LA’s car culture is immaterial and mythological, frequently woven into the city’s lore across entertainment for as long as Hollywood has been pictured onscreen. From Ryan Gosling’s bloody heroics in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, to the turn of the century nightmare that is the late David Lynch’s Mullholland Drive, the automobile is a vessel through which a story can be told about the city. While Hollywood is, undoubtedly, in love with its car culture, that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been room for public transit on the silver screen. Take Speed, the iconic mid-90s action-thriller of a non-stop bus turns LA streets into a crescendo escalated by norepinephrine and fumes. Conversely, the iconic late 80s animated/live-action Who Framed Roger Rabbit represents a smoky, sultry LA underbelly of trolley cars and espionage, painting an effort to set demolition to the city’s industrializing freeway system. 

There are very few concepts more idealistic than Los Angeles County devoid of car culture. From 1887-1963, the electric trolley system made this a reality. The once cherished Red and Yellow carts traversed from Santa Monica to present-day Pasadena, carrying modern people of a bygone era, making Los Angeles a city connected at its ends rather than sprawling suburbs writhing with traffic jams. While industrialization and freeway segmentation is how most view the city’s landscape presently, the LA Metro is thriving now more than ever before. Commuters are abundant, with 2024 collecting over 300 million boardings, expanding services to “LAX, the San Gabriel Foothills, and the Wilshire Boulevard Corridor.” The number of riders was steadily increasing before the pandemic, and present-day data suggests the desire for a new era of transportation, absent the drudgery that comes with vehicle ownership.

Old Bus Line 200 (formerly Line 41), a historic North/Southbound route, was of particular significance for riders. It made its trip through East Los Angeles for over 50 years, connecting points as south as USC and Exposition Park to that of 90095’s UCLA and the broader Westwood area. While the 200’s humble route isn’t in service anymore, its roots have been propagated, revived in Line 2 as of June, 2025.

In the dog days of the Metropolitan summer, I took a trip across this timetable and made my way to the new LAX/Transit Center. In doing so, I spoke with fellow passengers as well as Angelenos walking about the slow Saturday, curious to see: What brings them the most joy about living in the city we all call home?

Phillip, 44: “I was born and raised in New York. When I was of age, I chose to move out to Los Angeles. I feel like New York City always gets the distinction of being the ‘melting pot,’ but I disagree. I love Los Angeles for its diversity—it’s the most diverse place I’ve ever lived. The food, the people, the beach and the city, everything together and so nearby—I couldn’t have imagined a lifestyle better than this. Both of my daughters were both born here, and I am thankful everyday they’ll only know paradise their whole lives.”

Carla, 27: “I met my best friends taking transit. We used to all ride the same bus, the same train to get to college. Lots of great times sharing stories or popping into a place to grab something to eat.”

Carol, 30: “There are 84 different neighborhoods in Los Angeles. So, even if you don’t like one area, you can putt around or take the day in a new pocket and find something completely different. It’s one of the most diverse places to live, and I adore that. Also, it almost goes without saying, but the food is amazing.”

Dennis, 57: “The Cosmopolitan-ness!” 

[Dennis has lived in the city on and off for 45 years. He reminisced with me about “sulfur skies that turned blue” with sprawling EPA regulations in his teens, and seeing the vibrant artistic scene in the city continue to blossom over the decades.]

Laura, 27:  “LA transit makes everything very accessible. It’s so easy to get around in LA compared to other cities in states where you have to have a car to get anywhere. I commuted to college using the Metro. Everyday, 7am sharp, and out again at 5 pm. Meeting up with friends who were also heading to campus, and saying ‘Hey, should we get off here and shop around?’ Or, ‘Look, we see some new street vendors off Sunset!’ It was so much fun getting to explore different pockets of the city with my friends during those years of school.”

Susan (Declined to state age):  “I was born and raised in LA. The city has changed so much over the years. Growing up, it was a little bit slower. What I really love about LA is, when it matters—no matter what neighborhood you call home—everybody is deeply connected. When we had the devastating wildfires in January, everybody ceased their daily lives to help others that needed it. It was the most proud I’ve ever been to call myself an Angeleno…We are so connected to each other. There [are] so many heroes that walk amongst us. I think that outpour[ing] of generosity and community will forever be my fondest memory of LA. What a privilege it is to call these people neighbors.”