The Real L.A.

Although I have many criticisms of the MTA, public transportation in L.A. is actually much better than many people think. If you choose the right routes, you do not have to wait that long for a bus, and you never have to walk more than a couple blocks to find a stop. Rapid Bus Lines traverse major corridors and travel about twice as fast as regular bus routes because they have fewer stops. I have traveled from the West Valley to Long Beach and another time from the Valley to Carson in under an hour and a half with no problems.

No doubt transit was much worse 10 years ago, and it has improved in large part due to the hard work of the Bus Riders Union (which I urge everyone to join). In 1994 they filed a class action suit against the MTA pointing out the profound racism embodied in the horrible state of bus transportation and demanding more equitable funding. They remain active in assuring that the terms of their victorious settlement are fulfilled.

People who ride the bus live in the real L.A.: the L.A. of immigrants, homeless and ex-convicts, the workers who clean toilets, bus tables and manicure lawns. They live five to a room in Panorama City, Boyle Heights and South L.A., in cheap apartment buildings or garages converted to bedrooms.

People who drive in L.A. live in the television L.A.: the L.A. of L.A. Law, Melrose Place, 90210 and Joey, the movie stars on Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight and your local news. They live in Woodland Hills, Brentwood and West L.A. and complain about the traffic, gas prices and the lack of good places to park on the Sunset Strip (or they don't care about money and just pay the valet).