GO LA: Commute Smarter in Los Angeles

While there are many factors working against commuters – such as urban sprawl and the worst traffic in the United States – that doesn’t mean Angelenos should endure a travel headache every time they walk out the door.

Los Angeles will continue to spearhead transporation reform over the next few decades, but we’d like to provide some relief sooner. How does today sound?

Go LA is a new trip-planning commuter app that helps you travel smarter by analyzing public and private transportation options to give you the best commute based on time, traffic, and other factors.

To give you an idea of how Go LA works, we applied it to five travel scenarios in greater LA, from the east side to the beach, from downtown through mid-city. Times listed below are based off a 5PM starting time during the week.

Koreatown to West Hollywood
(5.5 miles)

Scene: You leave a Korean BBQ restaurant after a delicious lunch with friends, but you’re in no rush to get home. The commuter app suggests two bus transfers with a little walking in-between. Cost: $1.75. Total travel time: 40 minutes.

GO LA shares that you’d burn 30 calories on this route. Your carbon footprint from riding the bus is 0.1kg CO2. And who knows – maybe next time you’ll be inspired to walk the entire route!

Alhambra to Hollywood
(15 miles)

Instead of stewing behind the wheel in bumper to bumper traffic, why not use the time to relax or be more productive — all while reducing your carbon footprint at the same time?

Hop on the Metro Red Line and the bus, where you’ll have the time to check your email, and end the trip with a 15-minute walk. This specific route clocks in at one hour and 30 minutes. Cost: $1.75.

Los Feliz to Beverly Hills
(8 miles)

Since your commuting needs may vary according to the day, GO LA gives you the flexibility to track all options.

For this route, riding Lyft (four minutes) and the bus (24 minutes) means it only takes about a half hour to get to Beverly Hills. Cost: $14.75.

For a greener choice, catch a bus (with two transfers). You’ll spend 20 more minutes on the road but it’s also cheaper ($1.75) than using rideshare. It’s all about flexibility and learning what combinations work the best for you.

Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica
(15 miles)

The office to the beach. Doesn’t sound like a bad trip, right? Avoid gas and parking fees by walking (15 minutes) and taking the bus (60 minutes). In addition, you’ll breathe easier with one less car on the road. Cost: $1.75.

Pasadena to Culver City
(20 miles)

If you’re in a rush to travel from the City of Roses to the west side, take the Metro Gold Line (21 minutes) and end the commute with a ride on Lyft (16 minutes). Cost: $15.92.

For some routes, users may be presented with dozens of options based on selected qualifications. As GO LA learns more about your travel preferences, it will recommend trips by placing a star next to it. It also measures how your commute impacts your health, the environment, and the amount of time and money saved.

“We want to help show how Los Angeles can be a fun and livable city that’s easy to get around,” said David Cummins, mobility solutions expert. “If people perceive this,
they don’t need to waste time in their cars. That improves the quality of life in LA.”

Soon, GO LA will have even more options to help you commute smarter: We’re working to integrate booking and payments into the commuter app. A future update may also include ridesharing for carpool options.

Download Go LA for your next trip to work or the beach.