And Insider’s Look At Everyday Life In Los Angeles
If you are ever visiting anyone in Los Angeles and meeting them out for dinner or at an event, know one thing – they will be late.
This is not because they are laid-back or lazy, it’s because they have a handy built-in excuse: the traffic.
Yes, the traffic is terrible in L.A. And since there’s no public transportation to speak of, then one must travel by car. And that means battling Cal Trans-designed freeways and clogged surface streets.
So everyone in L.A., is conditioned to the fact they, and others, will be at least half an hour late to anything. Heck, they can’t even get to Dodger games on time, the long-running joke among outsiders being that Angelenos arrive by the third inning and leave after the seventh.
“Traffic,” the locals will say.
But that’s not the end of this L.A. story. Once people arrive at their destination, they will spend the next half hour discussing – what else – the traffic.
First, they will tell you about their problems in getting there – the 405 was a mess, the 101 was impossible and don’t even get me started on the 110 through downtown.
Then, everyone breaks off into small circles discussing their individual traffic woes, and eventually this spins off into discussions about alternate routes.
Now here’s the really funny thing about locals discussing traffic in Los Angeles – every single person each has a different “best” or “secret” way to get to a particular destination.
If you’re not a local, you better grab a big glass of wine, beer or a strong cocktail because this is a bewildering conversation involving odd-sounding street names meandering through the many mini-cities that make up Los Angeles. And everyone is convinced their route is the best way.
This folks, is just part of everyday life in L.A.
Eventually, the focus shifts to the meeting or the event and all the traffic and Los Angeles lifestyle issues are quickly forgotten.
Until there’s an earthquake.
Editor’s note: PubClub.com’s blogger, originally from the South, has lived in Los Angeles for 20+ years. He avoids driving as often as possible.
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