Southern California - Problems with taking bus over Sepulveda pass between Valley and West Los Angeles

I am getting really frustrated and I wonder if others are having the same problem.

I bike to the bus stop, take the bus over the hill from Sherman Oaks to West L.A. and then bike the rest of the way to work. The problem is that the bus has only two spaces for bikes (yet holds a 150+ people). More and more, I have to wait for a spot, and if it's full, I have to wait for the next bus. This is making me late for work. I can bile the hill a few times a week, but I can't do it both ways... at least in the foreseeable future- and not at night in the winter.

I have spoken to the drivers, all whom say their drivers manual says that only the last bus of the night's run can take more than 2 bikes. Every week I see a new biker wanting to take my bus route- making it harder to find a spot. My suggestion is to just make an exception for this route, since this is one of the few routes between the two areas and it is relatively difficult to bike over.

I have contacted my councilmember, but their reply was "we will pass on the info". Not much help.

Anyone experience this, or have any suggestions?

I would contact metro directly. The drivers are just pee-ons and just follow the rules because it's their job. If a higher-up sees lost sales, things might change.

Probably only going to get worse as more and more people decide to use alternate forms of transportation (buses and bikes).

The only other suggestion I would have is find out where most people are hopping on with bikes and start pedaling to one stop earlier. For example, if everyone is getting on in Westwood and filling up the racks, start riding to the stop just before that.

Don't know if that helps much or if there's any consistency in who gets on and when, but that's one thing I'd try.

Oh, and check with the LA County Bike Coalition. Lots of voices are stronger than one and they may be getting others with the same issue.

Probably only going to get worse as more and more people decide to use alternate forms of transportation (buses and bikes).

The silver lining is that Metro will start adding buses, routes, and/or stops if the trend continues. Too bad it will be slow in happening. Good call on the coalition, too!

I forgot about the Coalition. I sent an email. I think once I get a handle on the best approach I will bring some flyers and give them to the bikers....

Thanks for your advice.

Or...get a folding bike. Lol. Allowed on all trains and buses at all times, unless it's, really, really full. :thumb:

I've run into this problem on the Orange Line too. I don't ride it regularly, but once in awhile when I'm in a hurry to get home after my Topanga Canyon ride I'll hop on the orange line instead of biking the last 11 miles from Warner Center to Hazeltine. ...ok, let's face it, sometimes it's not about being in a hurry; sometimes that ride is plenty and I don't feel like finishing the last 11 miles. ;) haha

Anyway, there have been a few times where I had to wait for the next Orange Line bus. And as some here may know, the Orange Line buses hold three bikes.

I'm also not real thrilled with the racks they use. If you're unlucky enough to be on a bus where all three racks are in use (including your bike), and then someone with a junker exits the bus, he usually adds one more paint scratch to your well-cared-for bike. I guess it's just better to stay on the bike and forget the buses.

Thanks for the advice on contacting the coalition- I am new to internet and biking issues :) They were very responsive and helpful and directed me to the various people to contact.

While I was at it, I also commented on the poor quality of the northern part of the Sepulveda pass, and they said on their webpage (http://www.bicyclela.org/Maintenance.htm#LADOT) there's a place to lodge complaints or comments about the problems with the road with LADOT, so I sent them an email concerning the overgrowth of vegetation along this bike path. A few plants completely block the path forcing the bike into the car lane at top speed.... Who knew???

sepulveda pass is a pretty unique situation. maybe they need a once a morning 'bike only' bus into West LA (say at 8:15am) then a once an afternoon 'bike only' bus back over to the valley (say at 5:15pm). I've got a co-worker making the same trip. he's never mentioned problems with room for his bike, but I think he gets on pretty far north.

I know people complaining about the lack of bike racks on the Santa Monica buses too.

just a thought here.....why not just pedal over the pass? its not really that bad....

just a thought here.....why not just pedal over the pass? its not really that bad....

Hahaha...that's funny.

i am however dead serious.....why not? trafic in the pass during most of the week is at a standstill! ride right by everyone!

I think the only downside is that when it's 100 degrees in the valley, it's 120 over Sepulveda. But in nicer weather, yep.

i am however dead serious.....why not? trafic in the pass during most of the week is at a standstill! ride right by everyone!

I am working up to it. I am not in the best of shape, but I am just not up to going both ways everyday. I had a grandma pass me on the pass!

Anyway- some guy called me this morning from some transportation department and said he would drive over it and check the vegetation and he'll do a report and get the plants cut down. He said they are going some blacktop work I tihnk just north of the Getty (why?) and he will look at the black top and do a seperate report if it needs it.

I can sympathize. Ca municipal buses are just made that way. Can they not have some kind of luggage space where extra bikes could be placed. / That is quite a hill, as I recall. I like the idea of riding all the way if possible ./ More than once I had to ride home in the dark , once unfortunately w/o a light) because a bus' bike rack was full and the wait for the next bus was over an hour.

How strong a rider are you and where abouts in West L.A. do you work?

Just some ideas ...

If you have a place to wipe some dust off at work I would say get out the mtb or cx bike and . . .

Ride over to Laural Cyn, up Fryman, through TreePeople, cross Coldwater, down Franklin Cyn, finish out on the last part of Beverly or Rexford and go from there.


Then there is the option of riding up Havenhurst to Dirt Mulholland and down Kenter (extra fun route :thumb: )

Or

Ride over to Reseada, up and over Mulholland and down Sullivan or Westridge.

DBD:beer:

How strong a rider are you and where abouts in West L.A. do you work?

Just some ideas ...

If you have a place to wipe some dust off at work I would say get out the mtb or cx bike and . . .

Ride over to Laural Cyn, up Fryman, through TreePeople, cross Coldwater, down Franklin Cyn, finish out on the last part of Beverly or Rexford and go from there.


Then there is the option of riding up Havenhurst to Dirt Mulholland and down Kenter (extra fun route :thumb: )

Or

Ride over to Reseada, up and over Mulholland and down Sullivan or Westridge.

DBD:beer:

the guy is commuting why would he want to go off-road

the guy is commuting why would he want to go off-road


Because you can commute without a lot of the traffic, stop signs/signals and have a more direct path if he were to ride the entire commute.

DBD:beer:

Or...get a folding bike. Lol. Allowed on all trains and buses at all times, unless it's, really, really full. :thumb:

This is a GREAT idea. If I had a bike-bus-bike commute, I would do this in a heartbeat. You get the added bonus of easier parking/stowing of the bike at your destination (fold and stick under your desk or in a closet). :thumb:

Jim

This is a GREAT idea. If I had a bike-bus-bike commute, I would do this in a heartbeat. You get the added bonus of easier parking/stowing of the bike at your destination (fold and stick under your desk or in a closet). :thumb:

Jim


I was actually warned the other day as I got off the Red Line about the " no bikes during rush hour " rule.

Time to get a folder, as I doubt that with more people riding the trains the bans will be lifted. And I could bring a folder onto the bus if the rack was full.

some folding bikes fit into a carrying bag which they won't even know its a bike when you carry it inside the bus.