Get Around Los Angeles Without a Car: Transit, Bikes & Scooters Guide

Los Angeles is shedding its car-first reputation as transit, biking, and micromobility options become more practical and visible across the region. Whether you live here or are visiting, getting around without a car is increasingly doable thanks to expanded rail and bus service, a growing network of protected bike lanes, and a wide selection of shared scooters and bikes.

Why go car-free in LA
– Skip traffic and parking headaches, especially in dense neighborhoods.
– Save money on gas, insurance, and parking.
– Use time more productively on trains or while walking.
– Explore neighborhoods at street level—where the city’s creativity and local small businesses show up best.

Transit basics that work
Metro’s rail and bus network connects Downtown with many neighborhoods and neighboring cities. Frequent service corridors and improved transfer points make longer trips simpler than before. Look for contactless fare payment options and transit cards that work across buses and trains.

Real-time transit apps and official schedules help you plan multimodal trips—combine rail for the long haul with a bike, scooter, or short bus ride for the last mile.

Biking and e-bikes
Protected bike lanes and neighborhood greenways are spreading in many parts of the city, putting bike commuting within reach for more people. E-bikes make longer distances and hills manageable without breaking a sweat—perfect for routes toward the beach or through hilly neighborhoods. For safety and convenience:
– Choose routes with protected lanes or lower-traffic streets when possible.
– Use a robust lock for parking and consider cargo or longtail bikes for groceries or kids.
– Follow the same rules as cars: signal, yield, and stay predictable.

Micromobility: scooters and shared bikes
Dockless e-scooters and e-bikes fill in short trips and provide easy last-mile connections.

Multiple providers operate across the region, with apps that show availability and parking zones.

Practice good scooter etiquette: yield to pedestrians, dismount in crowds, and park to avoid blocking sidewalks.

Walkable neighborhoods worth exploring
Some parts of the city are naturally easier to experience without a car. Walkable commercial corridors and compact neighborhoods offer food, shops, galleries, and nightlife within short distances:
– Downtown arts and historic districts

– Santa Monica and Venice beachfront corridors
– West Hollywood and its nightlife strips
– Silver Lake and Echo Park’s cafe scenes
– Pasadena’s Old Town and nearby cultural anchors
– Culver City’s downtown and art spaces

Events and community car-free days
Open-streets events periodically close major corridors to cars, turning them into pop-up plazas for walking, cycling, and local markets. These are great opportunities to test car-free mobility and discover new routes.

Practical tips for success
– Plan multimodal routes: use rail or rapid buses for long stretches and scooters or bikes for last-mile connections.
– Keep a transit app and payment method handy on your phone.
– Pack layers—coastal fog and inland warmth can vary widely in a single day.
– Stay aware of local parking and sidewalk rules for micromobility devices.
– Respect local traffic laws and prioritize pedestrian safety.

With a bit of planning and openness to different modes, Los Angeles can be explored comfortably without a car.

The city’s evolving street network and growing transit options make it easier to move efficiently while enjoying the neighborhoods that make LA unique.