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3 years ago
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I'm moving to LA from the midwest. I know LA has the reputation for being a huge driving city, but can I get by without one?

I basically just don't want to buy a car. Is there any sort of public transportation system, or do I really need to take out a car loan?
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16 likes
1 replies
2 years ago
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Hi,

My name is John and I lived in Los Angeles for 12 years without a car! If you can believe it or not, but it is possible. If you email me back I'll let you know the best areas to live, where everything is at your door step! Valencia.John@att.net
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2 years ago
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I AM SO HAPPY I SAW YOUR WRITEUP. I ALSO WANT TO RE-LOCATE TO LA, AND I AM NOT DRIVING TOO. I HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE BUT 25 YEARS AGO. PLEASE KINDLY TELL ME HOW TO GET A GOOD AND QUITE AREA. I WAS REALLY LOOKING IN THE AREA I HAD LIVED 25 YEARS AGO THAT IS AROUND WEST HOLLYWOOD.I KNOW EVERY WHERE HAS CHANGED. PLEASE HELP ME, AND HOW CAN I APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT? GOD BLESS.
FLOR IBI.
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14 likes
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3 years ago
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i have lived in LA for 15 years. the mass transit here is crap and basically useless for anyone living and working here.(buses do not cover much more than major roads, and are generally packed. trains are few and far between and don't even go to the airport. forget about weekends). Not sure what type of work you will be doing, but there is an expectation that you will be able to commute from one side of town to another which can be be 30 miles in a town of 17 million. the freeway system is a failure unless you are traveling on a sunday night at 10 pm. the key is to live near where you work, very near. but depending on where you work, the housing may be out of your price range. if you are moving and want a walking town, i highly recommend that you rethink your move here. i hate to be a drag, but that has been my experience. good luck!
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2 years ago
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Don't listen to these people. They are stuffy and uptight. You can live in Los Angeles without a car; they have just never tried. The downtown scene is very hip and once the Target moves in at 7th and Fig you will have everything you ever needed. Target, Ralphs, Home Depot, Food for Less, Big Lots if you like that sort of thing. And, soooo many restaurants. Especially between 7th and Figueroa and 7th and Flower. I'd recommend checcking out Louie Bottega. Don't be scareeeed!
Justin Thomas
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Landlord
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12 likes
1 replies
3 years ago
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Dear Jakey,
You need a car in Los Angeles and there's no two ways about it.
Culver City Realtor
Culver City, CA
Real Estate Professional
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7 months ago
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you IDIOT!
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9 likes
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3 years ago
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Dear Jakey ! You MUST have car in LA.
Alexandr Gritsenko
Los Angeles, CA
Real Estate Professional
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7 likes
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3 years ago
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I went to school in LA, I don't know if I would recommend trying to get by without a car. I guess there are taxis and some buses, but it's pretty limited compared to most other cities I've lived in. I was ok for a few years without a car, but I was mostly around campus.

LA is pretty spread out. They are trying to redo the metro system there, but I think it's on schedule to be complete in like 30 years...
Boston, MA
Browsing Housing
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5 likes
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1 year ago
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I'm sorry, but everyone on this site is lazy. My first 2 years out here I was without a car. Move somewhere central (west hollywood, hollywood, mid-wilshire district, etc.) and you'll have no problem not having a car. Sure you'll have to take the bus or the metro, but most places will be walkable. Good luck with the move. Just to be clear. YOU CAN LIVE HERE WITHOUT A CAR!
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4 likes
2 replies
3 years ago
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By the way, Jakey. I am originally from Nebraska and moved to California 4 years ago. It's a great place. LA is very crowded and crazy but there are other communities not far away that are very laid back. You have the ocean, mountains and desert all within an hours drive. And Vegas is only 4 1/2 to 5 hours away. You can take a metro train to a lot of the Inland Valley areas. So even if you lived in Pasadena or even further east, it's just a metro ride into LA. And probably one of the main issues here is parking, since you won't have a car, that won't be an issue. Also, if you have a bike, you can get around easy with that.
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3 years ago
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Kay, I'm from Iowa and it's great to hear that other people have successfully made the transition, it makes me sure in my decision. The oceans, mountains, and desert also don't hurt the cause. I think I will see about finding a roommate or maybe even subletting for the summer to better understand how the city works before signing a lease and really laying down roots.

Thanks for your help!

Jakey
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2 years ago
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Kay, you say you like having the beaches and ocean nearby... and you like that there are some laid back communities not far away... have you tried San Diego? It seems more like what you're looking for than LA does.

Jakey, I've lived in LA for about 5 years now, after 3 in San Diego. I'm from Boston, where the public transportation is not without it's problems (ask any Bostonian--they love to #@!&$ about it) but it's leagues better than the shabby excuse for public transport LA has. Public transport here exists just to shuffle the homeless around. That's an exaggeration of course, but not by much. Throughout the course of a day, I doubt you could find me five people on the busses that would be there if they had the option of driving. The busses wreak of urine, feces, dirt, vomit, and alcohol, and you most likely will get harassed by some crazy homeless person at least once every few trips.

I've spent years on the busses out here, and years driving in a car. Trust me; you need a car.
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4 likes
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9 months ago
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You won't need a car... if you plan on never venturing further than an 8 block radius of your new home; if you work at home; if you plan on having no social life; if you are so affluent that you can hire a driver whenever you please; have not problem waiting 7 minutes for a bus only to find that its packed up to the windshield with other Angelenos. Otherwise, get a car.
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3 likes
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3 years ago
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I've lived in LA for over 2 years. I have a car. But I've had quite a few roommates who didn't have cars and they seemed to do very well on Public Transportation. My youngest son has lived in LA and the Bay Area and he has used Public transportation all the time. I live in the heart of Hollywood and the buses and metro train are near by, within walking distance. You just have to plan out your time well. One thing to keep in mind is that it is very expensive to live here. The best thing to do, is to share an apartment with someone until you get use to the expense.
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3 likes
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2 years ago
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Hi Jakey,

Good questions! I guess my answer will be to find a home closer to where you work. California weather is the greatest!! Thats why everyone wants to live here.
If you are not yet working with any Realtor, feel free to call me. I am here to assist you to find your new home. Thank-you
Merlin Barrientos
Realtor Associate
Keller Williams Realty
cell 661 713-8780
merlin1@inbox.com
http://merlinsoldmyhome.yourkwagent.com
Santa Clarita, CA
Real Estate Professional
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2 likes
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3 years ago
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Oh man, thanks for your candor, George. It's tough to hear, but it sounds on par with other things I've heard, but were hoping were untrue. I do still want to give LA a try for a few years and will just be waiting and bartending hopefully (and doing the standard struggling actor thing, of course), so I'll try to find a place near work at least. Sounds like I'm going to be needing a car to get to auditions and just getting around, though.

Thanks for the insight and the straight talk, much appreciated.
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3 years ago
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no problem , jakey. i see that some others were a little more positive, but, trust me on this. especially if your agent calls you with an audition in 2 hours time and you have no car, you won't make it. i live right in the center of town (miracle mile-west hollywood) and relying on mass transit is just not an option. i would do it if i could. but the town is too spred out and the bus/rail is not extensive enough to make it practical. not nearly enough stops. i have used mass transit all over europe and in new york. LA is not that kind of place.
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2 years ago
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I'd stay in the midwest if I were you. You'll go under fast if you move here and can't afford a car.
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1 year ago
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You could also get a zipcar.com membership for when you really need a car.
Browsing Housing
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1 year ago
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LA grew as a freeway city. The oil, car/bus, and tire companies bought made sure cars were the thing. Now that we have a subway system, it seems to not go as many places as we need it to. We are catching up. But the subway is nice and if you can live and work near a stop, you can make it without a permanent car. Suggestion: if you can live and work near stops, then join ZipCar for the times you need wheels.
Lynn Shepodd
Real Estate Professional
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2 years ago
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Public transpo might not be NYC's but you can get by. Living close to Dwntwn doesn't hurt. Parking sucks. I'm a 15 minute walk from downtown. Move this way to start a company. However, gave up a driveway and lost my car to parking tickets. I have a bunch of really good friends, but I'm able to get to all my meetings, presentations, big & small on public transpo. Im not far from my credit union at USC, and business counselors I walk to(5-10min) However, this is a temporary prob for myself. Its 75% better with a car. You can always get a beater. Remem, this is LA... a beater can be a 10yr old BMW for $5000.
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1 year ago
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Yes although you will have to live close to main lines if you want to get anywhere in less than two or three hours. It's a huge city, bro so plan ahead. I moved to LA from the Midwest (after living in four other major markets)so I feel ya. Be hella careful about the train that goes through Englewood and the like. Police presence used to be much better, I'm told but I wouldn't suggest riding it at night alone. Although only you can dictate the neighborhoods and places you feel safe. Just be smart is all I'm saying.
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1 year ago
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I don't have a car and I live in LA. People might look at you strange for not having a car, but luckily I live less than 4 miles away from work which I use a bicycle to get to and from. West LA can be expensive, but if you call around and get past buildings with "For Rent" signs you might find a deal.

Heck, it beats paying $4+/gal for gas, insurance, registration, parking, road rage, etc. Bus service is pretty decent in West LA. Good schools here, near a variety of shopping centers, parks, and other events.

Good luck to OP and anyone else interested in moving here.
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8 months ago
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You need a car in Los Angeles. It would be preferable that you live within a mile of your work place. I'm assuming that you would be in the metropolitan area. If you live in the outlining cities of Los Angeles you will not be able to rely on metro transit system. good luck
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7 months ago
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YOU DO NOT NEED A CAR HERE! Most of these "car obsessed freaks"...CANNOT LIVE WITH OUT IT. SEEK HELP PEOPLE!
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4 months ago
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OH HELL NO - Don't listen to these idiots. Oh my goodness, you CANNOT get by in LA without a car, are you kidding me? I am not a car obsessed anything, but I was born here, raised here, lived in every valley, Hollywood, OC, etc, etc and there is no way i would EVER tell anyone they'll get by without a vehicle. I've been driving here for 40 years. It's dangerous, and unthinkable to give you that kind of advice. Unless you live in a downtown setting, (and they do exist, just not very likely) where everything is in walking distance, you're gonna HAVE TO get from place to place. Buy a cheap one, get your licence and DRIVE!!!! These people are fools, this is not NY!! Holy cow! It's common place to drive an hour to get anywhere in LA, absolutely common and that's nothing. A 2 hr drive is considered fairly long.
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4 months ago
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Hey! I'm from NY and LA public transportation cannot be compared. I moved here from NY almost exactly 1 year ago. You'll absolutely need a car and work in the biz, feel free to shoot me and email at manny.g.roman@gmail.com and I can help you out... Good luck
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