anyone from LA know about the traffic on the 405?

[DingDingDao]

Man, being in the bay area for almost a year now makes me realize something - you guys don't know what you have down south, or how good you have it. But, I will not miss the commute and traffic.

OP, move to irvine.

DO NOT move to Irvine unless you want your life to be as boring as humanly possible.

That being said, living in SFV and commuting to El Segundo sounds like the fastest way to ruin your sanity.

 

[Ns1]

DO NOT move to Irvine unless you want your life to be as boring as humanly possible.

yup. Irvine night life = go to carls jr before they close at 2am.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Man, being in the bay area for almost a year now makes me realize something - you guys don't know what you have down south, or how good you have it. But, I will not miss the commute and traffic.

OP, move to irvine.

The commute in the Bay is a joke compared to LA. And SF and what not has it worst. I love life in the South Bay. What is this traffic people speak of? There's so many highways here that you have to be dumb to take an hour to move 20 miles.

You're fucked OP. The 405-101 exchange is considered the worst in ALL of California, possibly the country.

Confirmed:
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931285.html

BTW LOL @ the San Jose 880-101 interchange. If anyone knows it, it's a parclover interchange. I don't understand how a loopy interchange where you need to slow to 25 is causing that much delay. Sure it causes delay, but 240,000 vehicles? That's how many cars cross the giant MacArthur Maze everyday, and they're telling me this mini interchange has that many cars going through? And certainly it's not even an interchange that will be upgraded again anytime soon. I've passed through this interchange too many times in the afternoon and it's nowhere near as bad...

I question this study, although it's no surprise I see LA LA LA LA LA across the board

Also who says it clears up by 7:30pm? We wait til 9pm before hitting any LA highway. The latest I'd say in the Bay is 7:30pm, and that's the East Bay, Bay Bridge or certain parts of Mtn View near Google/MS/other tech companies with late working engineers.

 

[uclaLabrat]

I commute from orange county to ucla 4 days a week. I leave at 5am to avoid traffic and I can get there in 45 min. I just end up sleeping in my car until class/work starts. I leave around either 2pm or 7pm. If you even jump on the freeway at 7am or 4pm your life is fucked. My 45 min commute turns into a 3 hour commute at that time. When I'm stuck in traffic I lurk atot lol

Btw you should definately try to find someone to carpool with.

This. I did costa mesa to UCLA 5-6 days a week for 4 years. I used to get up at 5, out the door by 6, if I missed and was even 20 minutes late, it made a big difference. Getting through the westside past the south bay curve all the way to westwood was the worst part. Then I started just leaving between 9-9:30 and getting to lab at 11 or so. I could almost always make it there in an hour, which was pretty good. If you're stuck working regular hours, move closer. As others have said, culver city and palms are good bets, depending on where you work. Probably only looking at a 1 way commute of 30 min or so.

 

[SKORPI0]

Was there 2002 for a family reunion. Sister lives in Sta. Clarita and I had to fetch folks in LAX (about 41 miles). Driving there was a pain, took me about 1 1/2-2 hours because of the traffic. Drivers there are crazy, doing 80mph on a 65 mph highway. Avoid the 5am-9:30 am and 3pm-7pm rush hour if possible. Also take note what exits to use and change lanes early.

 

[CZroe]

Im about to take a job in El Segundo by LAX. Im curious how bad is that traffic/commute in the morning going southbound from Santa Clarita/San fernando valley, and back. My hours would likely be 6:30 or 7 to 4/4:30?

Is it bumper to bumper every morning and afternoon? or only when there are accidents?

Buy a motorcycle as soon as you get to Cali..

because learning how to ride in heavy traffic is a good idea...

No, because lane-splitting is legal in CA and you can ride a motorcycle between the bumper-to-bumper traffic. That's what I do.

 

[Ns1]

Drivers there are normal, unlike the pussies around here, doing 80mph on a 65 mph highway. So if you're a slow ass driver keep your slow ass on the right.

ftfy

 

[zerocool84]

Was there 2002 for a family reunion. Sister lives in Sta. Clarita and I had to fetch folks in LAX (about 41 miles). Driving there was a pain, took me about 1 1/2-2 hours because of the traffic. Drivers there are crazy, doing 80mph on a 65 mph highway. Avoid the 5am-9:30 am and 3pm-7pm rush hour if possible. Also take note what exits to use and change lanes early.

1.5hrs for 41 miles is damn good time for here. It takes me one hour and 15min to drive 19 miles every day home from Downtown LA.

 

[shopbruin]

I live 6 blocks away from 405 off the Santa Monica Blvd exit. Luckily I'm still a student and don't have a regular commute to make (yet) but if I need to get anywhere, I basically can't do it between the hours of roughly 3-7pm. Not only is the freeway complete gridlock but all the surface streets adjacent to the freeway are virtually useless as well.

That's the fricking truth. I lived only a couple of blocks from that same exit. It was impossible to go to Santa Monica for dinner and back between 5-7pm because it'd take me over an hour.

To drive 4 f'ing miles.

I did it once in the rain and I was ready to massacre everyone in front of me.

 

[Slew Foot]

The commute in the Bay is a joke compared to LA. And SF and what not has it worst. I love life in the South Bay. What is this traffic people speak of? There's so many highways here that you have to be dumb to take an hour to move 20 miles.



BTW LOL @ the San Jose 880-101 interchange. If anyone knows it, it's a parclover interchange. I don't understand how a loopy interchange where you need to slow to 25 is causing that much delay. Sure it causes delay, but 240,000 vehicles? That's how many cars cross the giant MacArthur Maze everyday, and they're telling me this mini interchange has that many cars going through? And certainly it's not even an interchange that will be upgraded again anytime soon. I've passed through this interchange too many times in the afternoon and it's nowhere near as bad...

I question this study, although it's no surprise I see LA LA LA LA LA across the board

Also who says it clears up by 7:30pm? We wait til 9pm before hitting any LA highway. The latest I'd say in the Bay is 7:30pm, and that's the East Bay, Bay Bridge or certain parts of Mtn View near Google/MS/other tech companies with late working engineers.

The big problem with the 101/880 is that its one dinky ass lane thats about 150 feet long thats also used by cars trying to enter the freeway so you have to slow down massively to try and merge in which causes a backlog.

<--- Lives in SJ, works in Fremont.

 

[brainhulk]

move to manhattan or redondo beach. that commute will suck.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

That's the fricking truth. I lived only a couple of blocks from that same exit. It was impossible to go to Santa Monica for dinner and back between 5-7pm because it'd take me over an hour.

To drive 4 f'ing miles.

I did it once in the rain and I was ready to massacre everyone in front of me.

Oh god I missed the 405 entrance once at 6pm and thought oh ill just drive south to the next entrance. It was 7pm until I drove half a block.

 

[KevinH]

There were times on the 405 when I felt like going full-on Michael Douglas in "Falling Down."

I lived in a really ghetto area between the San Fernando Valley and the Conejo Valley called Agoura Hills (). I worked a field sales job and my best accounts were UCLA and Cedars Sinai hospital, so I came to be intimately familiar with the special joy that is following bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way from Calabasas to Westwood, on both the 101 and 405.

/CSB

I know EXACTLY what you mean. I drove from Huntington Beach to Century City...405 N to 10 W.

Commutes were 1.5 hours when things were brisk...2.5 hours if LAX area was acting up.

It made me quit my job.

The best part about all this was leaving work. I worked on Avenue of the Stars at the main Fox hq. At 6 0'clock, you had the thousands of employees all going to the same handful of freeway entrances. Then you combine the traffic that came out of Westside Pavilion. Oh that was so fun taking 30 minutes to drive a few blocks on Pico to get on the freeway to drive for another 1.5 hours.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

One day we will have our high speed train. Too bad I won't be needing it then

 

[SSSnail]

Slow down there Bobs, I said I won't miss the traffic down south, but everything else about the bay area I couldn't care less for.

In sf, even if there's no traffic you can't go anywhere fast anyways unless you want to destroy your car.

 

[bfdd]

Seriously, move to this area. The South Bay is the best fucking place to live in Southern California, fuck all that other noise. I drive the 405 every day right in this area going from Culver City to the 110.


Also an FYI I have lived in the South Bay, Torrance specifically, for like 13 years now? Moved there when I turned 13. Seriously the weather is better there than any where else around. Don't listen to the morons who said the shit has gone to the gutter that just isn't true. Carson isn't even nearly as bad as it once used to be and the rest have always been good and are still improving.

Also, the Asian communities are HUGE and growing every day. There are a lot of Koreans in Torrance along with some smaller Japanese communities which get larger as you move towards Gardena. Finding good Asian food really isn't an issue around here.

 

[bfdd]

Oh god I missed the 405 entrance once at 6pm and thought oh ill just drive south to the next entrance. It was 7pm until I drove half a block.

It once took me right around 8 hours to drive from Bakersfield to Torrance. I remember seeing the sign letting me know the Getty Center exit was in a mile and an hour later I saw the exit rofl. Left at 2:30pm got home just after 10pm.

 

[ajtyeh]

thanks for the advise everyone, i take your advise to heart.

i am looking for 2br2ba apartments in redondo beach/hermosa beach area, its about 1500 a month for older apartments and 2000 for newer ones. i didnt want to find a roommate, but i think i will make do with another roommate so i dont hate my life driving.

TU again.

 

[zerocool84]

thanks for the advise everyone, i take your advise to heart.

i am looking for 2br2ba apartments in redondo beach/hermosa beach area, its about 1500 a month for older apartments and 2000 for newer ones. i didnt want to find a roommate, but i think i will make do with another roommate so i dont hate my life driving.

TU again.

Good choice. Those are much better areas than anyone else here was recommending. Sure you'll have to live next to organic hipsters that shop at Whole Foods but it's worth it.

 

[bfdd]

2br2ba? you can BUY a condo in the place I live for less than 1500 a month 2br/2ba. This is in Torrance/Harbor City area. If you need help shoot me a PM and I can see what's around.

 

[bfdd]

Good choice. Those are much better areas than anyone else here was recommending. Sure you'll have to live next to organic hipsters that shop at Whole Foods but it's worth it.

I have to disagree, the only benefit would be being closer to the pier and Najas.

 

[ajtyeh]

well ive got some money in the bank, but i dont think im ready to buy a house, i was getting ready to attend UCLA/USC for my mba so i wanted to save and pay it straight up instead of getting large student loans, also i believe my employer will be paying for a chunk of it. also i believe ppl said a good rule of thumb for buying a place is if i planned on staying there for more then 5 or was it 8 years which i dont.

ill be working around the corner of North Aviation Boulevard and E El Segundo Blvd, if that gives a better picture. ideally, if i live that close id probaly would like to bike to work. and save 200-300 on gas every month, that could go towards getting a nicer apt.

 

[bfdd]

I know exactly where that is and can tell you there's some good food to get around there.

 

[chorb]

well ive got some money in the bank, but i dont think im ready to buy a house, i was getting ready to attend UCLA/USC for my mba so i wanted to save and pay it straight up instead of getting large student loans, also i believe my employer will be paying for a chunk of it. also i believe ppl said a good rule of thumb for buying a place is if i planned on staying there for more then 5 or was it 8 years which i dont.

ill be working around the corner of North Aviation Boulevard and E El Segundo Blvd, if that gives a better picture. ideally, if i live that close id probaly would like to bike to work. and save 200-300 on gas every month, that could go towards getting a nicer apt.

I looked for apartments in that exact area when I worked there 4 years ago. Anything ~1500/mo may look nice in the pictures, but are actually pretty run down in person.

You're going to need to spend around 2000/mo for something considered "nice". Not trying to get you down, but that's the reality of living there.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Seriously, move to this area. The South Bay is the best fucking place to live in Southern California, fuck all that other noise. I drive the 405 every day right in this area going from Culver City to the 110.


Also an FYI I have lived in the South Bay, Torrance specifically, for like 13 years now? Moved there when I turned 13. Seriously the weather is better there than any where else around. Don't listen to the morons who said the shit has gone to the gutter that just isn't true. Carson isn't even nearly as bad as it once used to be and the rest have always been good and are still improving.

Also, the Asian communities are HUGE and growing every day. There are a lot of Koreans in Torrance along with some smaller Japanese communities which get larger as you move towards Gardena. Finding good Asian food really isn't an issue around here.

My Mother-In-Law lives in Torrance and my wife was born and raised there so we spend a fair amount of time there as you can imagine. I like the area but there is too much traffic.

San Diego is my home and I love it here.