Zen in the Art of Travel Behavior:
Using Visual Ethnography to Understand the Transit Experience

The boarding area is located on an island just outside the lower level of the terminal. Traffic in the outside lanes tends to have more buses than the inside lanes. Since Flyaway buses only run every 30 minutes, most of the time is spent inhaling diesel fumes from the terminal and rental car shuttles constantly circling through the airport.

Color-coded overhead signage shows where to board the various ground transportation modes.

Buses travel in the HOV lanes on the 105 and 110 freeways. They are high-floor highway coaches similar to Greyhound buses.

The only real view from the side windows is of cars passing on the other side of the freeway.

On a Sunday afternoon, the bus was largely empty. There was only a small handful of passengers.

The bus features airplane-style amenities such as overhead baggage compartments, individual reading lights, and twist-to-adjust air conditioning vents.

Also similar to an airplane, the exit row seats are the best in the house in terms of leg room.

Occasional gaps in the freeway sound walls allow good views of downtown Los Angeles.

As the bus nears downtown Los Angeles, the carpool lanes end and the bus transitions to the mixed-flow lanes on the lower level of the freeway.

Now in the mixed flow lanes just south of downtown, the bus encounters this trip's only patch of slow traffic.

Fare can only be paid at Union Station. Passengers boarding at Union Station purchase tickets before getting on the bus. Passengers boarding at LAX present their tickets to the driver as they get off at Union Station, or they are directed to the ticket booth. I purchased a round trip ticket when I boarded at Union Station two days prior. Transit riders who hold EZ Passes can ride at no charge or for a discounted rate, depending on how many express zones they have purchased.

Buses arrive in the transit plaza outside of Union Station's east portal. Under-bus luggage service is provided.

From the Flyaway stop, it is a short walk down this ramp to the Metrolink commuter rail and Metro Rail subway terminals.