago.There's so much more of California to see than going to something disappointing like Walk of Fame. The problem is if you want to do the best stuff in CA, you'll need to have a car, be OK with spending hours in a car, or be comfortable with flying at least one way. I do wish DTLA was better. There's definitely things to do in that area but the public transit to get there isn't great. A car isn't great bc you need to park the car and also suddenly there are a bunch of 1 way streets and outdated freeway off-ramps. Also paying for parking or circling looking for streetparking. DTLA is called downtown but you'll have plenty of LA people who haven't gone or don't care to make the trip unless there's a good reason. Like you said, LA is a collection of cities - when people talk about LA, they're more likely talking of the LA County / Great Metro area. LA can be great, but it's not easy for a visitor who might be used to public transit or a "definitive" downtown.
@SaberRiryi2 жыл бұрын
Car culture is actually killing LA. Everything is so spread out (as enabled by the car) which means that to get anywhere you either need a car... or live close to the metro in order to participate in society. And it's guaranteed not to be fast. Compare that to denser cities in Europe that actually have good pedestrian/cycling/tram/train infrastructure. And because everything is so spread out, that for the majority of the population, it takes forever just to get to a station. Combine that with the cost of maintaining the infrastructure of such a sprawling city, that there isn't enough money for investment in the kind of infrastructure that would actually improve the city. Not without insane property taxes. It's like of course you're going to have a homeless problem when the city you've built is designed in the most inefficient, and expensive way possible.
@madrilenoboy234 ай бұрын
Mandela effect: I remember that LA NEVER HAD A SUBWAY SYSTEM :OOOO
@Stache9872 жыл бұрын
Did you make it to the Coral Sands, I did 20 years ago, on my last LA trip. Sadly the rattrap is closed for good.
@jbs256 Жыл бұрын
Welcome to L.A. I moved here from Queens in 1977 to go to USC and stayed. I’m a car guy so it’s better here except for the traffic. Do some research on the “Big Red Cars”. Those were the Los Angeles Metro of their time but were ended in the very early sixties. They went everywhere. Metro is using some of the old right of ways now. Some are gone forever. If the Expo went to the end the transfer would have been easy. I assume by now you have the Metro app. It may have told you how to get to the last stop, then. They’re building this huge interchange under downtown to connect the lines. It’s almost ready and have been shown to politicians and press. I can’t ride a bike so I’d have been screwed. I enjoyed seeing your new eyes experiencing L.A. from a current NYC perspective. I know this was a year ago but KZbin just algorithm’d you to my feed. Cool. I enjoyed your video and will check out your channel.
@etherealtb60212 жыл бұрын
Dude, you gotta give up on the Runyan nonsense! Basically you get the same views in any of the hikes around The Observatory and there's plenty of parking! My favorite is the Bird Sanctuary hike, advice the Greek Theatre, with the huge parking lot! Great hikes, great views, no hiking to your hike, no mayhem, no people just trying to be trendy, just relaxing nature and views!
@jak3yeyt38212 жыл бұрын
ive been playing GTA V for 3 years and ive never been to LA but I really want to go lol
@scirasco13 ай бұрын
I lived in la for twenty years allways on the bus or train once the metro came it was fantastic
@travelingtipps3 жыл бұрын
Literally laughed out loud at 6:49. Thanks for sharing what I'm missing by not taking the LA Metro!
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
LOL Hollywood is a weird place! No problem 😂
@CarlosArellanes3 жыл бұрын
I missed California while I was watching your video!!! Great work Michael!
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Carlos!! How can you not miss CA haha
@DukeBX Жыл бұрын
I’m originally from NYC and taking the trains in LA was a breeze. Now it may be a bit more confusing for me because instead of going by the colors of the train lines,they go by letters,like in NYC. Still think the Goldline should have been the G train,not the L train. 🤷🏻♂️
@CancelYoutube0266 ай бұрын
Goldline is E line.
@stevehofmaster42922 ай бұрын
What a journey 😮i cant imagine doing that i would be so lost,but i love LA❤
@KutWrite2 жыл бұрын
Who but a New Yorker would expect 50+ cars to instantly stop for a single pedestrian to cross at his convenience? With the overspending, incompetence, and corruption, it's amazing any part of the LA Metro got built, let alone is reliable and useful to an average inhabitant. With all the billions of "federal" money, I suspect it'll eventually be an asset. Probably just in time for them pushing everyone into "smart & compact" cities and tiny dwellings.
@jackryan52142 жыл бұрын
A mile and a half for a New Yorker? Walk it bro lol..but your right, LA public transit needs work. I believe if it was efficient. There would be less traffic. (Cars)
@EdwardCheek2 жыл бұрын
Not sure why you didn't take the Metrolink all the way into Fig & 7th station where you could easily transfer to the Red Line? Hmm.
@josephyoung67492 жыл бұрын
Who does it benefit not having good public transit or poorly planned transit? Certainly not most people. They're still maintaining a full subway/bus system there, but it seems to not work. No one wants to drive cars everywhere, people should have the right to choose a metro.
@deanm96522 жыл бұрын
Yasss queen! great video.
@KellyKarasi Жыл бұрын
The public transportation in los angeles is awesome easy and cheap, it gets you to lots of different cities, amazingly fun.
@mrwhiteboy13502 жыл бұрын
As an Oregonian I rode the LA metro as well and it was way different than the trimet .
@LACMTAbusfan Жыл бұрын
For Los Angeles starters, use the bus and rail BUT, not the subway because It’s dirty
@joearmendariz31192 жыл бұрын
You can also take flyway bus
@UnderwaterFishFilms8 ай бұрын
is there a tram to downtown la from santa monica?
@CancelYoutube0266 ай бұрын
yes. yellow line up to a line. can take bus to anywhere.
@JerEditz2 жыл бұрын
Funny enough, the Expo line connected to the Red Line on 7th street. There should have been stairs either adjacent or across the street. Biking through DTLA was actually a detour you didn't have to take. but then again there must of been some maintenance. As for the LA Metro, it has done me well at times. I anticipate more metro lines for the city.
@nataliajimenez18702 жыл бұрын
Sometimes weekend maintenance is done. When that happens there are buses that would take you around the closed segment of the train line (this work is very common for the Blue and Expo Lines around Washington)
@JerEditz2 жыл бұрын
@@nataliajimenez1870 it's nice to know they have bus lines to accommodate riders during maintenance. Because keeping transit moving without hindrance is a challenge during some projects
@walterulasinksi70312 жыл бұрын
Your inexperience shows. Even if you have travelled the NYC subway system for only ten years, you still should be able to read a subway map. In reading the map you would see that all you needed to do, was to exit the Expo line and go downstairs to get the Red Line to Hollywood. While you must tap again ,it is a free transfer. Your other mistake was to only purchase a single fare card. A day card while sightly more expensive, would give you access to any of the public transit fir the day despite how many lines or trips.
@williamanderson4999 Жыл бұрын
Thirty to forty year from now. My opinion. LA will out populate NYC. When all train connections are done. From LA to Victorville. Bakersfield, San Diego, and Santa Barbara.
@mariepaulinebarajas96762 жыл бұрын
Welcome to Cali my friend. You look frazzled. But some friendly advice I'm not sure anyone else shared this with you but I recommend you purchase a "Day pass" the next time you want adventure out like this again. It's a whole lot cheaper!! And you can use it on ALL BUSES!!! And plan your trip on "metro trip planner" it's a whole better and it saves time and it saves you from having to walk around for so long and prevents you from getting lost!! Try out the other trains they are fun and great things to see!!! Trust me I've been on almost all of them and I love it!!! Thanks for this!!! I enjoyed watching you. Take care.
@deucefly10622 жыл бұрын
I lived in L.A. from 1992 to 1996. Back then, if you did not own a car (like me), you were riding the bus. There was no Metro rail back then. I lived in Hollywood and took the bus to Pasadena to go to school, the Valley to work, Downtown L.A., Santa Monica, etc. Yes, it took forever to get around but the L.A. bus system was great for those of us with no vehicle. I wish the Metro Rail that exist today was in place 30 years ago.
@chevyyyyyyy2 жыл бұрын
Who is making the thumping sound and where is it coming from?
@koryhickox34793 жыл бұрын
I was just in Santa Monica on Saturday and spent $33 to Uber to WeHo, plus I had to wait 30 minutes. Would have loved to have taken the metro and saved a couple bucks
@MichaelMartello3 жыл бұрын
Uber has been very expensive lately! If only the metro was a bit more convenient, but definitely cheaper
@concertino582 жыл бұрын
You could take the Expo line, get off on Palms and then taken an Uber from there and it would've been cheaper.
@cutubaina2 жыл бұрын
Where have you been Mr Martello.
@trexinvert28 күн бұрын
Hey Michael, you need to do this route again. I think you can go from gold line to red line on 7th street station. Not all the way to grand central like before. Should be way faster.
@trainrover Жыл бұрын
oof! ought to at most take ½ as long...it's not like there'd been other trains or any bridge to contend with
@rayojeda84972 жыл бұрын
Trip should have been from Santa Monica Station into 7th & Metro center and downstairs to the Red Line. Total travel time would have been about an hour. Better luck next time.
@thomasblanchard67782 жыл бұрын
That's the way I did it! LA resident from 1985 thru 2016.
@arcticredpanda45982 жыл бұрын
If you are new to LA, this is pretty accurate.
@TylerHackerJokes8 ай бұрын
Cool video dude! Pretty sure you could’ve just transferred at union station to get on the red line no?