<p>So, I'll be in Claremont next year as a freshman, and I really, really don't want to go through the hassle of learning to drive. I've been biking around New York City on the bike paths and on the street for a long time, and while New York City is nowhere near as big as Los Angeles, would it plausible for me to ride from Claremont to say, downtown LA, Santa Monica, or any of the other cool places? I don't intend to do this regular basis, but every once in a while. I wouldn't in biker spandex or anything like that--just normal clothes, and a possible change if I were to get sweaty. Nonetheless, could I do it? How long would it take?</p>
<p>Claremont to Santa Monica is around 50 miles one way.
Claremont to downtown LA is around 32 miles one way. </p>
<p>I'm not sure what types of neighborhoods you might need to go through to do it and how safe they all are.</p>
<p>I imagine it could be done but I doubt it'd be very enjoyable but then I've never done it. Fiven that, I'm sure there are lots of places with enjoyable rides but you and your bike might want to take a bus to get there, bike around, then get back on the bus. Or, you could learn to drive and get a car.</p>
<p>I don't see why not. It's only sixty miles from Pomona College to Santa Monica, avoiding Interstates of course -- sorry, I mean avoiding Freeways. With stop lights, traffic and stuff you should be able to do the round trip in a weekend. I'm sure someone has done this, I'm just not sure who that would be.</p>
<p>It is doable if you combine your bike trip with the metrorail(and you can take your bike on board). Take Indian Hill to Foothill and travel west on Foothill til you come upon the Sierra Madre metrorail station. And from there its smooth sailing, errrr I mean railing. Its still a substantial bike ride. Check it out on Googlemaps. There is also a great bike trail that goes south along the 605 freeway from Irwindale all the way to the beach.(the San Gabriel River bike trail)</p>
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<p>So, I'll be in Claremont next year as a freshman, and I really, really don't want to go through the hassle of learning to drive....<<</p>
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<p>After a few months in LA, learning to drive will start looking a lot less like a hassle and more like a necessity.</p>
<p>Public transportation is a possibility...And you can certainly ride around Claremont. Having been to New York twice recently if you have the stomach to ride around New York you should be able to learn to drive. BYW, MILLIONS of people drive everyday. Please do not think that you are less talented, coordinated or less brave than the rest of us. Remember, you may not return to live in New York and it is a shame to admit defeat and be dependent on others for rides because of a perceived "hassle."</p>
<p>The only way to get around on a bike is if you lived on the Westside...</p>
<p>I'm sorry but it's pretty much a requirement, you will need a car. I would imagine it to take forever to get from Claremont to anywhere, you'd never want to do it again if you even make it into the LA basin.</p>
<p>Q: Would I be able to travel around LA on a bike?
A: Yes, but only if you start out being shot out of a cannon. </p>
<p>What an image!!! And pretty much true. My answer to downtown and Santa Monica on a bike from Claremont would be a resounding no. My son will also be in Claremont and I'm a lifelong Angeleno with a pretty good lay of the land. It might be feasible if you combine it with public transit (and public transit in L.A. is a far cry from public transit in NYC) but not on a bike alone.</p>
<p>....or quote my kids, "ARE YOU NUTS?!" Learn to drive, it really isn't that hard. (And if you are freeway phobic use public transportation and learn the side roads. I never use freeways.)</p>
<p>Would you want to? NO. Besides the fact that people are nasty and may try to run you off the road (even if you're in the bike lane), you'd probably drop dead from pollution/lack of Oxygen before you got where you were going.</p>
<p>I NEVER use freeways, and I never have any problem getting anywhere. You just tell mapquest to "avoid highways" and it gives you an alternate route.</p>
<p>Learn. To. Drive. It's not hard, and take it from someone who's an LA Area native...everyone here either drives, walks, or takes Public Transportation. The only time we bike is if we're at the beach...and even then most people don't.</p>
<p>hahahha sure... if you want to get hit by the drivers</p>
<p>seriously though, you dont want to be biking in LA, even on city streets. the drivers are just horrible and wont give a damn about you, and in most cases they arent even paying attention to bikers. secondly, the pollution level wouldnt even let you bike 1 mile.</p>
<p>plus having a car in LA is fun, so much to do, you would only be limited by a bike</p>
<p>It can certainly be done and serious road bikers do it all the time around L.A., but you're talking about endurance biking not for casual riders. To the ocean from Claremont would take a pretty fit rider about 3-4 hours one way and requires breaks/fueling and a great bike. And spandex. And a spare tire kit. And then you are pertty much toast for riding back. Unless you've been riding 100 miles/week for a while, it's not a good idea. As others have mentioned, riding a bike to metrorail and taking the train to where you want to go is a great idea. But do watch out for traffic.</p>
<p>Grew up in LA went to college in Nor Cal but during the summer I would come home to work, had to pay the college bills. Rode my bike about 20 miles each way to work all on surface streets with no bike lanes. That being said I wouldn't recommend getting around LA by bike except in conjunction with public transit, distances are just too far. Getting around Claremont and surrounding area is a different matter as long as you watch where you ride.</p>