Los Angeles is by no means a walkable city. While it offers an excess of opportunities and not so hidden gems, charting Los Angeles as a college student is often impeded by the simple lack of a car. UCLA offers a handy remedy to this problem: the Bruin U-Pass, a free Transit Access Pass, or TAP card, that offers access to numerous bus and train lines across the LA area.
In total, the U-Pass offers access to the local Los Angeles Metro bus and rail, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and Culver CityBus lines, in addition a host of transit lines such as the Antelope Valley Transit Authority and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Local buses passing through Westwood include the LA Metro 4, 20, 602 and 761, Big Blue Bus 1, 2, 8, 12, 17 and 18 and Culver CityBus 6 and R6.
The local systems alone, which are most useful for exploring, can be daunting for students unfamiliar with using public transit. Looking to become a bus-riding pro? As the summer comes to a close, consider these locations for some public transit practice.
Westfield Century City
For an easy day out, take either LA Metro bus 761 or Big Blue Buses 8 or R12 from Westwood/Weyburn (next to 7/11) and get off at Westwood SB/Santa Monica NB. Then, cross Santa Monica Boulevard to get on LA Metro bus 4 at Santa Monica/Westwood. Get off at Santa Monica/Century Park West. Go with friends to enjoy countless trendy stores and food like Din Tai Fung, HaiDiLao and Eataly.
Koreatown
Take LA Metro 720 at Wilshire Blvd/Westwood Blvd (across the street from the Hammer Museum), which stops every eight minutes, and get off at Wilshire/Western. This route goes into the heart of K-town to the MaDang Courtyard shopping mall, which houses an H Mart as well as several restaurants and stores.
Main St, Santa Monica
For a simple trip, get on Big Blue Bus 1 from Westwood Blvd/Weyburn Ave which stops every 10 minutes, and get off at Main SB/Ocean Park FS. Main Street is a popular destination for thrifting and dining, not to mention its proximity to the beach and the Santa Monica Pier.
Downtown Culver City
Take Big Blue Bus R12 at Westwood/Weyburn which stops every 15 minutes and get off at Venice/Overland. From the same Venice/Overland stop, get on the LA Metro 33 and get off at Venice/Hughes. Walk about 5 minutes towards Washington Boulevard. Downtown Culver City is the perfect spot to for a nice dinner out, seeing a movie or walking around on a nice summer evening. The downtown area is also relatively close to the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, the perfect spot for a short hike and a beautiful view.
Getty Villa
The bus lines can take students far and wide, including to more out-of-the-way stops along the Pacific Coast Highway! Take the LA Metro 602 from the Westwood UCLA Amtrak Bus stop on Gayley Ave, where the bus stops every 40 minutes. Get off at Pacific Coast Highway/Bel Air Bay Club and get on the 134 until the Pacific Coast Highway/Getty Villa stop. The Getty Villa can take your mind out of the busy city to see the quiet beauty of an extensive collection and gardens overlooking the ocean.
Greek Theater
Take LA Metro bus 2 from Hilgard/Wyton (across from the UCLA Guest House on the backside of campus) which stops every 10 minutes, then get off at Sunset/Vermont. Cross Sunset Blvd to get on the LADOT Observatory/Los Feliz Northbound line which takes students directly to the Greek Theater. These lines are especially useful for the student who is taking a break from summer classes to go see their favorite artists in show and can also be used to access the Griffith Observatory!
Be sure not to miss your bus and check on the Big Blue Bus, LA Metro and Culver CityBus apps or websites to see departure times. Also remember to notify the bus driver when your stops is next using the buttons or wires in the bus, as the driver only stops when notified.
Note that these routes are only one of many ways to get to each location via public transit, although they are some of the simpler options. A quick check on Google Maps can reveal potential other routes.
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Featured Image Photographed by Bruno Coelho – stock.adobe.com
