Written in Partnership with Maria WilliamsLos Angeles is known for a lot of things — beautiful scenery, iconic attractions, sunny weather, and all the glamor of Hollywood. Unfortunately, not everything about LA’s reputation is positive — it’s also known for legendarily bad traffic. In a recent study, Los Angeles took the award for the #1 most congested city in the world when it comes to traffic, and it consistently ranks as one of the highest on lists of the worst traffic in America.
One prominent reason for this chronic congestion is the lack of mass transportation in the City of Angels. Los Angeles is a driving town; historically speaking, it’s difficult to get around without a car, and every car on the road makes traffic that much worse. But with increasing concern about climate change and road safety come fresh consideration given to alternative forms of transportation. Here are a few emerging trends that may reshape the way people think of getting around in LA.
Public Transportation
While the city historically has little truck (pun intended) with mass transportation, city officials has recently taken some steps to try to improve that situation. In 2022, the Los Angeles Metro reported a 12% increase in ridership, which was brought about by expansion and improvement of the infrastructure, more routes, increased frequency of stops, and better amenities. This measure has succeeded in enticing more passengers on public transportation, but there is a long way still to go.
The Rise of Ridesharing
The advent of companies such as Uber and Lyft transformed the way we think about calling for a ride, and their impact continues to be felt to this day. Traditional taxi services have taken a major hit and don’t have the cultural impact they once did thanks to the rise of ridesharing apps. These services have a lot going for them: convenience, cost-effectiveness, and often a shorter wait time than their more traditional counterparts. Though ridesharing is not without its share of problems, it has relieved some of the need for car ownership in Los Angeles, and that can only be good for traffic and pollution.
Remote Work
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine and lockdown led to a massive surge in remote work. Unable to go into their workplaces, many workers stayed home and did their work remotely. The quarantine and lockdowns ended, but from all indications, remote work is here to stay. As a matter of fact, the city of Los Angeles is actively encouraging remote work. The reasons for this are manifold: remote work reduces the stress of commuting and allows for a more relaxed work environment, but it also reduces cost of living when it comes to fuel and vehicle maintenance. It also greatly eases traffic congestion and reduces pollution — many Los Angelenos can tell you how much the city transformed in the early days of the pandemic.
The reduction in traffic incurred by the pandemic also helps in another way: it brings down insurance costs. As you might suspect, Los Angeles sports some particularly high car insurance premiums. Among the factors that drive up insurance risks: traffic density and accident rates. Less traffic on the roads means fewer opportunities for accidents — which can lead to lower premiums.
Self-Driving Vehicles
As the home to many a forward-thinking tech company, California is naturally an epicenter for the advent of self-driving vehicles. The state has deliberately takjen the lead in embracing self-driving vehicles, with autonomous taxis already rolling out in Los Angeles. In concept, self-driving vehicles have a lot to offer in terms of safety and reducing traffic, which could be a game-changer nationwise if it’s successful. But some have expressed concern over Los Angeles being a “testbed” for such a new technology, and self-driving cars don’t exactly have a sterling safety reputation — not yet, at least.
The Future and the Hyperloop
One idea that’s been gaining traction in recent years is the concept of the hyperloop: a revolutionary transportation technology that could potentially have a powerful effect on travel times. Simply put, a hyperloop is an ultra-fast transit system that uses vacuum tubes. These tubes can propel capsules at incredible speeds, allowing passengers to traverse significant distances in a very short time. With the use of a hyperloop, a person could commute between entire cities in a fraction of the time — which, needless to say, would reduce traffic a great deal. While this could have tremendous benefits for cities like Los Angeles, it’s also a hefty investment.
America has always been a culture deeply steeped in car culture, and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. But as technology advances and transportation needs change, it’s likely we’ll see Los Angeles continue to embrace forward-thinking solutions to their ongoing traffic problem, in the hopes that the city’s roadways will no longer be legendary for the wrong reasons.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.