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

A group of about 20 people planned to go to the Dodgers game on 9/23. Different parts of the group met at different places on different legs of the trip, but everything managed to work out as smoothly as possible given the number of people. This picture shows the not uncommon sight of a large crowd getting on the 720 Rapid bus leaving Westwood at the start of rush hour (~4:00pm)

Despite the large crowd in the previous photo, the large, articulated bus meant the crowd wasn't unbearable once we got on.

Shortly after we arrived at the Wilshire/Western subway stop, this 920 Rapid Express bus was there heading back to Westwood. The frequency of Rapid buses during rush hour means the commute usually isn't bad.

Just a sign of LA Metro's attempts to create some multi-modal stations. Wilshire/Western is served by several buses, the subway, and has these bike lockers.

The Wiltern Hotel looms in the background of the Metro station sign. Unlike the TOD on the other side of the street, the Wiltern far predates the Metro stop.

Another testament to the diversity of people that ride Metro

Escalator going down into the Wilshire/Western subway station

Several people in our group had to purchase farecards before getting on the subway. I'm still not sure how the fare system works here. People with TAP cards have to swipe to get through turnstiles, but those with paper farecards just walk in. It makes me wonder how anyone can get an accurate ridership estimate, especially considering it seems it wouldn't be that hard to cheat and ride without a farecard.

This incredibly helpful monitor displayed bus arrival and departure times at Wilshire/Western station as well as train times and other helpful information. This is incredible compared to the dilapidated LED screens I was used to in DC.

Farecards having been purchased, we headed down to the train platform, decorated with murals at this station. Again, a nice contrast to the monolithic, Soviet-style stations I was used to in DC.

About half of the group was on the train here. We met the other half at Union Station to get on the Dodger Stadium express.

Rapid stop at Wilshire/Vermont on the way back from Dodger Stadium

This is from our way home on the Dodger Stadium Express, which is free to those who have a ticket to the game. We picked it up at Union Station before the game and it drops off there after the game. I have no pre-game pictures, since many of us were in a rush to get dinner before we went to the game.

A building that was part of some interesting TOD at the Wilshire/Vermont station.

The last leg of the trip -- on the 720 back to Westwood. Everyone is tired from the game. One thing of note is that we passed up the opportunity to ride the Metro 20, the local bus, and waited about 15 more minutes for the 720. When we got back to Westwood/Wilshire, the 20 had arrived slightly before. So we waited longer, but spent less time on the bus. I'm not sure which option is better.