How to Avoid LA Traffic
Yesterday, I learned a lesson which I should have taken heed of today.
You see, yesterday, a friend of mine and his wife were speaking at a conference at Pepperdine in Malibu. Via Mapquest, I found that it would take me about 40 minutes to get there from here, but knowing LA freeways, I decided to double that time and add an extra few minutes (for good measure). The freeways were clear all the way and I arrived well over a half-hour early.
The lesson is that if you want to avoid LA traffic, budget it into your travel time and give yourself twice the time you need.
Today, I did not budget adequate time for my travel when headed to a baby shower for the newly adopted son of a friend (and his partner) who had been trying to adopt for several years. Not only did I leave late, but I had to stop on the way to get bagels and lox for the brunch, a gift for the baby and gas for my car.
It was bumper to bumper on one freeway.
It does always seem that whenever I leave early for an engagement in LA that I avoid the traffic, but if I leave with just enough time (or too little) to make it, then it’s bumper-to-bumper all (or part of) the way.
Fate or something else?
14 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Now and then, I would have the same problem on my commute to work. If I didn’t leave when I should have, but could have still made it, there would be all red lights and the train would come through town.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 10, 2008 @ 3:36 am - March 10, 2008
By the by, there’s always Traffic.com.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 10, 2008 @ 3:39 am - March 10, 2008
"Fate or something else?" Â How about the collusion of the automobile, tire and oil companies which purchased and the dismantled L.A’s once thriving public transportation system? Â Drive along Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills and you’ll notice a long line of parking garages…These were built by the city on the previous rail line connecting West Hollywood to Santa Monica to make sure that those nasty rail cars would never make a re-appearance.
Comment by Kevin — March 10, 2008 @ 5:24 am - March 10, 2008
It sounds like traffic conditions are highly variable (as in my area). Consider four possibilities:
1) You budget generously, and traffic co-operates, making you early.
2) You budget generously, and traffic doesn’t co-operate; using up (if not exceeding) what you budgeted.
3) You budget tightly, and traffic co-operates.
4) You budget tightly, and traffic doesn’t co-operate; making you way late.
If traffic is variable enough, you will hit all four possibilities regularly. What you are talking about, is hitting (1) and (4) regularly – and focusing mainly on those. It seems like it happens "all the time", or is "fate", because it’s what you’re focusing on.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 10, 2008 @ 9:13 am - March 10, 2008
The Japanese have solved this problem. They have "levels" of freeways and rail travel governed entirely by the rate of the tolls. If you want to get there fast and with minimal traffic, you just take the road or train with the highest toll. Those transportation links run a dollar a mile and up. If it starts getting crowded, the rate goes up. It is called capitalism. I marvel at the socialists who are still flogging HOV lanes and light rail as the ultimate solution to a society so affluent that the poor drive their cars to pick up welfare assistance. And by the by, is there any bus system or urban rail system that is not heavily subsidized?
France has also built super highways that are super expensive to use. Also, there are no shortages of parking spaces anywhere, if you keep raising the price to park until supply and demand hit that magic equilibrium point.
We have never figured out how to put a government controlled glove on Adam Smith’s invisible hand. Freeways, the DMV, public schools and soon health care are all examples of government efficiency.
Comment by heliotrope — March 10, 2008 @ 9:16 am - March 10, 2008
P.S. Also, if you are hitting each one approximately 25% of the time, then by the laws of probability, you will sometimes have a "run" of (1) and/or (4). Following a run of (2) and (3), it will seem dramatic.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 10, 2008 @ 9:16 am - March 10, 2008
heliotrope, never heard of that – great to know!
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 10, 2008 @ 9:18 am - March 10, 2008
ILC is right. You notice the exceptions. Had you arrived at the baby shower on time, (mazal tov to the family by the way), you never would have mentioned it. But this time, it just didn’t work out.
And Kevin, I love how people go on and on about the Red
Cars in Los Angeles that solved all traffic problems. I notice you mentioned they went from West Hollywood to Beverly Hills. What is that 5 miles? Los Angeles has become an enormous megalopolis since then, no public transportation system can get 10 million people around with ease. Unless you are suggesting that we become a rabbit warren like Hong Kong and live in tiny rooms in mega highrises. Sorry, I’m not giving up my house and garden for your socialist ideals.
Comment by Leah — March 10, 2008 @ 10:53 am - March 10, 2008
That’s a quote!
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — March 10, 2008 @ 1:39 pm - March 10, 2008
8: Â Ummm..I only mentioned that as one example of what was lost with regard to public tranaportation. Â Do a little research….there was a substantial network of rail transportation through much of Los Angeles county (most of it south of the San Gabriel mountains). Â Sadly, people believe that freeways would be the answer, I would gladly have ridden accessible public transportation rather spending an hour to 2 hours to drive a short 15 miles each way every day.
No transportation system can get that many people around every day?? Â New York and London, the 2 largest city transportation systems in the world do so just about every week day.
Comment by Kevin — March 10, 2008 @ 5:42 pm - March 10, 2008
I don’t want to live in either London or New York. And for all those people who have to compute in from the very far suburbs of those cities – sometimes they use public transportation, or a combination of both public and private car – and often they have to rely only on their car. And guess what,either way it takes hours to get into those lovely cities regardless of the mode of transportation.
One of the things I love about Los Angeles, is that we are a spread out megalopolis! We have high density areas, we have wonderful suburbs that aren’t that far from those centers. Sometimes you can get there by bus or subway, and more often, with the ultimate convenience of the private car. I love my car, along with my house and garden and have no intention of giving up any of them. Oh and yes, I drive a 5 year old hybrid. The less gas I buy from arabs, the better.
Comment by Leah — March 10, 2008 @ 6:02 pm - March 10, 2008
part of the problem with LA is that there was some master-plan for a freeway system, but only half of them were built. There had been a plan to build another north-south freeway through Hollywood/Laurel Canyon, but that was nixed. Â That might have relieved the 405 of a significant amount of traffic.
Comment by GayPatriotWest — March 10, 2008 @ 6:09 pm - March 10, 2008
Do a little research…
You mean Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — March 11, 2008 @ 1:14 am - March 11, 2008
Denmark places a 100% sales tax on cars. Japan has a progressive tax on cars: it goes up each year until you must buy a new one. LA has many alternatives to freeways and cars, but it would radically change the tone of the area. Have you ever been in the bus jam on Regent Street in London? Walking is 30 times faster.
Comment by heliotrope — March 11, 2008 @ 10:25 am - March 11, 2008