The New School and LA Public Transit

For the last few months, LAist has been hosting an interview series they call “20 under 30” featuring interviews with up-and-coming Angelenos that are under 30 years old. I’ve read these interviews with interest and enjoyment, and since I fall into the age demographic, I have an especially vested interest in the thoughts of these young people. Those of us under 30 will soon (but hopefully not too soon) be over 30 and running this place, which got me thinking: what do the members of the new school have to say about public transit in LA? Well each interview ended with the question, “ If you could make one thing be different in LA for your 30th birthday, what would you change?“ It made me very happy to see that this very open question received many answers relating to improving public transportation. Here are some of the responses:

” I’d probably like a comprehensive, convenient, and affordable public transportation system…” -Meghana Bhatt

“I would make a subway line down Wilshire from downtown to the beach, that stops at virtually every cross street. Is that so much to ask?” -Leah Dieterich

“Having a respectable public transit system could also unify the Southland, like New York — Mayor Bloomberg takes the subway to work — Villaraigosa on a bus? Not in a million years. But hopefully by my 30th birthday.” -Micah Adam Cohen

” Put a monorail throughout the city with Ray Bradbury as the conductor. He has to wear the hat though.” -Chris Cruse

I also came across this article at Planetizen that states that because younger people are moving from the suburbs to denser city centers, they are bringing with them a desire for walkable neighborhoods and effective public transit as opposed to the single-passenger car lifestyle they grew up with. This is a feeling I can relate to having come to the “big city” from suburban Central Florida where the idea of walking or taking public transit anywhere was simply absurd. The chance to live without the cost and physical burden of owning an automoblie, in addition to the community and culture that comes with mass transit, is a big draw for me and my contemporaries, and I think because of this we will see a big push towards improving LA’s public transportation in the coming years.