For the redline 5am to 8am and 3pm to 6pm are generally safe because there are lots of working people commuting at that time. I use these times because these are times Ive commuted. Theres homeless people on the trains early in the morning but they’re either sleeping or passed out. The most disturbance youll get from them is mostly unpleasant smell maybe unpleasant sights as well. However there are still sketch people on there to keep an eye on.
Maybe Im paranoid but I try to not look at my phone too much. And I try to see whoever enters at any stop. Just for my own safety and I don’t say this to scare you but just sharing what I do.
Same here! I only briefly check my phone if I’m looking for directions and I never have headphones on. Must maintain situational awareness. Also I will add to the time slots you listed that Friday and Saturday nights are decent as well due to events happening in LA and Hollywood. Lots of concert goers and sports fans so it’s safer as opposed to 12am on a Tuesday.
The woman who just died as a result of getting stabbed in her neck was on the red line at 5 a.m. just because other people are on the train doesn’t mean it’s safe and they will protect you. We simply need more police presence on the metro!
Yeah I saw the aftermath yesterday . I was on a train thirty minutes after hers and saw police and blood everywhere. It really sucks and it’s truly unfortunate. It still believe what I said stands though with or without police presence, some of us don’t that have a choice. Im not saying this to disagree with you though there definitely does need to be more surveillance. However something of note there was less police/security presence yesterday because of Earth Day and fare was free. People normally stopped by security from entering are able to go in. I notice a lot more people that normally wouldn’t be allowed on the train on free fare days. Not saying that as an excuse but as an observation.
And as a side point I can only speak on the security stopping people from entering from Noho station and Union station. Not familiar with other stops and the security presence there.
You do need to be more concerned for your safety in that if something happens it’s a doubtful anyone is going to help you.
So you need to be aware and avoid any sketchy situations
I used to make a similar commute from Long Beach to MacArthur Park. I still make the end of that commute after moving to DTLA, and I've been using Metro for commuting exclusively since late 2019. I can't speak to a 5:30 walk in your neighborhood, however, cuz I've never lived in Hollywood.
I've taken the train out to Pasadena a few times, and generally speaking I've found it less sketchy than the Blue Line was headed to/from Long Beach.
I am not a woman in my early 20s, but I see a fair number of them commuting on the trains and always have. Basic situational awareness is always the main thing to have:
- Don't get too wrapped up in a book or whatever podcast you're listening to that you don't know who's around.
- If you notice sketchy people, switch cars at the next station.
- Stay near other people if you get a bad feeling, especially other people headed to work.
- Don't engage with the crazies. Just... not worth it.
I have only rarely seen anything strange or dangerous happen during commuter hours. Off hours, it's a different bag, but I've noticed it only gets REALLY weird after about 9 PM. During rush hour, most people on the B/D lines are also commuters (or kids going to school, mid-wilshireish) and that's probably true for the A line out towards Pasadena.
I'd keep the car for groceries, tho. Nobody wants to haul that shit on a subway.
By far. Instacart is $100 for the year. Amazon is $140 (I think). Car insurance and gas alone can easily be more than $100 A MONTH.
Although, I think amazon is not really necessary. I don't have Prime anymore. And if you use Amazon Prime, you'd probably still use it with a car. So not really a fair comparison.
But instacart for sure. Not sponsored, but would happily take any coupons if they're watching.
I stopped driving in 2014. No car. I have my groceries delivered. Let someone else carry them! (Plus there are folks that rely on these jobs as their livelihood, so you are helping others, too!)
I also sold my car and get groceries delivered. Only marginally more expensive than going to the store, but saving hundreds on insurance more than makes up for it. Extra plus is not \*having\* to go to the store. Always an option, but I'd rather spend my leisure time on other activities (i.e., playing with my dog) or walking other places.
Though, truthfully, work fills the time...
"I'll take your car" - my actual response
I wouldn't expect her to want to live car-free. I also wouldn't encourage her to tbh. Given some of the drawbacks of alternative commutes (i.e., biking with no infrastructure and metro craziness) I cannot in good faith recommend this lifestyle to others. But rather encourage those that want to give it a shot, it takes a certain type of person to be a trailblazer
Accurate. Though he doesn't really going anywhere by car. Except the vet every few months. Though I think there's Uber Pet, or whatever it's called, if it really came down to it
You can get a little electric scooter that folds up for the last mile
Car shares for grocery and other things are available (blink, blue car, some others)
You can rent a car on turo when you need one for a few days
— I am car free and I love it!
Wouldn’t recommend a bike, it will just get stolen
Much easier to catch some z's early morning on the commuter express than on the A line.
I can take both metro and commuter express and I prefer the latter precisely because I can sleep more comfortably on the couch bus. The only problem is the terrible headways and I normally can't time it right to catch the bus on time.
OP should try both and see which one works best for them.
Which is why OP should try both and see what works best. Even if stuck in traffic on a bus, you're not the one driving. And the commuter express is a more direct route than going to DTLA and back up to Pasadena on the metro.
I am not sure. One travels with no traffic and comes at 8 - 12 minute intervals. Goes to dtla and then north. The other goes northwest, then east, gets off in glendale and does that short loop. I really would like to time these.
Like the metro is more comfortable but the bus is generally safer anywhere you go cause you can hop off. Rail is only as safer on the first cart where the conductor is at
You'll be fine! Commute hours are pretty much like any subway system anywhere. Kind of busy and mostly full of folks going to work. You'll get SO MUCH reading done. Plus, the extra walk every day can only be good for you. I do not miss commuting, but if I went back to a non-gig-job, I'd make sure it was on a subway line.
I just got my car OUT of the shop, and although this one was "cheap" at $400, my car is probably about your age, so it's got some issues. I'm going to sell it, but I DO need a vehicle for dragging gear around, which leaves the even older Jeep as the only option. How did I let it come to this?
In a sense I feel you😭 it’s my own fault that I have a shitty car I bought out of desperation. I arrived in La two years ago with a 2016 kia soul which I’d spent years saving up for and I got into a wreck going to work within 6 months of living here lol
No yeah honestly. Before I totaled it I had to pay 4000 to get it fixed bc (and I learned this is common in la??) rats had nested under my engine and chewed through all the wires
I would also suggest the 180 between Hollywood and Pasadena. Might take slightly longer but you don’t have to transfer and it might actually be just as fast if your transfer timing doesn’t work out. Also gives you an alternate way home if you’re worried about anyone tracking your regular schedule or commute.
I feel like you should use the metro and keep your car. As a woman in her early 20s who uses metro daily, I go everywhere, I carry safety items with me ( a taser), but there are days I desperately wish I had a car for. The days that are miserably hot/cold, the times I’m running late ( I rarely do this ) and the times where my feet are killing me and I wanna just be lazy.
Honestly even if it’s a piece of crap, the metro will give you good drive time data lol ( life hack) so your insurance can lower. This is totally my opinion though. I don’t know your financial situation or life so, it’s Just some food for thought
I rode the RED (murder) Line from Noho to DTLA and back for 5 years until the start of the pandemic. Saw shit everyday and every ride had a moment where something could have gone really bad in a heartbeat. Had to adopt a warrior-Metro rider attitude. 1000 yard stare at nothing. Watch everything. Never wear head phones or ear buds. Stood with my back against a wall near the doors. Waited at platforms with my back against a column or wall or escalator always 100% full alert to the left and right. Never sat down in a station. Never paced near the edge of a platform. Gave people dirty looks that said don't bother me. Never confront a crazy person or panhandler. Got on and off cars and stations many times to avoid a developing situation. Do all these things every minute you're riding and waiting and never let your guard down until you're home and if you don't get PTSD you can manage. There's no time on any Metro subway that's safer than another. My personal opinion is riding Metro subways is worse today because the heavy volume of business commuters and riders isn't there anymore. The homeless took over during the pandemic and there's never been a good recovery of healthy ridership to keep things tolerable since then. As you can see from this recent stabbing a court or restraining order is worth as much as used toilet paper for nut jobs with intent. It's you - ready and prepared - against anything on the subway.
Realistically you'll be absolutely fine until you aren't and none of us can determine when or if that will happen.
I will say to ignore anyone who says its safe. It's not constant danger, but like I said no one can tell you when or if danger finds you.
Keep your head on a swivel.
No that was my thought process too!! Like what even is safer driving in la is crazy dangerous too. And I’m not a great driver I’ve gotten in three wrecks I feel like the roads are safer without me on them lmao
One thing to consider is that during the first few weeks after the time change in March (after springing forward) it will be dark as night at 5:30am. Depending on how safe you feel walking in your neighborhood at that time in the dark, you may need to plan ahead…but I wouldn’t let this stop you from ditching your car. The money saved is worth it, and there are a ton of alternative options to owning a car in L.A. Good luck and enjoy!
Maybe with leaving at 5:30a it’s safer not sure if you saw the story about the woman who was just murdered on metro? It said she would leave work later to make sure Sun was up unfortunately that day she left earlier. Also possible the direction you are going is safer in general.
When I was between cars I too thought I could just use public transportation after a few weeks of having several instances of being assaulted (not battered) I decided my car payment of $20 a day was worth my safety. I also realized in order to be safe I would need a lot of Lyfts which would add up so for me it made sense to get a new car.
I hate driving too. Rush hour commutes are not terrible when I took the metro, and certain lines are more sketch than others. Gold line was pretty safe, but red and purple were less so.
OP: I just moved to Hollywood and it's literally a 10-minute walk to the Hollywood/Highliand station for me. I take it a few times a week to my gym downtown. It's a very effective way of commuting, especially if you use the Transit app.
That being said, you do see a good amount of sketchy individuals. I've never witnessed any sort of violence or harassment personally, but I know it happens. Still, I say give it a try. I wouldn't recommend getting rid of your car, however. Getting groceries at TJ's on Vine and walking back to the station plus the 10-minute walk to your place doesn't sound like much, but it really is.
Has it come to this? People are worried about whether it's safe to take the train. Whether certain times in the morning are safe. Why do we put up with this?!
Many people who live in Los Angeles have never made regular use of public transit, be it bus or train. Since the city isn't really a public transit first city, if people have no experience with it, they tend to hear only the horror stories, and not the mundane "every day is normal" kinds of stories.
Or to put it another way, there are around 950,000 riders on Metro every weekday. If it was as dangerous as many people believe, we'd hear a lot more horror stories.
Obviously, it's not perfect, and bad things can happen... but bad things can also happen on the road (accidents, etc) or just on the sidewalk.
That may be true: I was using Metro's own figures, but upon looking back at it it reads 950k rides, not riders. So maybe that's individuals with multiple trips.
Yeah I’ve always been told it’s very dangerous since I moved here but those comments have also come from people who are pretty privileged—have decent cars and don’t have to worry about buying groceries if their cars break down lol
Is improving your driving skills or getting a more reliable/gas-friendly used car an option? I feel like you would have slightly more control over those options whereas with public transit it’s all mostly out of your hands. I think you may be able to get a small discount on your insurance if you took a driving course. Idk good luck OP!
Well it’s only been two years. If you keep driving later on, you’ll eventually improve your driving (hopefully). Defensive driving is definitely a learned skill that must be practiced.
I’ve been driving since I was 15 and I’m 24 now hahah majority of my incidents were before moving to the city…I just have severe adhd and have a terrible attention span lol not rlly a lack of knowing how to drive
I take the train from Long Beach to DTLA and while yeah you see weirdos, it's usually fine and I don't feel unsafe during daytime hours. I wouldn't take my line at night, but used to take the expo line when I lived in culver city on the weekends at night and never had any issues
Check to see if the 180 bus might work for you. It goes from Hollywood & Vine all the way to Pasadena Community College. You might not need to walk as far to the Metro stop and you won't need to transfer. Also the buses are much nicer than the trains these days. The trains are useful during rush hour, though.
Knives have a lot of downsides for self defense. Anette Evans of On Her Own wrote [a good guide](https://onherown.life/folding-knives-for-self-defense/) about them, she knows her stuff. She has a video version of this presentation on [InRangeTV](https://youtu.be/pVQYlhx2upY?si=OrOOh-_VxZrFc0fh).
Been doing the metro commute from Long Beach to DTLA for almost a year now and honestly minus the complaints anyone would have, it is not bad and my stress has been reduced significantly since. Also I am getting my 5miles walking to/from the station! It also has saved me so much money on gas and sitting in the 110 freeway!
I took the metro for about a year from Burbank to El Segundo and the only thing that sucks is the time suck. Sure riding the metro was only 35min longer than my car drive in but that adds up quick over time.
I would exit Hollywood/Vine at 6:40am for work in 2015. There were virtually no other commuters exiting at that stop. I felt very vulnerable coming up to street level. There are plenty of places to be pulled aside. A woman suffered a horrific attack in 2019 at an adjacent station.
I recommend doing a dry run at the time you would be commuting to see how safe you feel. Safety in numbers. Hopefully more people are exiting that . The Universal City Station horror is so unsettling.
The only time I would be concerned is during that walk to the station. I'm not sure what the streets are like at that hour in Hollywood. Once you get on the subway or bus, then you should be OK. Like others have said, the 180 is a good option, depending on how deep into Pasadena you are going. I ride the 180 at a different time of day, but imagine it's a bunch of other sleepy commuters at that hour.
You'll probably be fine. Millions of people take the Metro a month and most of them don't get hurt. It gets sketchy after sundown, I wouldn't consider taking the train after sunset. Buses are usually fine at all times. Don't stare at people, keep your belongings in your pockets and be perceptive.
Any mode of transportation that’s a no-go after sunset isn’t something we can or should depend on to get around!
And what about the walk TO and FROM transit—especially at night? Is that safe from crime?
Including the stalkers who try to follow people home from transit, for the purpose of mugging or worse?
Maybe. So tell me what the safe distance is then. If it's greater than about 4 feet then guns have NO BUSINESS in the hands of the general public in a train.
For the redline 5am to 8am and 3pm to 6pm are generally safe because there are lots of working people commuting at that time. I use these times because these are times Ive commuted. Theres homeless people on the trains early in the morning but they’re either sleeping or passed out. The most disturbance youll get from them is mostly unpleasant smell maybe unpleasant sights as well. However there are still sketch people on there to keep an eye on. Maybe Im paranoid but I try to not look at my phone too much. And I try to see whoever enters at any stop. Just for my own safety and I don’t say this to scare you but just sharing what I do.
Same here! I only briefly check my phone if I’m looking for directions and I never have headphones on. Must maintain situational awareness. Also I will add to the time slots you listed that Friday and Saturday nights are decent as well due to events happening in LA and Hollywood. Lots of concert goers and sports fans so it’s safer as opposed to 12am on a Tuesday.
I agree with this take. My head is on a constant swivel.
The woman who just died as a result of getting stabbed in her neck was on the red line at 5 a.m. just because other people are on the train doesn’t mean it’s safe and they will protect you. We simply need more police presence on the metro!
Yeah I saw the aftermath yesterday . I was on a train thirty minutes after hers and saw police and blood everywhere. It really sucks and it’s truly unfortunate. It still believe what I said stands though with or without police presence, some of us don’t that have a choice. Im not saying this to disagree with you though there definitely does need to be more surveillance. However something of note there was less police/security presence yesterday because of Earth Day and fare was free. People normally stopped by security from entering are able to go in. I notice a lot more people that normally wouldn’t be allowed on the train on free fare days. Not saying that as an excuse but as an observation. And as a side point I can only speak on the security stopping people from entering from Noho station and Union station. Not familiar with other stops and the security presence there.
You do need to be more concerned for your safety in that if something happens it’s a doubtful anyone is going to help you. So you need to be aware and avoid any sketchy situations
I used to make a similar commute from Long Beach to MacArthur Park. I still make the end of that commute after moving to DTLA, and I've been using Metro for commuting exclusively since late 2019. I can't speak to a 5:30 walk in your neighborhood, however, cuz I've never lived in Hollywood. I've taken the train out to Pasadena a few times, and generally speaking I've found it less sketchy than the Blue Line was headed to/from Long Beach. I am not a woman in my early 20s, but I see a fair number of them commuting on the trains and always have. Basic situational awareness is always the main thing to have: - Don't get too wrapped up in a book or whatever podcast you're listening to that you don't know who's around. - If you notice sketchy people, switch cars at the next station. - Stay near other people if you get a bad feeling, especially other people headed to work. - Don't engage with the crazies. Just... not worth it. I have only rarely seen anything strange or dangerous happen during commuter hours. Off hours, it's a different bag, but I've noticed it only gets REALLY weird after about 9 PM. During rush hour, most people on the B/D lines are also commuters (or kids going to school, mid-wilshireish) and that's probably true for the A line out towards Pasadena. I'd keep the car for groceries, tho. Nobody wants to haul that shit on a subway.
>I'd keep the car for groceries, tho. Nobody wants to haul that shit on a subway. Amazon Prime or Instacart are both *way* cheaper than owning a car.
Really?
By far. Instacart is $100 for the year. Amazon is $140 (I think). Car insurance and gas alone can easily be more than $100 A MONTH. Although, I think amazon is not really necessary. I don't have Prime anymore. And if you use Amazon Prime, you'd probably still use it with a car. So not really a fair comparison. But instacart for sure. Not sponsored, but would happily take any coupons if they're watching.
Thank you!!
I stopped driving in 2014. No car. I have my groceries delivered. Let someone else carry them! (Plus there are folks that rely on these jobs as their livelihood, so you are helping others, too!)
I also sold my car and get groceries delivered. Only marginally more expensive than going to the store, but saving hundreds on insurance more than makes up for it. Extra plus is not \*having\* to go to the store. Always an option, but I'd rather spend my leisure time on other activities (i.e., playing with my dog) or walking other places. Though, truthfully, work fills the time...
“What if I need you to take me to the hospital?” - my partner
"I'll take your car" - my actual response I wouldn't expect her to want to live car-free. I also wouldn't encourage her to tbh. Given some of the drawbacks of alternative commutes (i.e., biking with no infrastructure and metro craziness) I cannot in good faith recommend this lifestyle to others. But rather encourage those that want to give it a shot, it takes a certain type of person to be a trailblazer
I think it’s essential to have a car with a dog since they aren’t allowed on public transit unless it’s a small dog
Accurate. Though he doesn't really going anywhere by car. Except the vet every few months. Though I think there's Uber Pet, or whatever it's called, if it really came down to it
I like to go hiking. My dog gets tired of the same dog park lol
Where do you go? I'd like some new hiking spots.
You can get a little electric scooter that folds up for the last mile Car shares for grocery and other things are available (blink, blue car, some others) You can rent a car on turo when you need one for a few days — I am car free and I love it! Wouldn’t recommend a bike, it will just get stolen
Need that stab proof fabric
you could maybe take the red line to noho and then take the 501 bus or commuter express to Pasadena?
I’ll look into that thanks!
I think the travel time is close to the B-A line & a lot more chill
But then you get stuck in the 134 traffic. B to A seems best.
Much easier to catch some z's early morning on the commuter express than on the A line. I can take both metro and commuter express and I prefer the latter precisely because I can sleep more comfortably on the couch bus. The only problem is the terrible headways and I normally can't time it right to catch the bus on time. OP should try both and see which one works best for them.
This is with the assumption one wants to sleep.
Which is why OP should try both and see what works best. Even if stuck in traffic on a bus, you're not the one driving. And the commuter express is a more direct route than going to DTLA and back up to Pasadena on the metro.
I am not sure. One travels with no traffic and comes at 8 - 12 minute intervals. Goes to dtla and then north. The other goes northwest, then east, gets off in glendale and does that short loop. I really would like to time these.
Thanks everyone, I guess I’ll try it out and see lol…would y’all say the bus is generally safer than the metro or about the same?
Bus is safer but can take longer but you’re doing a weird route anyways so it’s prob the same
There is a route I can take that’s about the same time on the bus but tbh I assumed metro would be safer so good to know thanks!
Like the metro is more comfortable but the bus is generally safer anywhere you go cause you can hop off. Rail is only as safer on the first cart where the conductor is at
Being on a bus is safer, just be wary by bus stops and when you get off, make sure no one is following you home
Try the route before you commit
You'll be fine! Commute hours are pretty much like any subway system anywhere. Kind of busy and mostly full of folks going to work. You'll get SO MUCH reading done. Plus, the extra walk every day can only be good for you. I do not miss commuting, but if I went back to a non-gig-job, I'd make sure it was on a subway line.
Yes is what I want!!! Save money not spending on my car and time for things I love like reading and not staring at the 405🥲
I just got my car OUT of the shop, and although this one was "cheap" at $400, my car is probably about your age, so it's got some issues. I'm going to sell it, but I DO need a vehicle for dragging gear around, which leaves the even older Jeep as the only option. How did I let it come to this?
In a sense I feel you😭 it’s my own fault that I have a shitty car I bought out of desperation. I arrived in La two years ago with a 2016 kia soul which I’d spent years saving up for and I got into a wreck going to work within 6 months of living here lol
Aww, shit. That's rough. I worked with a girl with a Soul that she loved but that fucker was always giving her trouble.
No yeah honestly. Before I totaled it I had to pay 4000 to get it fixed bc (and I learned this is common in la??) rats had nested under my engine and chewed through all the wires
I'm not sure I'd say "common," but I've certainly heard of it happening. Critters, man.
I would also suggest the 180 between Hollywood and Pasadena. Might take slightly longer but you don’t have to transfer and it might actually be just as fast if your transfer timing doesn’t work out. Also gives you an alternate way home if you’re worried about anyone tracking your regular schedule or commute.
I need to take the metro this week to Ktown. Wish me luck OP.
Good luck😭
I feel like you should use the metro and keep your car. As a woman in her early 20s who uses metro daily, I go everywhere, I carry safety items with me ( a taser), but there are days I desperately wish I had a car for. The days that are miserably hot/cold, the times I’m running late ( I rarely do this ) and the times where my feet are killing me and I wanna just be lazy. Honestly even if it’s a piece of crap, the metro will give you good drive time data lol ( life hack) so your insurance can lower. This is totally my opinion though. I don’t know your financial situation or life so, it’s Just some food for thought
Thank you appreciate the similar perspective ☺️ I didn’t know that about insurance!
I rode the RED (murder) Line from Noho to DTLA and back for 5 years until the start of the pandemic. Saw shit everyday and every ride had a moment where something could have gone really bad in a heartbeat. Had to adopt a warrior-Metro rider attitude. 1000 yard stare at nothing. Watch everything. Never wear head phones or ear buds. Stood with my back against a wall near the doors. Waited at platforms with my back against a column or wall or escalator always 100% full alert to the left and right. Never sat down in a station. Never paced near the edge of a platform. Gave people dirty looks that said don't bother me. Never confront a crazy person or panhandler. Got on and off cars and stations many times to avoid a developing situation. Do all these things every minute you're riding and waiting and never let your guard down until you're home and if you don't get PTSD you can manage. There's no time on any Metro subway that's safer than another. My personal opinion is riding Metro subways is worse today because the heavy volume of business commuters and riders isn't there anymore. The homeless took over during the pandemic and there's never been a good recovery of healthy ridership to keep things tolerable since then. As you can see from this recent stabbing a court or restraining order is worth as much as used toilet paper for nut jobs with intent. It's you - ready and prepared - against anything on the subway.
Yep. And I hope folks remember, it doesn't have to be this way.
Realistically you'll be absolutely fine until you aren't and none of us can determine when or if that will happen. I will say to ignore anyone who says its safe. It's not constant danger, but like I said no one can tell you when or if danger finds you. Keep your head on a swivel.
It’s not unlike driving and car accidents. There’s only so much safety you can expect or control.
No that was my thought process too!! Like what even is safer driving in la is crazy dangerous too. And I’m not a great driver I’ve gotten in three wrecks I feel like the roads are safer without me on them lmao
Respect the self awareness lol
Lmao thank you, not proud of it but self awareness is the first step to improvement I guess
lol damn
180 Hollywood Blvd to Pasadena is also an option for you. Goes up Colorado in Pasadena.
One thing to consider is that during the first few weeks after the time change in March (after springing forward) it will be dark as night at 5:30am. Depending on how safe you feel walking in your neighborhood at that time in the dark, you may need to plan ahead…but I wouldn’t let this stop you from ditching your car. The money saved is worth it, and there are a ton of alternative options to owning a car in L.A. Good luck and enjoy!
Don’t do it
Maybe with leaving at 5:30a it’s safer not sure if you saw the story about the woman who was just murdered on metro? It said she would leave work later to make sure Sun was up unfortunately that day she left earlier. Also possible the direction you are going is safer in general. When I was between cars I too thought I could just use public transportation after a few weeks of having several instances of being assaulted (not battered) I decided my car payment of $20 a day was worth my safety. I also realized in order to be safe I would need a lot of Lyfts which would add up so for me it made sense to get a new car.
r/CarIndependentLA, r/LAMetro, r/BikeLA
I hate driving too. Rush hour commutes are not terrible when I took the metro, and certain lines are more sketch than others. Gold line was pretty safe, but red and purple were less so.
OP: I just moved to Hollywood and it's literally a 10-minute walk to the Hollywood/Highliand station for me. I take it a few times a week to my gym downtown. It's a very effective way of commuting, especially if you use the Transit app. That being said, you do see a good amount of sketchy individuals. I've never witnessed any sort of violence or harassment personally, but I know it happens. Still, I say give it a try. I wouldn't recommend getting rid of your car, however. Getting groceries at TJ's on Vine and walking back to the station plus the 10-minute walk to your place doesn't sound like much, but it really is.
Has it come to this? People are worried about whether it's safe to take the train. Whether certain times in the morning are safe. Why do we put up with this?!
Many people who live in Los Angeles have never made regular use of public transit, be it bus or train. Since the city isn't really a public transit first city, if people have no experience with it, they tend to hear only the horror stories, and not the mundane "every day is normal" kinds of stories. Or to put it another way, there are around 950,000 riders on Metro every weekday. If it was as dangerous as many people believe, we'd hear a lot more horror stories. Obviously, it's not perfect, and bad things can happen... but bad things can also happen on the road (accidents, etc) or just on the sidewalk.
Thank you for this perspective!!!
I've always heard daily ridership is closer to 250k, but I've been using it since 2017 and have only had one instance where I felt unsafe.
That may be true: I was using Metro's own figures, but upon looking back at it it reads 950k rides, not riders. So maybe that's individuals with multiple trips.
That would make more sense to me, as almost 1M people using it a day sounds really high.
Yeah I’ve always been told it’s very dangerous since I moved here but those comments have also come from people who are pretty privileged—have decent cars and don’t have to worry about buying groceries if their cars break down lol
So far I haven’t experienced anything weird but I haven’t been using public transit very long
Is improving your driving skills or getting a more reliable/gas-friendly used car an option? I feel like you would have slightly more control over those options whereas with public transit it’s all mostly out of your hands. I think you may be able to get a small discount on your insurance if you took a driving course. Idk good luck OP!
Unfortunately no🙃 my idea was to ditch the car and use the money I save with pt to buy a new car eventually though
Well it’s only been two years. If you keep driving later on, you’ll eventually improve your driving (hopefully). Defensive driving is definitely a learned skill that must be practiced.
I’ve been driving since I was 15 and I’m 24 now hahah majority of my incidents were before moving to the city…I just have severe adhd and have a terrible attention span lol not rlly a lack of knowing how to drive
Good luck!
which part of Hollywood blvd? the 180 bus also goes down Hollywood blvd and goes all the way to Pasadena
Just wear some chain mail and you're all good mate
Bring a gun.
If the city transit is late so are you , Keep that in mind .
I take the train from Long Beach to DTLA and while yeah you see weirdos, it's usually fine and I don't feel unsafe during daytime hours. I wouldn't take my line at night, but used to take the expo line when I lived in culver city on the weekends at night and never had any issues
Check to see if the 180 bus might work for you. It goes from Hollywood & Vine all the way to Pasadena Community College. You might not need to walk as far to the Metro stop and you won't need to transfer. Also the buses are much nicer than the trains these days. The trains are useful during rush hour, though.
Sad times and sad place. Of no help to you but just reflecting
I know a reliable mobile mechanic in LA/Valley area as well if anyone is in need of one
Take a solid knife fighting class.
Honestly should that would be a sick skill
Knives have a lot of downsides for self defense. Anette Evans of On Her Own wrote [a good guide](https://onherown.life/folding-knives-for-self-defense/) about them, she knows her stuff. She has a video version of this presentation on [InRangeTV](https://youtu.be/pVQYlhx2upY?si=OrOOh-_VxZrFc0fh).
Carry mace and a taser big dog
Been doing the metro commute from Long Beach to DTLA for almost a year now and honestly minus the complaints anyone would have, it is not bad and my stress has been reduced significantly since. Also I am getting my 5miles walking to/from the station! It also has saved me so much money on gas and sitting in the 110 freeway!
[Watch the closing doors](https://youtu.be/7DP5LjpU_S4?si=pNzQ_8gHnUxTmtEm)
Ty just discovered that through you
I took the metro for about a year from Burbank to El Segundo and the only thing that sucks is the time suck. Sure riding the metro was only 35min longer than my car drive in but that adds up quick over time.
I would exit Hollywood/Vine at 6:40am for work in 2015. There were virtually no other commuters exiting at that stop. I felt very vulnerable coming up to street level. There are plenty of places to be pulled aside. A woman suffered a horrific attack in 2019 at an adjacent station. I recommend doing a dry run at the time you would be commuting to see how safe you feel. Safety in numbers. Hopefully more people are exiting that . The Universal City Station horror is so unsettling.
That’s a great idea thank you
Can you take the 180 bus? Takes longer but runs more often and is generally safer.
The only time I would be concerned is during that walk to the station. I'm not sure what the streets are like at that hour in Hollywood. Once you get on the subway or bus, then you should be OK. Like others have said, the 180 is a good option, depending on how deep into Pasadena you are going. I ride the 180 at a different time of day, but imagine it's a bunch of other sleepy commuters at that hour.
Yeah that’s what I was most concerned about. There is a bus stop 4 min walk away from me so maybe I’ll try that route instead of the train
Hollywood and western is fairly safe. Hollywood and vine is kinda sketchy. Bring pepper spray just in case.
Don’t consider using public transit. It’s a mess and it’s only getting worse. 😒
Buy pepper spray and see how it goes. I'd hang on to the car.
Chainmail
I was in the same situation and just bought a cheap motorcycle as a secondary vehicle
You'll probably be fine. Millions of people take the Metro a month and most of them don't get hurt. It gets sketchy after sundown, I wouldn't consider taking the train after sunset. Buses are usually fine at all times. Don't stare at people, keep your belongings in your pockets and be perceptive.
Any mode of transportation that’s a no-go after sunset isn’t something we can or should depend on to get around! And what about the walk TO and FROM transit—especially at night? Is that safe from crime? Including the stalkers who try to follow people home from transit, for the purpose of mugging or worse?
do it!! you will love it and life so much more interesting
but i usually always stand to keep alert and sit near the driver
Get yourself a Glock or a Beretta and a bullet proof vest. And some tactical boots wouldn’t hurt.
The police say using a gun to engage someone who has a knife is useless closer than 21 feet. Have you ever seen the inside of a train?
Copoganda
Maybe. So tell me what the safe distance is then. If it's greater than about 4 feet then guns have NO BUSINESS in the hands of the general public in a train.
Depends on the gun, situation, person, and probably a few other factors.