Ancillary 9

For the final project, I would like to focus on the lack of efficiency of public transportation in Los Angeles. Because I prefer to take the subway and bus in my hometown, Beijing, it is not only an eco-friendly choice but also an efficient commute. However, when I started my college life in Los Angeles, self-driving or taking uber was a much more comfortable and safe way than taking the Metro. Data shows that the average total estimated ridership per day is 668370 compared to approximately 3.9 million people. A considerably small proportion of people would take the Metro in Los Angeles, which further triggered my interest in finding the “culprit” of this phenomenon.

I have discovered two reasons why fewer people would take it. The current lines do not intersect significant activity centers. This lack of connection may lead to reductions in the number of potential transit users. In addition, poor design of freeway median stations may also enable the general public to lose interest in taking public transportation. Take the Greenline, for example; the nine Green Line stations are all located in the freeway median, and adjacent freeway travel lanes are highly likely to generate high noise levels on the platforms and airborne dirt. In such isolated settings, patrons often express safety concerns, particularly at nighttime. Compared to a comfortable and self-adjustable private car, people are reluctant to take public transportation. With well-ranging research, more reasons would credit to low ridership.

Think globally, Los Angeles is a first-tier city worldwide; yet, why the infrastructure fails to perform its function? There is a whole different picture regarding many highly developed cities in East Asia. While comparing and contrasting, I would like to explore the possible improvement LA could adjust to enhance the efficacy of Metro.