Sprawling over an enormous area and notorious for its traffic issues, Los Angeles can be a daunting place to navigate. But if you learn to be savvy about when and how you travel, you can avoid the worst of LA's transport problems. From car rentals to taxis, ride-sharing, and public transit, here's everything you need to know about how to get around the city.
Public transport options in Los Angeles
Though LA is portrayed as a city of freeways, it does have some excellent public transport options – although the usefulness of these services really depends on where you live, as some areas are not connected. However, if you do live on a good train or bus line, this is an excellent and very affordable way to get around. LA Metro is responsible for public transport, and it's a good idea to download the latest version of the Go Metro Los Angeles app to help you get around the city. Across all services, base fares are $1.75, but Metro now uses fare capping instead of weekly passes. This means that once you spend $5 in a day with a TAP card or cash, additional rides that day are free. We recommend getting a TAP card, which makes public transport easy and seamless to use.
Metro Rail
Metro Rail is a light rail and subway system operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority also known as LA Metro. It includes several lines that connect various parts of the city.
Best areas: Metro Rail is ideal for getting around central LA, downtown, Hollywood, and areas near the rail lines. Popular lines include the Red Line (North Hollywood to Union Station), Blue Line (Downtown LA to Long Beach), and Expo Line (Downtown LA to Santa Monica). Fares are covered under the same $1.75 base rate and daily cap system, with discounts still available for seniors, students, and people with disabilities.
Metro Bus
LA Metro operates an extensive network of bus routes covering the entire city. Buses are a convenient way to reach areas not served by Metro Rail. Metro buses are suitable for travelling to neighborhoods and destinations not directly accessible by rail. Again, bus fares start at $1.75 for a one-way trip, which includes transfers to other Metro buses and rail lines. Passes and discounts are available, making bus travel a very affordable option for regular commuters. Bus fares also have the same daily cap as Metro Rail, meaning you will never spend over $5 on your bus tickets.
Commuter Express and Metro Express buses
Commuter Express and Metro Express buses offer limited-stop service, providing quicker connections to key destinations, primarily during peak hours. These buses are designed for daily commuters travelling between the suburbs and downtown LA. They serve areas like the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay, and more. Fares vary by route, distance, and whether you use a TAP card or cash. Monthly passes and discounts are available for regular riders.
DASH buses
DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) buses are a network of short, frequent shuttle routes that primarily serve downtown LA and adjacent neighborhoods and are ideal for exploring downtown LA's attractions, including museums, parks, and cultural sites. Fares are typically $0.50 per ride, and TAP cards can be used for payment.
Metrolink (regional rail)
Metrolink is a regional commuter rail system that connects Los Angeles to surrounding counties, including Orange County, Riverside County, and Ventura County. In general, Metrolink is suitable for commuters travelling longer distances between LA and nearby counties. It provides an alternative to driving on congested freeways. Recently, Metrolink introduced new passes and discounts to increase rail usage. These include the $15 SoCal Day Pass (or $10 on weekends/holidays) for unlimited systemwide travel, the $5 L.A. Zone Day Pass for central stations, and a flexible 5-Day Pass usable within 30 days. There are also increased discounts, including 50% off for students, seniors, people with disabilities, and EBT cardholders, plus new military discounts. Tickets and passes can still be purchased via the Metrolink app, station ticket machines, or Union Station windows.
Driving in Los Angeles
Freeways
As anyone who's seen a movie set in LA could tell you, Los Angeles is known for its extensive network of freeways and highways. The major ones include the I-405 (San Diego Freeway), I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway), I-5 (Golden State Freeway), and I-110 (Harbor Freeway). These freeways allow for fast and efficient travel across the city and its suburbs, but they are subject to painfully slow peak-hour traffic, depending on your route. In general, using the freeways themselves is free, but you may encounter toll lanes (Express Lanes) in some areas that require payment for a faster, less congested commute.
Ridesharing (Uber and Lyft)
Uber and Lyft are popular ridesharing services widely available in Los Angeles. Users can request rides through smartphone apps, and drivers pick them up and drop them off at their desired locations.
Ridesharing is especially convenient for getting around the city, especially for destinations not easily accessible by public transit or when you prefer door-to-door service. Fares vary depending on factors like distance, time, and demand (surge pricing during peak hours). Ridesharing can be competitive in pricing with taxis, but it's not as cheap as it used to be, with costs up about 7% year over year. Uber now offers prepaid ride passes to lock in pricing and in-app surge-avoidance tools.
Cycling in Los Angeles
Cycling has become increasingly popular in LA, with the city expanding its bike lane network. Many neighborhoods have bike-sharing programs, and electric bikes and scooters are also available for rent.
Some areas of LA are bikeable, but, on the whole, LA is not considered a bike-friendly city. However, if you live in neighborhoods like Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and downtown LA, biking can be a great choice, as bike lanes and dedicated bike paths have encouraged cycling in these areas.
You can either buy your own bike or rent one through bike-sharing programs, which typically charge by the hour. New options include electric bikes and electric scooters. Metro Bike Share is operated by Lyft and is shifting focus to e-bikes with more docking stations and new payment options integrated with TAP. Rates vary, and electric bikes tend to carry per-minute fees.
Walking in Los Angeles
Walking is a convenient and eco-friendly way to explore neighborhoods in LA, especially in areas with dense development and attractions like Hollywood, Downtown LA, and Santa Monica. However, given the huge land area of LA, it's obvious that walking isn't ideal for lots of transportation scenarios!
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
