Is it possible to get around Los Angeles without a car? How are the buses and cabs from LAX outward?

Question

I am going to a conference there in October and I am from NY. I am being told the traffic is horrible worst than NY. I don't really want to rent a car. I'll be going from I assume (a)El Segundo to the (b)Marriott @ LAX. Does public transit run from point a to point b? I am also being told that cab's don't come on time when you call? In fact I am being told the buses don't run on time either, haven't heard about the trains. This will be a 5 day trip.

Will be at a conference at 5855 W CENTURY BLVD, LOS ANGELES, 90045 I believe thats the Marriott at LAX. Won't be staying there will be about 2 to 6 miles away.

Answer 1

I live in LA and have taken cabs many times to get to and from the airport. I have never had one not come on time when I've called for one.

Without knowing the address of your conference, I can't tell you if public transit is going to work for you but it looks like line 109 is what you want: http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_stops.php?ilin=2491

http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.php?name=trip&format=TABLETEXT&place0=marriott%2C+lax&place1=el+segundo&day0=Today&timecrit0=AR&hour0=&min0=&m0=A&fare=RG&evaluateButton.x=31&evaluateButton.y=8&evaluateButton=Submit

Answer 2

LAX is located in El Segundo so you won't have to go far. Just take a taxi and give yourself some buffer time in case of a late taxi. Century Blvd is one of the main throughfares to LAX. (I use it everytime I go to LAX) In fact, you could probably walk to the hotel---it's relatively close.

LA's freeway system gets a bad rap. It is superior to other cities and much more extensive. You just need to know when to take it and when to avoid it. At nighttime, nothing beats it. However, you won't be renting a car so you won't be experiencing too much.

LA has a good subway system (Metro). Not as extensive as NYC's but it will get you to the far points of the metropolitan area (including the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, Long Beach and Pasadena) They have a great website with times and maps. For 5 bucks you can get an all day pass. Also, FYI, there is a designated bus that takes you from Metro Red Line Union Station to LAX--I think it leaves every half hour and costs a few bucks. It runs into the late hours.

If you stay at the Marriot on Century Blvd, then you will be in no man's land because there is nothing to do in that area except stay at the various hotels. If you want to get away one day, I suggest taking the Metro Subway. FORGET THE BUSSES! Slow, crowded, and not very trustworthy. Remember that LA is a GIANT city, in population and size--in the same league as NYC and Chicago. Getting around without a car is time consuming.

I am a veteran of the LA freeways and it's subway system, and I also used the busses for a short while. I lived in L.A. for 15 years.
One last thing: If you choose to take the Metro trains, ask the taxi to take you to the green line station. The green line goes east to the blue line and the blue line takes you to the red line which is located downtown. That is where Union Station is located.

Answer 3

For the short distances you will be traveling, you should rent a car (it's L.A. - it makes sense here, isn't that strange?). There might be some congestion on the larger avenues, but you won't move slower than 20 - 25 mph at worst. Cabs are an option - albeit an expenisve one. I guess if you will be with colleagues you can all split a cab to/from the convention.

Busses work well if you can take one bus, and if it comes at the time you can be at the bus stop - because they only run once an hour or once a half hour.

The traffic is bad heading west in the morning rush hour, and heading east in the afternoon rush hour, but I'm not sure how the traffic patterns flow around LAX.

I don't think the metro will serve your purposes, unless you are wanting to explore Universal Studios and/or Downtown L.A., in which case a car will still take less time or the same amount of time than all those metro changes (green to blue to red to gold...or something like that).

Answer 4

L.A. Traffic is only bad during rush hours 6-9 am and again from 4-7 pm.

I would think the Marriot @ LAX would provide a free shuttle. Check that out.

Cabs..we don't use them much but there are a few of them waiting at curbside at LAX. I believe you have to go to the Cab area (a guy kind of keeps things in control).

Now, once at the hotel and you want to go out and do things...that's another story. You may need a car then. As I said, people don't use Cabs as much in LA as they do in NY. You can't just go out onto the street and flag one down.

Forget any trains. You need a way to get to the train station.

If you are just hanging around the hotel the whole time, then check for the shuttle from the hotel.

It's not true what the last person said about exits not being marked. They are marked for up to 3-4 miles before the exit. You just have to know the name of the street you want to exit onto. Also, our Freeways are a little confusing for those that don't live here. We don't have exit numbers (at least they are working on that) , the exits go by street names. Also the freeways say "San Diego" for example. We all know San Diego is SOUTH of Los Angeles. But for someone who doesn't live in CA, that can be confusing.

My suggestion: Get some good maps and rent a car if you are planning to go see things outside of the hotel.

Answer 5

There should definitely be a shuttle bus from the Marriott that will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel. Where those shuttle buses pick up are clearly marked (outside of baggage claim). Taxis from LAX ARE reliable, just not cheap.

I lived in LA for almost 20 years. It is rough to get around without a car if you are planning on doing anything other than hanging at the hotel. However, if you plan on just going "nearby", taxis can get you there easily enough.

Driving in LA is not nearly as awful as people will tell you. The freeway system is easy to understand. Yeah, there is a lot of traffic but most folks know how to drive in LA, unlike many other parts of the US/the world.

If you've got any sense of adventure, rent a car. If not, the taxis/shuttle buses will work for you just fine!

Answer 6

I work at LAX. Transportation around the airport is very good. We have shuttles, cabs, buses, Metro Rail. Yes traffic can be bad on the freeways, but if you are staying close to the airport renting a car should not be a problem. Its when you plan to drive from LAX to...say...Orange County that you would have traffic problems. The Marriott is a great hotel and will call taxis for you, but there are generally taxis just outside their doors. If you have any more questions let me know.... [e-mail] YOur hotel should be able to provide you with a shuttle.

Answer 7

well there a free shuttle from Lax, to the Marriott hotel
(Lax is Not in El Segundo but Westchester (oart of Los Angeles))
but its a shared service (meaning it might stop at other hotels
before yours) and on the return to LAX especially early morning
a lot of times those bus are already full by the time they get to the Marriott
as for taxis from LAX be advise that there is a Minimum
charge of $15.00 +2.50 airport fee when taking a taxi
from LAX
its also very expensive to take a taxi here are some of the fares


Fares (ordinances 177843 & 178050 , effective 10/01/06 and 12/25/06)

All Passengers Ride for Price of One

1. $2.65 Flag drop (First 1/7th mile).

2. $0.35 For each additional 1/7th mile ($2.45 per mile).

3. $0.35 For each 47.5 seconds waiting time and/or traffic delay ($26.53 per hour).

4. $42.00 Flat fare for trips between LAX and downtown.

Area bounded by Alameda St., Santa Monica Fwy., Harbor Fwy., Cesar E. Chavez, Union Station and Chinatown.

5. $2.50 Surcharge for all trips originating at LAX.

6. $15.00 Minimum fare for trips originating at LAX (In addition to the $2.50 surcharge)


As forr public transit, someone told you
incorrect information
they will come but depening on traffic, they might be late
and being at the marriott means you have direct service
from the hotel to Santa Monica, (Santa Monica #3) stop
right at Airport and Century) ; service to Culver city including
Howard hughes center and fox hills malls
there are no trains from the airport (the only trains we
have are metro rail (the Green line) Blue Line, Red Line
Gold Line
as well as Metrolink
it all depends where you want to go
(if you need bus info email (check my profile for my email address)

Answer 8

Many here take pride in not knowing their community. Like any other subject, the more you know the better and easier it is. L A has an extensive public transit system Make a point of learning all you can. Only sensible way. Live in the central area. L A is a CITY not a huge suburb. Be a city person. Join the community. Live in the middle of the pie.

Answer 9

In the L.A. area, you are lost without a car..they have NO clue what public transportation is supposed to do.

The traffic is heavy but - believe me - the freeways can handle it. They have the best freeway system in the U.S. Your best bet is to either order a taxi to move you around or rent a car. If you rent, get a small car...easier to navigate.....and KEEP YOUR ATTENTION TO THE EXIT SIGNS. Unlike here in the upper east coast, they usually don't give you a warning that your exit is coming up....it just is THERE.... if you are in the wrong lane, you'll miss it.

Answer 10

Metro it!
Most LA buses run on a 24 hour basis as well.