The Los Angeles subway transports more than 300,000 people a day - here's what it's like to ride it
Los Angeles isn't exactly known for its mass transit. Driving is by far the most common way to get around the expansive city.
But there is in fact a subway beneath LA's streets, and it's a popular form of transportation for millions of Angelenos.
The Los Angeles Metro Rail system consists of six train lines and 93 stations across LA County. The system transported about 344,000 riders on an average weekday last year.
Source: LA Metro Rail
I typically don't ride the train to get to work, but I decided to try it out earlier this month.
Some of the LA metro stations have transit parking lots where you can pay to leave your car for the day.
There are machines by the entrance where you can pay a $3 daily fee.
Most of the LA Metro stations are underground. So you’ll have to take the stairs, escalator, or elevator to get to the platform.
For each trip, you will need a TAP Card, a reloadable card for which you can select a one-way trip that you can reload as you wish, a one-day pass, a seven-day pass, or a 30-day pass.
A single one-way fare costs $1.75. Meanwhile, a one-day pass costs $7, a seven-day pass costs $25, and a 30-day pass costs $100.
Source: LA Metro
There was hardly anyone in line for tickets when I visited, but that's not always the case during weekday rush hour.
The LA Metro system stations are decorated to showcase the city's colorful history and art.
There's a total of six train lines connecting the city.
Larger stations, like 7th & Metro, Pershing Square, and Union Station, have elaborate mezzanines with food vendors.
Downstairs, the platform I used was fairly clean and quiet, especially compared to my experiences with the New York subway.
The subway cars themselves are very clean and spacious, too.
The seats are spaced out and positioned in a way so you don't feel cramped.
There are several poles for standing passengers to hold onto (or do pull-ups, like one passenger I saw).
There aren't loud or overly repetitive announcements on the train, so taking note of the list of stops on the line map is super important.
I noticed lots of posters throughout the subway system promoting the subway and stressing its importance to the city.
My overall experience riding the LA metro was enjoyable. I was surprised how easy and simple it was to get from the Valley to Downtown or the Westside.
Like hundreds of thousands of other LA residents, I might just be using my TAP card more often.
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