Los Angeles, CA Public Transportation: 5 Ways to Get Around

Posted by Courtney Korb on Monday, August 2, 2021 at 6:52 AM By Courtney Korb / August 2, 2021 Comment

It's no secret that driving in the city of Los Angeles can be time-consuming. The large full-time population and the year-round tourism appeal make the roadways easily congested. Those who prefer to avoid the stress and hassle of driving can utilize the numerous public transit options in Los Angeles. Trains, buses, subways, bikes, and rideshare are all cost-effective transportation options in the city. Read on to become an expert on public transportation in Los Angeles.

Metrolink

Metrolink is a commuter rail system and the largest regional transportation system in Los Angeles. With over 1.5 million daily passengers, Metrolink works to get Los Angeles residents and visitors from point A to point B with ease.

The Metrolink can connect people living in the Santa Clarita community to downtown Los Angeles in one convenient ride. With a nearly 90% accuracy rating, riders can rely on Metrolink 365 days a year.

Several ticket options are available. Every destination and origin station incurs a different price per ticket. However, all of the tickets and passes below include free transfers to connecting buses and trains.

Metrolink Ticket Costs

One-Way Ticket: Valid three hours from the time of purchase and expires at 3 a.m. the following date.
Round-Trip Ticket: Valid to and from the same origin and destination stations. Travel must start no more than three hours from ticket purchase. Tickets expire at 3 a.m. the following date.
Advance Purchase Ticket: Valid up to one year after purchase.
7-Day Pass: Valid for unlimited trips between the same origin and destination stations. Priced at seven one-way trips. Seniors, people with disabilities, and Medicare-eligible individuals receive 25% off. Students receive 10% off.
5-Day Flex Pass: Valid only in the Metrolink Mobile App. Travelers receive five one-day passes. Each of the passes is valid for 30 days after the date of purchase. Travelers must activate the one-day pass when they are ready to begin traveling that day. Compared to the one-way and round trip tickets, this provides a 10% savings.
$10 Weekend Day Pass: Valid only on Saturday and Sunday. Travelers can enjoy unlimited trips throughout the transit system.
Monthly Pass: Valid for unlimited trips between the same origin and destination stations. Monthly passes are only sold between the 25th of the current month and the 14th of the new month.

Metro Bus

LA Metro offers a range of buses to help riders navigate the city daily. Several local bus stops are available. The bus stops are painted orange and are available approximately every two blocks, which positions them outside of some homes. For those who need to get to their final destination more quickly, rapid buses are available. These stops are painted red, and the bus only stops at major intersections.

Los Angeles even has express buses. These are designed to transport riders longer distances. The buses will travel on the freeways to provide efficient transit. The G-Line (Orange) and J-Line (Silver) rapid transit lines are available for those who desire the fastest transportation. These buses have their own busways, which means they bypass normal vehicle traffic.

Metro Bus Ticket Costs

One-Way: $1.75
One-Day Pass: $7
Seven-Day Pass: $25
LIFE Seven-Day Pass (income eligibility only): $19
30-Day Pass: $100
LIFE 30-Day Pass (income eligibility only): $76
Metro Month Pass + zone 1: $122

Metro Rail

The Metro Rail is the Los Angeles subway system. For those who are familiar with navigating subways, they will find the lines are straightforward to follow. Those new to a city will need to give themselves additional time to ensure they get on the right line. Newcomers don't need to worry about the learning curve. After a few trips, riding the metro rail becomes second nature.

The six dedicated rail lines will help riders get to their destinations. The A-Line (Blue) transports individuals to and from downtown Los Angeles to the Long Beach community. The B Line (Red) offers stops between North Holiday and Union Station. The C-Line (Green) goes to and from the Redondo Beach community and Norwalk community. The D-Line (Purple) is the shortest line because it only offers stops between Wilshire/Western and Union Station. The E-Line (Expo) helps riders get from Downtown LA to the Santa Monica community and back. Finally, the L-Line (Gold) provides transit to and from the East Los Angeles community and Azusa community. The same tickets for the Metro Rail also work for Metro Buses.

Metro Rail Ticket Costs

One-Way: $1.75
One-Day Pass: $7
Seven-Day Pass: $25
LIFE Seven-Day Pass (income eligibility only): $19
30-Day Pass: $100
LIFE 30-Day Pass (income eligibility only): $76
Metro Month Pass + zone 1: $122

Metro Bike Share

The Metro Bike Share program is increasingly popular with residents who are only traveling a short distance. Available for rent 24/7, 365 days a year, individuals can reserve a bike, e-bike, or e-scooter through the Metro Bike Share app. By using Metro Bikes, people don't have to rely on bus and train schedules. With several stations between Downtown LA, Central LA, and the North Hollywood community, getting from a Los Angeles condo to an office in the heart of town has never been easier. Payment for Metro Bike Share is only accepted in the app.

Metro Bike Share Ticket Costs

1-Ride: $1.75 per 30 minutes
24-Hour Access: $5 for unlimited free 30 minute rides. Each ride over 30 minutes incurs a $1.75 charge for each half-hour.
30-Day Pass: $17 per month for unlimited free 30 minute rides. Each ride over 30 minutes incurs a $1.75 charge for each half-hour.
365-Day Pass: $150 per year for unlimited free 30 minute rides. Each ride over 30 minutes incurs a $1.75 charge for each half-hour.

Rideshare Options

Several rideshare options are available. Uber currently offers UberX, Uber Comfort, UberXL, Uber Green, and Connect, while Lyft provides Lyft, LyftXL, Lux, Lux Black, and Lux Black XL options.

However, other rideshare options are available for residents to utilize outside of the two above options. RideYellow, Wingz, Swoop, Waze Carpool, and Blacklane are all available for residents at nearly any time of day. All of these options have vetted drivers and tracking services within their dedicated apps. For those who need rideshare options for children, HopSkipDrive and Kango are new companies that are dedicated to providing vetted transportation for children under 18 years old.

Public Transit Moves Los Angeles

People moving to Los Angeles don't need to buy a car to get around the city—though driving in Los Angeles is certainly an option. This city is designed to move millions of people every day through its public transportation options. This means that people can easily enjoy all of the best aspects of the city without ever having to get behind the wheel. Public transit helps people save money on gas and vehicle repairs, making the Los Angeles cost of living more manageable. From shopping and dining to catching a game or riding a wave, public transportation makes it easy to get to all of the most fun things to do in Los Angeles.

If you're looking to make your home in Los Angeles, contact The Brad Korb Real Estate Group with LA Homes at (818) 953-5300 to discover your LA dream home today.