I think Paris' Metro system is the best. I was surprised that many bussiness people went to work on the metro. Here in Los Angeles, the only people that take the Metro are immigrants, blacks,tourist, and students. Mexico City has a great Metro system!
@Rodriguez9181 you think Paris has the best metro system? Are you kidding me? Have you been to any Asian countries? Japan, Korea and China all have far superior (and cleaner) metro systems than western countries.
Our subway is a joke and that's the truth. We need to expand it, but our local administration is doing nothing about it. This city is more polluted than fucking Chernobyl and nobody seems to even notice. Ignorance is bliss
@Myiuth145 We do need to expand, but 300,000 boardings a day is not a joke. Thousands of people use the system in the urbad core of Los Angeles. If you live too far from there, then thats why you would say this. How far do you live outbound?
@jrnavid I'm from Pasadena, but compared to New York and other global cities our subway system is a joke. Heck, ours is even smaller than the one in Bucharest!
@Myiuth145 yeah thats true, Im in Houston right now, lol they have a 7 mile light rail, that it! LA is very advanced, but I wish the car culture would just cease because riding Metro is cheaper and beats traffic
@jrnavid yeah houston's local administration is like the laziest in the country. like that city is so vulnerable to hurricanes it's not even funny, but they aren't even doing drills in the schools to prevent children from drowning or being caught in a collapsing building in case a hurricane does come to that city. there's only one world in the english language that can describe this attitude: stupid. also, the turnout at their local election was 17%. nuff said
@Myiuth145 Lol yes i remember that. I had enough of this laziness and anti rail here in Houston for tha last 5 years, so Im moving back to a real world class city, LA, to enjoy the rails and await High Speed rail later on
As a potential visitor to LA I read conflicting stories about the efficiency of LA's underground/subway system. Some are positive, others not so. As I have no wish to drive in LA I am relying on public transport to get from A to B. So what is it : Good, adequate, useless. Anyone know for sure?
7/24/10 You all are so lucky, here in phoenix the bus drivers are thinking about going on strike because they want more money and they are deleting a few bus routes at a time that we need more.Even though I am from here I can't wait too get out of this state and to a place that has there act together.
We voted in a countywide additional half-cent sales tax for transit improvements, so it looks like the line will be built out to Santa Monica eventually. There's also talk about a loop that will branch off and run through West Hollywood, then rejoin the main line.
I'm quite certain that the city of Los Angeles has well prepared their subway system for the likes an earthquake. California is like the experts on earthquakes, lol.
L.A.'s congested commercial districts, adjacent multifamily residential neighborhoods, and some major surface arteries are as jammed and crowded as any in the U.S. Mass transit infrastructure is becoming politically more viable as people realize that buses alone don't work for long trips. We just voted in a half-cent sales tax for transit funding last November, just before the price of gasoline headed south. I
Los Angeles seems like a great city. Its strange to me that the transit system is small (only 16 transit stations/62 overall, according to wikipedia) in a city of about 4 million people and a metropolitan area amongst the most populous on earth. I know theres plans for extentions but it would still be a lot smaller than Seoul, London, New York City, Paris or Tokyo. Even Madrid which has a similiar city population has a much bigger system. Can anyone explain this? Thanks.
it's a catch 22. a lot of people here would love to take mass transit if it was the most efficient way to get from point a to point b. frankly it's not. many people won't give up their car because it's extremely efficient outside of rush hour. lack of demand isn't there because there's no infrastructure. california has serious budget issues. our federal dollars are going to the war. there's a lot of social reasons too. more people would take mass transit if it was more efficient. we're broke
Unlike most other large cities, Los Angeles is sprawled out over a large area. Up until the end of WWII Los Angeles had a robust trolley and streetcar system but the proliferation of ever farther suburbs and the embrace of the car culture and an extensive freeway system relegated public transit to a 2nd class bus system.
@dmarblue which is a positive thing IMO. With cheap cars, who'd like to be stuck in cramped trolleys sharing seats or - worse - standing butt-to-butt with strangers, maybe even some criminal or pickpockteer? I'd rather stay put 1h in a traffic jam than be 20 min standing in a cramped transit vehicle!
Luckily Los Angeles is still growing, if the government does not encourage development around transit as contrasted to bigger suburbs, then you are doomed. At least San Fransisco is better.
In addition to what has already been said, the first full line of the subway was opened in 1993. The system is quite new, and as building it is expensive ($1.5bil. for one 4.8kn stretch) as it must withstand earthquakes to 7.5(several small faults run through the LA basin, too) and is being built in a crowded metropolis which cannot be disturbed (unlike the early NY, London, & Paris subways). Give the Metro 50 years to expand and it will begin to resemble other major cities' subways.
afh7689- Thanks for your reply. Actually its similiar in Rome- the system there can't be expanded because of the geology under the city and the exceptional number of ancient listed buildings in the vicinity. Its interesting to see the insight into the situation in LA- I suspected the San Andreas vault-line would have significance. thanks.
Excuse me but Houston is more spread out than Los Angeles by at least 150 sq miles but Los Angeles has a much better rail transit system than Houstons..
socialivy- well if you look you will see that I did concede I was wrong- I was just making the point that you were quite rude. I don't want to appear overly-sensitive but asking if I 'was high' wasn't necessary.
I don't know what you mean by "compatibility". Rail is rail; you're going to get ridership no matter what the density is.
You have to remember that wilderness is included in LA's land area, so that drags the density down. Still, there are areas that could go toe to toe with Boston and even NYC. Some include Westlake, Koreatown, and Pico Union, all of which have average densities of 30,000+ ppsm. That's several square miles of density, not "one or two" as you describe. Look it up.
@denny906 Is that the only one they are building? Even the Purple Line is going to be hard pressed to get any funds out of the locked coffers that make up the city gov., unfortunately.
It doesn't really. Metro police randomly enter the trains, or are waiting at train stations. So it's just best to buy a ticket. And if you don't, you better pray that no police come on board!
lol, i am riding red line for about ah.. 4 month (from santamonica/vermont to hollywood/highland(hollywood High School)) and the only day i saw poliice checking tickets or w/e was yesturday at hollywood/highland when i was exiting the car.. that was funny, half of students just hid on the first floor until police is gone XD
RIP Jaime Pasillas
EastLASaborFactory 4 weeks ago
New York: The only city where 51% of people do not own a car an 49% prefer the car. Best of both worlds.
Los Angeles: Have fun on the 405!
ComedyStanCam 2 months ago
I remember being on a subway train when I was little back in California.
francisjairam 3 months ago
Comment removed
LeeGeorge08 7 months ago
LA has a subway? I never knew that! Is it earthquake proof?
TheTallMan35 7 months ago
Comment removed
LeeGeorge08 7 months ago
I think Paris' Metro system is the best. I was surprised that many bussiness people went to work on the metro. Here in Los Angeles, the only people that take the Metro are immigrants, blacks,tourist, and students. Mexico City has a great Metro system!
Rodriguez9181 8 months ago
@Rodriguez9181 you think Paris has the best metro system? Are you kidding me? Have you been to any Asian countries? Japan, Korea and China all have far superior (and cleaner) metro systems than western countries.
Allawahguy 7 months ago
Does the Sub way run all over LA?
veeseee128 9 months ago
@veeseee128 no!
rodgermourtagh 8 months ago
Sounds like the redline in Boston (MBTA) comment if u agree :)
redsoxguy617 11 months ago
Our subway is a joke and that's the truth. We need to expand it, but our local administration is doing nothing about it. This city is more polluted than fucking Chernobyl and nobody seems to even notice. Ignorance is bliss
Myiuth145 1 year ago
@Myiuth145 We do need to expand, but 300,000 boardings a day is not a joke. Thousands of people use the system in the urbad core of Los Angeles. If you live too far from there, then thats why you would say this. How far do you live outbound?
jrnavid 11 months ago
@jrnavid I'm from Pasadena, but compared to New York and other global cities our subway system is a joke. Heck, ours is even smaller than the one in Bucharest!
Myiuth145 11 months ago
@Myiuth145 yeah thats true, Im in Houston right now, lol they have a 7 mile light rail, that it! LA is very advanced, but I wish the car culture would just cease because riding Metro is cheaper and beats traffic
jrnavid 11 months ago
@jrnavid yeah houston's local administration is like the laziest in the country. like that city is so vulnerable to hurricanes it's not even funny, but they aren't even doing drills in the schools to prevent children from drowning or being caught in a collapsing building in case a hurricane does come to that city. there's only one world in the english language that can describe this attitude: stupid. also, the turnout at their local election was 17%. nuff said
Myiuth145 11 months ago
@Myiuth145 Lol yes i remember that. I had enough of this laziness and anti rail here in Houston for tha last 5 years, so Im moving back to a real world class city, LA, to enjoy the rails and await High Speed rail later on
jrnavid 11 months ago
As a potential visitor to LA I read conflicting stories about the efficiency of LA's underground/subway system. Some are positive, others not so. As I have no wish to drive in LA I am relying on public transport to get from A to B. So what is it : Good, adequate, useless. Anyone know for sure?
Wallydaft 1 year ago
I love the LA underground, it's a LOT better than what we have in Stockholm.
AndreDevecserii 1 year ago
Comment removed
AndreDevecserii 1 year ago
I know how to drive those trains!
fireman6710 1 year ago
7/24/10 You all are so lucky, here in phoenix the bus drivers are thinking about going on strike because they want more money and they are deleting a few bus routes at a time that we need more.Even though I am from here I can't wait too get out of this state and to a place that has there act together.
djskum2002 1 year ago
Was this before they put those monitors in?
funnyjake101 1 year ago
train sounds like the DC Metro
Monisrocks 1 year ago
You should see this line at rush hour.
Kenikex 1 year ago
@Kenikex rite im on it everyday omw home from school HECTIC !
iiMMrcalii 1 year ago
They plan to extend the purple line to west la right?? On wilshire blvd?? And also a plan o connect Carson to downtown?
DaygoJer 2 years ago
We voted in a countywide additional half-cent sales tax for transit improvements, so it looks like the line will be built out to Santa Monica eventually. There's also talk about a loop that will branch off and run through West Hollywood, then rejoin the main line.
Pithecanthropus2483 2 years ago
sounds like some metro cars in DC
Monisrocks 2 years ago
The Frisco subway came through the Loma Prieta quake without a scratch and it was bigger than a 7.
denny906 2 years ago
imagine if there was a really bad earth quake?
kb6eyc 2 years ago 2
I'm quite certain that the city of Los Angeles has well prepared their subway system for the likes an earthquake. California is like the experts on earthquakes, lol.
Timsierramist 2 years ago 3
well. i heard that the can hold up to 7.5
kb6eyc 2 years ago
That may not sound impressive, but the subways are actually one of the safest places to be during an earthquake in all of Los Angeles.
The trains are designed to stop during seismic activity, and during heavy earthquakes, remain stopped until inspected.
As an example, during the Northridge 6.8 earthquake, the subways had no damage and were returned to operation shortly after.
Even the movie Independence day chips in.
"Today was the first day I used the subway...Thank God for the Metro Rail!"
Timsierramist 2 years ago
ok. yeah my dad and i like riding on them. cant wait for the expo line!
kb6eyc 2 years ago 3
@Timsierramist even during little ones they stop the trains and proceed at 10 mph to check for debris in the track.
chillaxer1993 2 years ago
so slow? Oo
GottaBeFirst 2 years ago
they sound exactly like the cars braiking in dc....check them out.....they sound exactly the same
TrainsforGTA 2 years ago
L.A.'s congested commercial districts, adjacent multifamily residential neighborhoods, and some major surface arteries are as jammed and crowded as any in the U.S. Mass transit infrastructure is becoming politically more viable as people realize that buses alone don't work for long trips. We just voted in a half-cent sales tax for transit funding last November, just before the price of gasoline headed south. I
Pithecanthropus2483 3 years ago
Was that the fare inspector at 0:43, if you freeze it correctly.
jackiechan511 3 years ago
Los Angeles seems like a great city. Its strange to me that the transit system is small (only 16 transit stations/62 overall, according to wikipedia) in a city of about 4 million people and a metropolitan area amongst the most populous on earth. I know theres plans for extentions but it would still be a lot smaller than Seoul, London, New York City, Paris or Tokyo. Even Madrid which has a similiar city population has a much bigger system. Can anyone explain this? Thanks.
CULAVE 3 years ago 5
it's a catch 22. a lot of people here would love to take mass transit if it was the most efficient way to get from point a to point b. frankly it's not. many people won't give up their car because it's extremely efficient outside of rush hour. lack of demand isn't there because there's no infrastructure. california has serious budget issues. our federal dollars are going to the war. there's a lot of social reasons too. more people would take mass transit if it was more efficient. we're broke
mediaxpuppet 3 years ago 8
mediaxpuppet-Thankyou for your reply, it does give some explanation. I know Los Angeles has a large highway system, so perhaps that replaces it....
Thanks.
CULAVE 3 years ago
Unlike most other large cities, Los Angeles is sprawled out over a large area. Up until the end of WWII Los Angeles had a robust trolley and streetcar system but the proliferation of ever farther suburbs and the embrace of the car culture and an extensive freeway system relegated public transit to a 2nd class bus system.
dmarblue 3 years ago 14
dmarblue- thanks for that. I knew there was an extensive freeway system and that explains its importance. regards
CULAVE 3 years ago
@dmarblue which is a positive thing IMO. With cheap cars, who'd like to be stuck in cramped trolleys sharing seats or - worse - standing butt-to-butt with strangers, maybe even some criminal or pickpockteer? I'd rather stay put 1h in a traffic jam than be 20 min standing in a cramped transit vehicle!
lotwyo 1 year ago
@dmarblue
Luckily Los Angeles is still growing, if the government does not encourage development around transit as contrasted to bigger suburbs, then you are doomed. At least San Fransisco is better.
Scoinsoffaterocks 9 months ago
In addition to what has already been said, the first full line of the subway was opened in 1993. The system is quite new, and as building it is expensive ($1.5bil. for one 4.8kn stretch) as it must withstand earthquakes to 7.5(several small faults run through the LA basin, too) and is being built in a crowded metropolis which cannot be disturbed (unlike the early NY, London, & Paris subways). Give the Metro 50 years to expand and it will begin to resemble other major cities' subways.
afh7689 3 years ago 3
afh7689- Thanks for your reply. Actually its similiar in Rome- the system there can't be expanded because of the geology under the city and the exceptional number of ancient listed buildings in the vicinity. Its interesting to see the insight into the situation in LA- I suspected the San Andreas vault-line would have significance. thanks.
CULAVE 3 years ago
The overall population might be large but the density isn't.
To move an equivalent number of people you would have to build a much larger system then you have in those other city's.
What makes the subway work in New York is the fact that when you get off the train you have a relatively short trip to your destination.
In L.A. because of it's size that would not be possible.
bornbillsmith 3 years ago
bornbillsmith- indeed; it seems that where New York City, Chicago, Houston build up, Los Angeles sprawls out. Thanks
CULAVE 3 years ago
Comment removed
denny906 3 years ago
Excuse me but Houston is more spread out than Los Angeles by at least 150 sq miles but Los Angeles has a much better rail transit system than Houstons..
denny906 3 years ago
denny906- You could be right about the 'city proper'. But metro LA is definately much more spread out (I mean the whole conurbation)
Houston is fast growing though.
CULAVE 3 years ago
Um, are you high or something? The Houston metro area is well over twice the size of the Los Angeles area, yet has only 1/3 the population of LA.
socalivy 2 years ago
socialivy- yes, ive looked at the figures and I concede I was wrong about the area size. Its just on the map it looks bigger.
CULAVE 2 years ago
Why would someone thumbs me down when I was admitting I was wrong? Wanker;
CULAVE 2 years ago
socalivy- looking again at your comment, its quite rude- no need for that just because we 'had' different views.
CULAVE 2 years ago
CULAVE...
Different views? It's a matter of fact, NOT opinion.
socalivy 2 years ago
socialivy- well if you look you will see that I did concede I was wrong. I was just making the point that you were quite rude. It wasn't necessary.
CULAVE 2 years ago
socialivy- well if you look you will see that I did concede I was wrong- I was just making the point that you were quite rude. I don't want to appear overly-sensitive but asking if I 'was high' wasn't necessary.
CULAVE 2 years ago
Well, guess what. You ARE being overly-sensitive. You conceded that you were wrong AFTER I made my comment.
socalivy 2 years ago
Bornbillsmith, you're wrong about the density. LA has census tracts that are comparable to those in Manhattan.
And LA's physical size (land area) is totally irrelevant. NYC is large in land area, but things are concentrated in one small area (Manhattan).
LA needs to focus more of its development within its central core. Mass transit in LA can work.
socalivy 2 years ago
You miss my point.
There are areas in LA where the density can be compatible but only for a mile or two.
I live in New York and I've been to LA and LA isn't even as dense as Boston.
Density is only part of it.
By the way things are not concentrated in Manhattan as you think.
If Brooklyn was a city by itself it would have a population almost as big as LA with a density 30 percent higher.
You can Google that.
Check your facts before you take a position and then we can discuss the issues.
bornbillsmith 2 years ago
I don't know what you mean by "compatibility". Rail is rail; you're going to get ridership no matter what the density is.
You have to remember that wilderness is included in LA's land area, so that drags the density down. Still, there are areas that could go toe to toe with Boston and even NYC. Some include Westlake, Koreatown, and Pico Union, all of which have average densities of 30,000+ ppsm. That's several square miles of density, not "one or two" as you describe. Look it up.
socalivy 2 years ago
A) Earthquakes B) It's too late really to build a lot more
famousamosguy 2 years ago
A) Earthquakes have absolutely NOTHING to do with it.
B) It's NOT too late and more is being built as we speak.
socalivy 2 years ago 2
They're extending/building a new subway in LA?!
Timsierramist 2 years ago
@Timsierramist The Purple Line subway extension to the beach only needs funding to begin construction.
denny906 2 years ago
@denny906 Is that the only one they are building? Even the Purple Line is going to be hard pressed to get any funds out of the locked coffers that make up the city gov., unfortunately.
Timsierramist 2 years ago
@denny906 thats why their building the expo line, but expanding the subway would be ideal however its too expensive.
chillaxer1993 2 years ago
Is that the fare inspector at 0:40. If you look to the left of your screen you'll see him/her.
jackiechan511 4 years ago
Nicely done.
jimritem 4 years ago
how does proof-of-payment or fare collection work on the red line.
jackiechan511 4 years ago
It doesn't really. Metro police randomly enter the trains, or are waiting at train stations. So it's just best to buy a ticket. And if you don't, you better pray that no police come on board!
SGTkendo 4 years ago
lol, i am riding red line for about ah.. 4 month (from santamonica/vermont to hollywood/highland(hollywood High School)) and the only day i saw poliice checking tickets or w/e was yesturday at hollywood/highland when i was exiting the car.. that was funny, half of students just hid on the first floor until police is gone XD
sergi5122 4 years ago
what station is this at?? I install the posters inside the trains!! cool easy job!!
alonzo2k 4 years ago
nice. the sound could be louder, but I like it.
Bluelineexpress 4 years ago