<p>Okay so we've gone over the " should you have a car issue " etc.
Now the real issue is, it is realistic to go out in LA w/o having a car (either yours...or a friends?) Does the transportation system (metro/bus) take you to places where you can go out? Is there any way to get down to the Newport Beach area via public transportation?</p>
<p>Yes, there are plenty of options for public transit in the West Side. However, getting to the Newport area might be an issue if you don't have a car. Maybe you can get into the van-share program if it's going to be a regular thing.</p>
<p>yeah it definitely is possible. Public transportation here is no where near as easy to navigate as NYC's, but it still gets the job done and you can get anywhere you want to go. The bus system will take you with in a few blocks of anywhere on the west side, and if you want to get to Newport, you need to take a bus from UCLA to union station and then take a metrolink train (very cheap) down to OC.</p>
<p>oh and bfired2 brings up a good point, the UCLA vanpool. They have vans leaving UCLA bound for lots of destinations in socal. </p>
<p>can you van pool to lax?</p>
<p>for those who live close to UCLA, how do you get home on the weekends if you don't have a car? I think I will dorm but I want to be able to go home whenever I want just to grab some of my stuff, cuz i dont think i will be taking most of my belongings. Maybe my wardrobe, a laptop and ipod, an alarm clock, and some toiletry</p>
<p>Bum a ride off a friend. Vanpool. Public transit. Walk. *In order of convenience haha</p>
<p>yeah transportation from LA to OC is pretty convenient. while i was working at UCI this summer, my roomate took the metro link to union station every weekend and then caught a bus home. in this case you'd take an LA bus to union station, catch the metrolink to tustin, and then take the OCTA to newport</p>
<p>wow everything sounds so complicated to get to the oc. aHAha. bring a car if you can get a permit. best way. haha.</p>
<p>monkey: where do you live, if you're in the west LA region just take the big blue bus and you'd be within easy walking distance of anywhere</p>
<p>No, it is not realistic to go out in most of downtown LA if you don't have access to a car. :rolleyes:
However, the buses can take you throughout West LA and parts of downtown LA.</p>