<p>Basically, everyone here agrees that with any form of transportation (car, bus, metro, or on foot), there is no fast way to get to downtown.</p>
<p>A few weeks ago, I went with a few friends to Downtown LA. The freeway was filled with cars and it took us something like 1 1/2 hours to get there. But on the way back, we took Wilshire blvd. and it took us less than an hour to get to UCLA. I suppose it all depends on the time of the day and the day of the week that you go there.</p>
<p>Well yeah. It's not very far. I've gotten to the 405 from downtown on wilshire in 40 minutes (by car) but it was a weekend morning and there wasn't anyone around. However since it's an internship it's likely that the OP will have to get to downtown at peak rush hour times.</p>
<p>I've been using tripster to plan out my bus rides
<a href="http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.php%5B/url%5D">http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.php</a>
anyone use it before and know how accurate the times are?</p>
<p>
[quote]
during rush hour, would it be better to avoid the 405 south and 10 west and take santa monica blvd or wilshire to get to cal state la? if so, which would be better, santa monica or wilshire?
[/quote]
Avoid the 405, 10, and 101 during rush hour. Don't take wilshire. Sunset is a little bit better, but you'll still get stuck in west hollywood and hollywood. Take valley blvd to cal state la, 10 east is horrible too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Basically, everyone here agrees that with any form of transportation (car, bus, metro, or on foot), there is no fast way to get to downtown.
[/quote]
Ride bicycle on wilshire and take bus until you arrive Normandie/wilshire. It might be faster. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Like most Angelenos, I don't use public transportation that much but the bus to Noho then red line idea seems pretty good. Commutingwise, As a USC (basically downtown) student who commutes to an internship in Beverly Hills/Century City (basically UCLA), the best East-West surface streets to use when the 405/10 are clogged are San Vicente--Venice Blvd at any time of the day and Olympic in the mornings. San Vicente, in addition to being dramatically traffic free (for some reason I still have het to figure out), is also the only major LA thoroughfare that runs Northwest to UCLA from downtown, and vice versa (SE from UCLA).</p>
<p>Note that San Vicente clogs up around the Fairfax/Olympic interchange, but that's more because the lights aren't synchronized as opposed to actual traffic. Also, on these streets during rush hour, be sure to make use of the #3 lanes which are metered parking usually, but open to traffic in the morning and afternoon. For some reason, I notice few people taking advantage of this.</p>
<p>Lastly, Santa Monica doesn't go downtown to the person who suggested it.</p>
<p>Well, I took the bus (20) to Union Station from Wilshire/Westwood on Thursday afternoon and it took 1hr 45 minutes. On the way back however, this morning, it took 40 minutes. I would maybe bike to Wilshire/Normandie (Red Line) and hop on there- I'm not sure how far that is from UCLA though.</p>
<p>if you bike to wilshire/normandie might as well bike to downtown its almost there</p>
<p>Why doesn't Los Angeles have a better, unified bus system? :rolleyes:</p>