I’ve been away

The traffic has really gotten bad in LA. Almost as bad as San Francisco, except on a larger scale. How you ask? Well…
The traffic crawls or just doesn’t move on major east/west arteries. Ever try to drive on Geary during the PM commute? It’s like the 10 except the 10 is much bigger.
The commute begins earlier in the day for both morning and evening (again, why do they call it “rush” hour?). People trying to leave earlier to beat the rush, along with everyone else.
From 1997-2001, I made regular trips to LA to stay with friends and to hang out. I did a LOT of driving. It wasn’t THIS bad back then.
Did all of this congestion increase just in the past three years?
On the other hand, my friend in South Pasadena lives three blocks from a Gold Line stop. Very convenient if you destination is also near a Metro station.

Mission Station, South Pasadena on the Gold line
I wanted to take a blurry late night pic like I did with the Yamanote when I was in Japan, but they don’t go that fast when they pull in.

Gold Line light rail
They go walking speed. The cars were nice and shiny and clean though.