Thread: Getting to the Game: Tips and Tricks for Taking Transit

With the home opener a week away, I thought I'd start up a thread for those who are interested in the transit options available for getting to the game. Veteran transit riders can share their sage advice, and transit newbies can get help figuring out the best route to take and find out about all the good reasons to take transit to the game: don't have to pay for gas or parking, no DUIs, avoid traffic or let someone else navigate it.

Plus, those of us on the Westside get to look forward to the eminent opening of Phase 1 of the Expo Line, which will travel from Culver City to L.A. Live in about 20 minutes. And Phase 2 just got under way and will extend the line to Santa Monica by 2015.

Here are a couple quick resources:

• First, here's your frequent service bus map showing all the routes that run at least every 15 minutes. Also, check out this interactive Metro Rail map for info on park-and-rides.
  
• Metro has a trip planner here, but Google Transit is honestly the easiest. Quick note: If you're taking a city bus run by an agency that isn't Metro, make sure they share their schedules with Google. Most do, but occassionally I'll find one that doesn't.
  
• Another great new feature is NexTrip, which will tell you when the next bus is arriving at the stop of your choice using the bus' GPS.
  
• Once you get into the rhythm, consider following the Metro Twitter feed @MetroLosAngeles and checking out the agency's blog at thesource.metro.net for news and service alerts.

Anyways, if you've got questions or an itch to try transit, fire away and I'll try to help talk you through it. It's not scary or complicated -- after all, 2 million transit trips are made in L.A. County every day -- but it's nice to have a helping hand.

Originally Posted by moontheloon23

With the home opener a week away, I thought I'd start up a thread for those who are interested in the transit options available for getting to the game. Veteran transit riders can share their sage advice, and transit newbies can get help figuring out the best route to take and find out about all the good reasons to take transit to the game: don't have to pay for gas or parking, no DUIs, avoid traffic or let someone else navigate it.

Plus, those of us on the Westside get to look forward to the eminent opening of Phase 1 of the Expo Line, which will travel from Culver City to L.A. Live in about 20 minutes. And Phase 2 just got under way and will extend the line to Santa Monica by 2015.

Here are a couple quick resources:

• First, here's your frequent service bus map showing all the routes that run at least every 15 minutes. Also, check out this interactive Metro Rail map for info on park-and-rides.
  
• Metro has a trip planner here, but Google Transit is honestly the easiest. Quick note: If you're taking a city bus run by an agency that isn't Metro, make sure they share their schedules with Google. Most do, but occassionally I'll find one that doesn't.
  
• Another great new feature is NexTrip, which will tell you when the next bus is arriving at the stop of your choice using the bus' GPS.
  
• Once you get into the rhythm, consider following the Metro Twitter feed @MetroLosAngeles and checking out the agency's blog at thesource.metro.net for news and service alerts.

Anyways, if you've got questions or an itch to try transit, fire away and I'll try to help talk you through it. It's not scary or complicated -- after all, 2 million transit trips are made in L.A. County every day -- but it's nice to have a helping hand.

I took the metro to Staples for the first time last year for the Lakers' championship parade. I would definitely consider it for games if I still lived in the SFV. I parked at Universal and went from there. Had I known how convenient it was, I would've done it more often (more so for day games).

I live in Simi. We usually drive to the station in North Hollywood (the northern terminus of the Red Line), and take the train down to the Blue Line station. One stop on the BL, and we're right there at Pico. Beats fighting traffic and paying $10 plus for parking downtown. Takes about 40 min, and the train is usually FULL of purple and silver.

I live in Long Beach and I park at Wardlow rd. and then take the Metro for $1.50 that drops me off in the $20 lot across the street from Staples Center. No traffic and I can play "Angry Birds" all the way to the game. There is usually some form of entertainment provided along the way, like the guy who takes his eye out while asking for spare change.

Originally Posted by rinkrat

There is usually some form of entertainment provided along the way, like the guy who takes his eye out while asking for spare change.

I've been seeing that guy for about 15 years. Used to work the East LA buses, but then started seeing him in the BL. Every now and then he pulls his shirt up, and exposes his large bleeding wound on his side. Not sure if it is repeatedly self inflicted, or just hasn't bothered getting it patched up.

I live in Lakewood, and for a buck fifty I can get to Staples in about 40 minutes. As opposed to 45minutes to an hr, couple gallons of gas, and 10 bucks for parking. Either drive to the Del Amo Station, or ride the LBT bus down Del Amo, and then hope on the BL. Works great for weekend 1PM games.

Looking at the interactive map, it looks like I could take the Green Line from Norwalk Station, transfer to Blue Line at Imperial/Wilmington.
My only concern would be leaving my car in the lot at Norwalk. How is the security at the Metro parking lots?

Originally Posted by mugs

Looking at the interactive map, it looks like I could take the Green Line from Norwalk Station, transfer to Blue Line at Imperial/Wilmington.
My only concern would be leaving my car in the lot at Norwalk. How is the security at the Metro parking lots?

Security can be iffy. I had some stuff stolen from the Universal lot. Of course my idiot uncle hadnt locked the car. I think people troll the parking lots looking for unlocked cars for easy loot.

Originally Posted by mugs

Looking at the interactive map, it looks like I could take the Green Line from Norwalk Station, transfer to Blue Line at Imperial/Wilmington.
My only concern would be leaving my car in the lot at Norwalk. How is the security at the Metro parking lots?

I would think that Norwalk is a bit safer than Artesia on the BL. A few times a year, I'll park at the Artesia station in the morning (BL at 91 fwy), take the BL, RL and Gold Line to Pasadena for work, then take the GL back to Staples for the game, then on back down the BL to Artesia after the game. Many Kings fans leave the train at Rosa Parks / 105 to transfer to the Green Line, but there's usually a handful of Kings fans still on the train to make a stand... er.... I mean keep going south to LB.

It's a very different train crowd from 8:30 AM and 10:45 PM.

When I lived in Anaheim and Covina I had to drive to Kings games, and it was such a drag. Now that I live in Pasadena I couldn’t imagine driving down the 110, sitting in traffic, paying for parking and not being able to have a few malty beverages.
Now, I walk to the Gold Line, have a cocktail or two at La Grande Orange, transfer at Union Station to the Red Line and walk from 7th/Metro. It takes about 45 min depending on traffic, but I have ZERO chance of getting a DUI. The bonus is that an all day pass is $5 now. Now it only makes sense to drive if there is a group of 4 or more.
Anyway, I hope all of you find an easy and safe mode of transportation to and from the games. Hope my story helped.
Oh! One other thing. My wife and I are thinking of buying a house in Ease San Gabriel Valley. The good news is that the Gold Line Extension will be up and running in 5 years. So if I do buy a house out there, it will just take me about 20 min longer to get to the games.