Getting around in Los Angeles
Expats will find getting around Los Angeles a lesson in the art of patience and a prime opportunity to practice inner calm on the way home from yoga class. This 
cartopia is notorious for sluggish and lengthy rush-hours, freeways choked with congestion and commutes nearly as painful as Chinese water torture.
The unfortunate reality is that having a car in Los Angeles is a must as the public transportation system is far from comprehensive, and the expansive nature of the city means many areas remain inaccessible by bus and by rail.
While certain neighbourhoods are pedestrian-friendly, many are not, and it's usually not long before the car-crazed LA mentality has expats driving even the shortest distances.
Los Angeles is a monstrous metropolis, and expats keen to master driving in LA will first and foremost have to familiarize themselves with the cities "blood supply", its roads.
Freeways, interstates and surface ways interweave in a mess of arteries and veins to connect various communities. The system is extensive, but well-maintained, and expats may certainly find it overwhelming initially.
That said, be patient with yourself and purchase a mapbook to help you on your way, the Thomas Guide is generally thought to be the best and the most accurate.
Rush-hour in Los Angeles generally lasts from 6am to 9am and 3pm to 7pm. Some interstates, like the I-405 and the US-101 (called the Ventura Freeway/Hollywood Freeway), are well-known traffic wastelands, while others at least keep commuters consistently moving.
Expats should pay attention to traffic patterns and learn to consult real-time traffic charts before they begin their commute. Planning a route beforehand is the best way to minimise stress and travel time.
Another way to move a little faster through the gridlock is to take advantage of the designated carpool lanes on some freeways. These lanes are demarcated with a white diamond and are generally less congested. Cars with certain occupancy levels can pass through freely and reach their destination slightly faster. Do note that the occupancy levels vary and are strictly enforced, fines for those who wrongfully use this lane start at just below $300.
Parking in Los Angeles is also a concept touched by madness. Some places of interest claim free off-street parking lots, others leave their patrons to take a few turns round the neighbourhood, and still some offer valet parking knowing full-well that the likelihood of finding a parking spot is slim to none. Furthermore, the rules and regulations attached to on-street parking are highly variable.
Best practice in LA is to live in close proximity to most everything of importance - work, school and shopping options.
Public transportation in Los Angeles has improved over recent years, but is still greatly limited in scope and efficiency. Buses and rails are the main modes of transit, with supplementary smaller shuttles operating in the downtown and Hollywood areas.
Commuters using public transportation often need to combine multiple modes of transit to get where they're going.
cartopia is notorious for sluggish and lengthy rush-hours, freeways choked with congestion and commutes nearly as painful as Chinese water torture.The unfortunate reality is that having a car in Los Angeles is a must as the public transportation system is far from comprehensive, and the expansive nature of the city means many areas remain inaccessible by bus and by rail.
While certain neighbourhoods are pedestrian-friendly, many are not, and it's usually not long before the car-crazed LA mentality has expats driving even the shortest distances.
Driving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a monstrous metropolis, and expats keen to master driving in LA will first and foremost have to familiarize themselves with the cities "blood supply", its roads.
Freeways, interstates and surface ways interweave in a mess of arteries and veins to connect various communities. The system is extensive, but well-maintained, and expats may certainly find it overwhelming initially.
That said, be patient with yourself and purchase a mapbook to help you on your way, the Thomas Guide is generally thought to be the best and the most accurate.
Rush-hour in Los Angeles generally lasts from 6am to 9am and 3pm to 7pm. Some interstates, like the I-405 and the US-101 (called the Ventura Freeway/Hollywood Freeway), are well-known traffic wastelands, while others at least keep commuters consistently moving.
Expats should pay attention to traffic patterns and learn to consult real-time traffic charts before they begin their commute. Planning a route beforehand is the best way to minimise stress and travel time.
Another way to move a little faster through the gridlock is to take advantage of the designated carpool lanes on some freeways. These lanes are demarcated with a white diamond and are generally less congested. Cars with certain occupancy levels can pass through freely and reach their destination slightly faster. Do note that the occupancy levels vary and are strictly enforced, fines for those who wrongfully use this lane start at just below $300.
Parking in Los Angeles is also a concept touched by madness. Some places of interest claim free off-street parking lots, others leave their patrons to take a few turns round the neighbourhood, and still some offer valet parking knowing full-well that the likelihood of finding a parking spot is slim to none. Furthermore, the rules and regulations attached to on-street parking are highly variable.
Best practice in LA is to live in close proximity to most everything of importance - work, school and shopping options.
Public tranportation in Los Angeles
Public transportation in Los Angeles has improved over recent years, but is still greatly limited in scope and efficiency. Buses and rails are the main modes of transit, with supplementary smaller shuttles operating in the downtown and Hollywood areas.Commuters using public transportation often need to combine multiple modes of transit to get where they're going.
