Your guide to car-free life in Los Angeles

Getting Around Guide

Everything you need to navigate Los Angeles without a car — rail, bus, Waymo, biking, walking, and more.

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Metro Rail

LA Metro operates 6 rail lines covering key corridors from downtown to the Westside, South Bay, Pasadena, and the Valley.

  • 1The A Line (Blue) runs from Downtown to Long Beach. The B Line (Red) goes to North Hollywood via Hollywood.
  • 2The E Line (Expo) connects Downtown to Santa Monica — perfect for the beach without a car.
  • 3The K Line (Crenshaw/LAX) connects to LAX via the Aviation/LAX Station and the free Flyaway shuttle.
  • 4Download the official Metro app for real-time arrivals, trip planning, and TAP card management.
  • 5Monthly TAP passes ($100) are great value if you ride 4+ days/week.
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Metro Bus

Metro operates 170+ bus routes including Rapid lines that skip stops and Local lines that serve neighborhoods.

  • 1Rapid lines (shown in red on maps) are faster and make fewer stops — great for longer trips.
  • 2The 720 Rapid connects Santa Monica to East LA along Wilshire Blvd, one of the busiest corridors.
  • 3Use the NextBus or Transit app for real-time bus tracking — it's much more accurate than timetables.
  • 4DASH buses (run by LADOT) serve specific neighborhoods at just 50¢ per ride.
  • 5Many bus lines connect directly to Metro rail stations for easy transfers.
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Waymo Autonomous Rides

Waymo One is bringing fully autonomous robotaxi service to Los Angeles — no driver, no tipping, no awkward small talk.

  • 1Waymo is currently expanding its service area in LA. Join the waitlist on the Waymo app to get early access.
  • 2Waymo vehicles operate 24/7 and don't surge price during rain or late nights the way human-driven rideshares do.
  • 3The cars are Jaguar I-PACE EVs — quiet, comfortable, and zero-emission.
  • 4Great for late-night rides when bus frequency drops and you don't want to wait.
  • 5Waymo pairs well with Metro: use it for first/last mile when biking or walking isn't practical.
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Biking & Bike Share

LA is more bikeable than its reputation suggests, especially with the growing network of protected lanes and Metro Bike Share.

  • 1Metro Bike Share has docked and e-bike stations across Downtown, DTLA, and expanding neighborhoods. Monthly pass: $17.
  • 2The LA River Bike Path runs ~50 miles and is mostly car-free — great for longer rides.
  • 3Protected bike lanes exist on 7th St, Spring St, Main St, and are expanding rapidly thanks to Vision Zero.
  • 4Bird, Lime, and other e-scooter/e-bike apps fill gaps where bike share isn't available.
  • 5Bikes ride free on Metro rail (except peak hours, and only 2 per car).
  • 6Download the LA Bikeway Finder to see all bike lanes, routes, and bike parking.
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Walking

Many LA neighborhoods are surprisingly walkable. The key is knowing which ones — and using sidewalks strategically.

  • 1Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Koreatown, Culver City, and Pasadena are among LA's most walkable areas.
  • 2Use Walk Score (walkscore.com) to check walkability before moving or exploring a neighborhood.
  • 3LA has a lot of hills — Google Maps pedestrian mode will route you around steep grades if you prefer.
  • 4The Great Streets initiative has improved walkability on Figueroa, York Blvd, Colorado Blvd, and others.
  • 5LADOT's pedestrian safety improvements include more crossing time, curb cuts, and signal timing on major corridors.
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Pro Tips for Going Car Free

Making the transition to car-free life in LA is easier with a few key strategies and tools.

  • 1Use the Transit app — it combines Metro, DASH, Waymo, and bike share into one real-time feed.
  • 2Load your TAP card online so you're never stuck hunting for cash at a kiosk.
  • 3Plan your grocery shopping around transit-accessible stores, or use delivery for heavy items.
  • 4Keep a folding bike or e-scooter for that last mile when transit drops you a bit far.
  • 5Join the Car Free in LA community to get neighborhood-specific tips from neighbors who've done it.
  • 6Visit the LA Metro website to find P&R (park and ride) lots if you occasionally need a car outside the city.

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