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

Riders wait for the next train.

Begin my commute from Seal Beach Blvd & St. Cloud St. with two to six others, every day.

This early, it's always easy going.

About 10 minutes into the commute.

We share.

Sometimes I pretend we're racing the trains. Sometimes we beat them to the next station.

105 W. Fwy headed to 110 N.

LA Trade Tech.

Expo Line @ Adams. Under construction.

105 W. to 110 N. Flyover. With tripod, could have captured Downtown LA skyline. Heavy traffic is still an interesting view. Carpool lanes are OPEN.

Go to street lanes @ Adams in Downtown LA.

Faster in the carpool lanes.

Metro transitway station.

Palm trees on the way to Downtown LA.

Home of Lakers and Clippers.

Pantry Cafe owned by Richard J. Riordon.

Pawn Shop in Downtown LA.

Person in wheelchair crosses the street.

Snazzy hotel, Downtown LA

LA Philharmonic & Music Center area.

One of Downtown LA's courts.

Police units at courthouse. (NOT really court jesters - I'm just KIDDING ! Jeez, lighten up!)

South on Temple, near Los Angeles St, government workers get to work.

Alameda St overpass of 101 Fwy; heavy freeway traffic.

Patsaouras Transit Plaza Union Station East Portal Metro Headquarters (Cesar E Chavez & Vignes)

Metro Customer Center, on the way out of work.

OCTA Line 701 has three trips in the morning and two trips in the afternoon. This one leaves at 4:14 pm, the last bus leaves at 5:01 pm. I have to be on the bus!

Next stop, government worker pick up.

HOLLYWOOD sign in view, from Downtown LA.

World-famous architecture, teenie weenie car.

Mmm-mmm good, even from a bus.

One of the shortest buildings around. But beautiful.

Want to see a Hollywood filming? Follow the signs.

The Standard sign is intentionally upside-down. I've been to the bar after work and at twilight it's magnificent. The bar has an outdoor area, mid-way up the highrise buildings, so you're surrounded by office building windows with lights on. After two drinks it's surreal.

Looking for something interesting or valuable.

A little run-down, but being re-gentrified.

Tacky alley, but lots of filming goes on here, plus, presumably, stage performances.

Always a lot of people waiting for buses here.

The area is improving due to young singles & couples buying lofts.

Exquisite stone masonry on many old buildings in Downtown LA.

Some areas are behind the rebound.

Figueroa narrows to accommodate Expo Line construction. Traffic snarls here.

Hard back alley along Figueroa.

Taking the bus is comfortable, restful, inexpensive. Aaaah. A short walk from the bus stop & I'm home.