In summary: How to drive like a local in LA? Avoid streets that Lindsay Lohan or Justin Bieber will

We have had a successful thread on where LA locals eat, so that visitors are not stuck with deep-fried beach food, Hard Rock Cafe or lousy chain food. The challenge in LA, though, is not what to eat but how to get there. So I am asking my fellow Angelenos, Southern Californians and survivors of the 10/405 interchange, "What are your tips for visitors to survive our legendary traffic? This can include shortcuts, things to avoid, alternatives to driving (with helpful links if you have them) and any other bright ideas you have.
I will start with what I believe to be one of LA's biggest quirks: Don't think that just because it is the weekend, that traffic will be easy. I am astounded at how many people are out and about on Saturday virtual tour homes afternoons and evenings. The traffic virtual tour homes into Santa Monica on a Saturday can be really bad, especially if the weather is nice, so give yourself virtual tour homes time.
On weekends, start early for your destination, Saturday mornings can be great. If heading to the beach, plan to arrive around 9:00am or earlier. I usually plan to leave the beach before 11a when it gets crowded and you can just see the line of cars on their way in. Late works too, after dinner. Arriving early or at opening times is generally good advice (many places are lovely for the first hours and the crowds arrive a little later).
During the week, avoid rush hour 7:00 - 10:00 in the morning and 3:00 - 7:00 in the afternoon. You might still get stuck but the heaviest traffic virtual tour homes is mostly dispersed and you are just dealing with an odd slow down.
You can't use the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes of the 110 (Harbor Fwy.) unless you have a transponder. (I wonder if the car rental companies are offering them?) If you have a transponder, there is no toll for cars with 2 or more people, but you can use the lane even if just one person for the toll amount you'll see on the lighted signs.
Just because your GPS tells you to get on a freeway, check traffic reports, look at a map and consider parallel streets. For example, in the San Fernando Valley, use Ventura Blvd., Moorpark St. and Riverside Dr. rather than the 101 (Ventura Fwy.). Note that the Ventura Fwy. is 101 west of the Hollywood Fwy. (also numbered 101) but 134 east of the Hollywood Fwy.
I'm a native Angeleno, but on frequent recent visits I found that the best thing (besides listening to KNX) is to check the traffic status on your GPS. LA (unlike Seattle where I now live) has a lot of alternative freeways...i.e. if the 110 looks bad, think about the 710 etc.; check out traffic conditions on the 60, the 10 and the 210 before heading virtual tour homes east. I was heading through the Valley to Downey via the 101 last time and discovered a huge snarl at Barham Boulevard, so switched to the Golden State instead. Manageable if you're flexible.
Also suggest the toll roads/lanes, virtual tour homes which are a very strange idea for Los Angelenos. The only toll east-west lane that I know of is the 91. All the others that I've been on have been north-south tolls in Orange County:
I live in the Bay Area but have driven quite a bit in LA and absolutely avoid the Santa Monica (10) Freeway if at all possible. Also don't like the DT junctions of the 10, 110, 5, etc. and try to avoid if at all possible, but mostly not possible.
Since there are so few left turn arrows on the traffic signals, try to plan a route that requires as few left turns as possible. virtual tour homes Conversely, if you are waiting at a red light and it turns green, do not accelerate right away, because there will always be 2-4 cars who are turning left on the opposing red light (since traffic makes it impossible to turn left while it's green).
Yes - all bets off with the westside metro construction. Avoid eatsbound virtual tour homes drives on Wilshire, Santa Monica, Olympic, and Pico weekday afternoons. I have found the freeways better virtual tour homes lately -- maybe because of the construction cars can't even get to the 10!
Between Santa Monica and Westwood, Century City or Beverly Hills (described from west to east), try a combination of Colorado, Idaho and Ohio. Colorado starts at the SM Pier and changes names to Idaho. At Westgate, jog north a couple of blocks to Ohio and continue going east.
At the east end, Ohio terminates at Thayer which is just short of reaching Beverly Glen. If you want to go to Westwood, turn north earlier at Veteran or Westwood Blvd. If you want to go to Century City (Santa Monica Blvd.), either work your way east to Beverly Glen (via Rochester) and turn south or turn south earlier at Manning. If you want to go to Beverly Hills, virtual tour homes turn north on Thayer (or Beverly Glen) and then east on Wilshire. This is usually faster to BH than Santa Monica Blvd.
Aren't those cameras being phased out since they're illegal and there is no way to enforce the fines? I think something like a billion in unpaid fines, while the camera companies keep collecting fees from the city.
My sis was spotted virtual tour homes by a red light camera last summer, on Sunset in Beverly Hills. But when she tried to pay the ticket, she was told that it was no longer necessary...I wonder why the city decided not to collect on it. She felt too lucky to try to find out!!!
As some one said above, there are legal issues with the tickets issued by speed cameras, the cities were not making much revenue although the contractor was raking it in, some questioned whether virtual tour homes they really had any effect on safety. I think mostly they became political hot buttons.
Years ago, I remember my ex-father-in-law thought he'd be able to drive the freeways. By the time he got from LAX to our house in Culver City, he was in a cold sweat and we thought he was going to have a heart attack. He drove surface streets fine, but my ex-husband or I drove their rental if we needed to go anywhere by freeway.
Thanks for the chuckle. I would add in CA you can should signal, but make sure you have already started merging first. Because if you dont, the car in the other lane will make sure there isnt enough room for your desired lane change.
FrankS' virtual tour homes recommendations are good. It is also important to note that traffic patterns and lane choice don't only depend on the HOUR of the day-- they depend on the FREEWAY in question, and what stretch virtual tour homes of the freeway in question.
For example: Northbound virtual tour homes on the 405 between Long Beach and LAX, if you can't take the carpool lane during morning rush hour (not that it will help you that much), there will ALWAYS be slowdowns between Long Beach Airport and Atlantic Ave., then again between the 710 and Crenshaw (past the Harbor Freeway), then Hawthorne to El Segundo Blvd. If you need to get past LAX to the Westside, you should probably get off the 405 and take Sep lveda up into West LA, or Lincoln up into Santa Monica, or La Ci nega up into WeHo/Beverly Hills. virtual tour homes The slowdowns between La Tijera and the 90 Freeway will make your head explode. You will also find yourself moving from lanes number 2 to 3, then 4, then back to 3, then back to 4....
Learning virtual tour homes certain key side streets will help too. When Elizabeth Taylor was once asked her best advice for actors starting out in Hollywood, virtual tour homes she snapped back without hesitation: "Take Fountain." She was right.
In summary: How to drive like a local in LA? Avoid streets that Lindsay Lohan or Justin Bieber will be driving, dodge all the rental cars full of the poor visitors to LA, toast your survival with whatever virtual tour homes you can get your hands on when you arrive virtual tour homes to your final destination, don't drive again until you sober up!
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