DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Arienne At The Red Line

Q: Hi Arienne. Welcome to Defend Your Ride Los Angeles. So the Red Line? Why don't you own a car?

A: I moved out here about 10 years ago. I had the same car that whole time, a '97 Taurus. It just got to the point where I wasn't using it. It just started to fall apart. I didn't want to pay for any repairs because the car wasn't worth as much. I just got rid of it and have been using the subway and the buses ever since. It's been three or four months now, pretty recent.

Q: Most people in L.A. can't survive without their cars. How do you manage?

A: I think I'm just sort of lucky geographically speaking because I live five minutes away from a subway station. For a long time, I've been taking the Red Line train to work. I also get on a bus for part of my ride to work. I work at USC. We have a lot of public transit options in that part of town. It's just really convenient for me.

Q: How long is your commute each way?

A: It's an hour each way. It's not bad, except that when I drive it's half an hour. I always have to tack on extra time to get to where I want to go. I'm halfway on the Red Line train, which is underground, and I'm halfway on the bus. I have to wait for the bus. I go to MacArthur Park and take the 200 there.

Q: What do you use if you have to run big errands?

A: I use Zipcar, which has a lot of cars in my neighborhood and also where I work. Basically, you're a member of Zipcar and then you can rent a car by the hour. It's like $9 an hour, give or take depending on the car you pick. I don't have to buy insurance for the Zipcars.

Q: What do you like most about our mass transit system?

A: I like it for me because it's easy for me to get to where I need to go, especially during the week. I don't have to think about it. I don't have to be stressed out in traffic, which I hate. It's just a really low stress option for me. I can read on the train and the bus. I can do some crochet projects or something. It's nice not worrying about anything until I get into my office and do my real job.

Q: What do you like least about our mass transit system?

A: The fact that I can't be spur of the moment about anything. I really have to think about it and go online to see if the bus or the rail system goes where I need to go. I can't just walk out to my carport, jump in a car and go anywhere I want. I have to think about it beforehand.

Q: Where's the farthest you've ever gone in mass transit?

A: I've gone up to Pasadena quite regularly. I take the Red Line to the Gold Line. Then maybe a 10-minute walk. I was right where I needed to be for a few meetings I had in the fall, very convenient and direct. You just go to Union Station. Union Station is beautiful, so it was kind of a thrill to have this trip because you get to see this beautiful old building. Then jump on the Gold Line light rail to Pasadena. It's just very pleasant.

Q: If the sky were the limit and you could own any car, what would you buy?

A: Oh gosh, I don't know. I'm not a car person to begin with, so just something that's reliable. It would be nice to have something that's environmentally friendly, but all cars are so expensive. I don't know. It's a lot of money you could be putting somewhere else in your life.