By Bus in Los Angeles

By Bus

Let's face it: in L.A., unless your car's in the shop, you're probably behind the wheel. Inadequate public-transportation systems have been an L.A. problem for decades. That said, many local trips can be made, with time and patience, by bus. In certain cases, it may be your best option; for example, visiting the Getty Center, going to Universal Studios and/or the adjacent CityWalk, or venturing into downtown. There's also a special Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus that goes between Union Station and Dodger Stadium for Friday night home games. It doesn't save money, but it can save you time and parking-related stress. For the fastest MTA service, look for the red-and-white Metro Rapid buses; these stop less frequently and are able to extend green lights. At this writing, there were six Rapid routes including routes on Wilshire and Vermont boulevards; over the next few years more Rapid routes will be added.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority DASH (Downtown Area Short Hop) minibuses cover six different circular routes in Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, and the downtown area. The buses stop every two blocks or so. The Santa Monica Municipal Bus Line, also known as the Big Blue Bus, is a pleasant and inexpensive way to move around the Westside, where the MTA lines leave off. There's also an express bus to and from downtown L.A., and a shuttle bus, the Tide Shuttle, which runs between Main Street and the Third Street Promenade and stops at hotels along the way. Culver CityBus Lines run six routes through Culver City. Smoking is never allowed in the L.A. public transportation system.

Fares & Schedules

MTA schedules are available through the information line below, but heavy local traffic can make them unreliable. Service is available at all hours. An MTA bus ride for both standard and Rapid service costs $1.25, plus 25¢ for each transfer between buses or from bus to subway. From 9 PM to 5 AM, the fare goes down to 75¢. You can also buy a one-day pass for $3, or a $15 weekly pass for unlimited travel on all Metro buses and trains (biweekly and monthly passes are also available). Passes are valid from Sunday through Saturday. EZ Transit passes are a long-term option; this $58 monthly pass covers transit on virtually all public transit options throughout the county.

DASH buses make pickups at five-minute intervals. You pay 25¢ every time you get on. Buses generally run weekdays 6 AM-7 PM and Saturday 10 AM-5 PM; a few downtown weekend routes run on Sunday as well. Note: the Downtown Discovery Route (DD) makes a continuous loop among downtown sites; Route E is a shopper's tour with stops in the Broadway, Jewelry, and Fashion districts, as well as at two downtown malls.

The Santa Monica Municipal Bus Line (the Big Blue Bus) costs 75¢, while Big Blue's Tide Shuttle is a quarter. Transfers are free from one Big Blue Bus to another; to MTA or Culver CityBus it's 25¢. The Route 10 (downtown) express bus costs $1.75. Packs of 10 tokens are $7. You can also use a prepaid Metrocard, the Little Blue Card, and get the same discounted rate for multiple rides (70¢ per ride). The Big Blue buses generally run from 5 AM to midnight, while the Tide Shuttle runs Sunday to Thursday from noon until 8 PM and Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 PM.

Culver CityBus is 75¢ and runs 6 AM-midnight. The Santa Monica bus line's Metrocard can be used on this system but not Big Blue Bus tokens. Culver CityBuses also accept MTA tokens but not MTA passes. Children and people over 65 always pay less on all lines.

Bus Information

California Smart Traveler (800/266-6883. www.dot.ca.gov/caltrans511). Culver CityBus Lines (310/253-6500. www.culvercity.org). DASH (213/626-4455 or 310/808-2273. www.ladottransit.com/dash). Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) (213/626-4455. www.mta.net). Santa Monica Municipal Bus Line (310/451-5444. www.bigbluebus.com).

Paying

You can pay your fare in cash on MTA, Santa Monica, and Culver City buses, but you must have exact change. You can buy MTA passes and tokens throughout the city at MTA customer centers and some convenience stores and grocery stores. Metrocards or tokens for the Santa Monica buses can be purchased at local libraries and retailers. Call or check the pertinent bus Web site for the retail location nearest you.