cutterfilm

So, I finished my first week of commuting from Los Feliz/Silver Lake to Santa Monica. After getting pushed off the road by a box truck within fifteen minutes on day one, everything's gone pretty well. I've spent most of the last twelve years working an off hours schedule to avoid rush hour traffic. It was truly strange to get home at 6 o'clock at night. I had the energy to cook dinner and get the dang dishes done. I drove yesterday and I was anxious not to be riding my bike.

It's about 15 miles each way. I've been taking Fountain almost to La Cienega then Santa Monica Blvd till Beverly Hills then switching to Carmelita till Century City, then I'm back on Santa Monica Blvd. till I'm past the 405, then I take Colorado to 26th finally to Bergamot.

It's taking me about an hour and fifteen minutes each way. I'd love to hear about any improvements to the route. Does anyone making a similar commute have any suggestions?

tinrobot

I find that Sixth and Olympic are good cross town streets. Last time I rode to Santa Monica from Silverlake, I did Fountain to Wilton to Sixth, then cut down to side streets when Sixth hit San Vicente (maybe I took Charleville?) then finally down to Olympic when I hit Century City.

Nachoman

You are rugged. That sounds like a nasty commute.

merider1

I would also suggest Olympic since It's fairly wide, but you are brave! The traffic through Century City is insane. You work at Bergamot? That must be nice.

cutterfilm

I'll try out sixth and olympic sometime. it's not as direct, but to me that's definitely not the priority. The bike lanes in WeHo, Century City and West L.A. are actually really helpful. Beverly Hills set aside little to no room for bikes, but Carmelita (like Arthur's girlfriend on "The Tick") is a nice shaded street, so it's fine. But I have to cut through the Beverly Hilton private drive to get back to S.M. Blvd. Santa Monica Blvd. west of the 405 can be okay, but not during rush hour when the there are parking restrictions. Seems like a handful of people commute to Bergamot. Doubt if any come from as far as me. I don't know if I'm adventurous or stupid. Either way, I'm certainly happy to be out of my car.

CMY

All I can say is..

worker4youth

I commuted 2-3 times a week from Miracle Mile to Pasadena (and back to Koreatown) for over 2 years. I took a similar route using fountain. I'd MUCH prefer fountain over Olympic, having done both countless times. Parts of Olympic is pothole city, and 6th is ok, only when traffic is moving slowly in K-town.

But the best bet is fountain for a balance between speed/safety, and probably 4th for safety. For pure speed, 6th or Olympic is best.

My trip was around 37 miles roundtrip, and also took a little over 1 hour. Hated the false flats up to Pasadena though.

prendrefeu

Olympic is, although "designated a bicycle route," widely considered to be the worst method of heading east/west. It's a freeway.

Good alternatives: Melrose up into Beverly Hills -> Little Santa Monica into Santa Monica (where there is a bike lane).
Venice, if you're headed further south - but it's dullsville.

Once within WestLA/Santa Monica, Colorado or Arizona are great routes to take East/West.

prendrefeu

4th street is okay, but it's blocked off at Park LaBrea, at which point a twist down to 6th is a good move.
then, 6th to San Vicente -> up into Beverly Hills -> Santa Monica Blvd.

6th street through Hancock Park is dangerous - blind corners, fast traffic, not recommended.

cutterfilm

I haven't seen bike lanes on Little Santa Monica Blvd. What part are they on? Beverly Hills? A lot of Little Santa Monica doesn't exist anyone in Century City since the road construction. But there are bike lanes on it now. I like Fountain though there are plenty of spots that don't have much room.

shapeofthings

cutterfilm,
I may make the same commute tomorrow, any new info on the ideal route since you first started doing it?

cutterfilm

Overall, I'm happy with it. I take it about three days a week. I've noticed one other guy who takes about the same route between the 405 and Western. A couple guys just take SM Blvd through B.H., but it's not too safe IMHO.

Good luck!

This is pretty much the route I've been taking...
https://tinyurl.com/2poadl

except...

Going west...
out of WeHo, I usually take SM Blvd until it gets narrow at Beverly Blvd/Palm. Then go up to Carmelita. In Century City, I ride on the sidewalk for about 3 blocks.

Going east...
Into Beverly Hills, I take South Santa Monica, then take Linden up to Carmelita. I take SM Blvd. in WeHo till Formosa, then go up to Fountain. at the end of Fountain, where it turns into Hyperion, I ride up Landa St to Griffith Park Blvd.

shapeofthings

I woke up late and left after the morning rush (10:30) so I took a more direct route which took me about 45 minutes on the dot. Going to try to do it 2 or 3 times a week. If you see a guy with a polka dot helmet and various fixed builds, that's me.

my google route I took today

shapeofthings

taking the same route on the way home put me at 45 minutes on the dot (Bergamot Station TO santa monica blvd & normandie- Little Armenia)

Bev Hills along Santa Monica Blvd at night is hella sketchy!

cutterfilm

nice time. it still takes me almost an hour to get there.

i'm gonna stay off of SM Blvd in BH for now. how's Melrose?

shapeofthings

I live a few miles closer to than you, it usually takes me 10 to 15 to get to Silverlake.

SM Blvd at night in BevHills is not safe by any means. I certainly wont' do that again.

I left late, so there was probably less traffic than rush hour, but found Melrose was quality and overall the road is in good shape (at least west of western and especially La Brea)

cutterfilm

So you got me tempted and I tried SM Blvd again. It wasn't as bad as I remembered. There are just a couple blocks going west that are narrow for bikes. And going east is better than I remember. I think the hedges can get a lot more overgrown. Plus it's faster than Carmelita. Seems like splitting hairs, but minutes add up.

I work over at Track 16. Where at Bergamot do you work?

shapeofthings

I am a permalancer at Brand New School.

going to try your route to get around BevHills tonight but going to jump back on Melrose (more direct to my crib) when I can

cutterfilm

That's like a commercial shop? What d'ya do? I'm curious 'cause I'm a director/animator, etc.
https://www.dantefilm.com
This will screen at SMMoA this summer.

-sean

shapeofthings

yes, the majority of what they do is commercials, but not limited to that.
it's a pretty wide assortment, from live action, CG, character design, graphics, environmental and other ****.
I'm a designer/art director.

been commuting out there 3 or 4 days a week. amazes me how ****ty LA drivers are (not that I didn't know that)

Iggy Reilly

4th street rules.

Iggy Reilly

cutterfilm

yeah, really crappy sometimes. i haven't commuted in almost four weeks. on the 18th, a car door opened right into me on SM blvd in WeHo. Emergency Room, crushed bike frame, driver who's claiming that it wasn't his fault, etc. my baack is still healing and I'm looking for a new bike. hopefully I'll be commuting again in a couple weeks.

shapeofthings

ah **** man, that sucks!
100% positive it is their fault. Opening your door on cyclist is always their fault, idiots don't look.

I know I am going to get it one of these days. I have had many close calls, usually involving rich pricks in German vehicles.

My most hated spot is Melrose from where it starts getting ritzy. The few blocks before and after the design center.

shapeofthings

I'm a big fan of Burton Way at night. From Santa Monica Blvd to Robertson.
I have never taken 4th, been sticking to my route daily, I should mix it up I suppose.

cutterfilm

Got a new bike. Started commuting again on Thursday. I was going crazy being stuck back in my car again. After the accident I've got a wee bit of nerves. Maybe it's a good thing. It'll keep me vigilant for careless drivers.