In the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles, college students face a daily commuting challenge that extends beyond the typical academic pressures. The city’s public transportation system, while economical, presents a unique set of obstacles that students must navigate to reach their campuses. From unreliable schedules to safety concerns, the journey to class is often an adventure in itself.
For many students, public transit is not just a convenience but a necessity. With the rising costs of gasoline and other transportation expenses, buses and trains have become a lifeline. However, this reliance comes with its own set of complications, as students like Makeda Webb and Victoria Imo can attest.
Early Mornings and Unreliable Schedules
Makeda Webb, a psychology student at Cal State Dominguez Hills, starts her day at 6:00 AM, more than five hours before her first class. Living in Willowbrook, she faces a daily commute of about 8 kilometers to Carson. Despite the short distance, Webb’s journey is fraught with delays. The buses she relies on are often late or break down, forcing her to leave home as early as 8:30 AM to ensure she arrives on time.
“The bus always arrives late or breaks down,” Webb shared. “You have to wait another hour for the next bus… (This) makes me late for school, so I have to leave very early to make sure I arrive on time.”
Webb’s university offers a Metro U-Pass, which allows unlimited travel on buses and trains for a fixed semester fee of $67.50. However, the pass doesn’t eliminate the frustration of delayed schedules. Her evening commute is equally challenging, with frequent stops and unruly passengers extending her travel time to nearly an hour.
Safety Concerns on Public Transit
For women like Victoria Imo, a graduate student in social work at the University of Southern California, the train presents additional safety concerns. Imo uses her U-Pass to avoid the high costs of gasoline and parking, which can reach up to $60 per fill-up or $585 per semester for a parking permit. However, her decision to use public transit comes with the need for heightened vigilance.
Imo carefully chooses her seating, often near other women, and avoids using expensive items like her iPad or laptop. She wears a mask and sometimes uses earphones without music to deter unwanted interactions. In the past, she carried pepper spray and a Taser for protection. “He started screaming behind me as I was going up the stairs,” Imo recalled of an incident where she used her Taser to deter an aggressive man.
Metro has contracts with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for police surveillance throughout its network. Despite these measures, Imo feels that the system has become normalized. “I haven’t bothered to give my opinion because at this point, I feel that’s just how the train system is. It seems like everyone is used to it,” she said.
The Impact on Student Life
The challenges of public transit extend beyond the daily commute. For students like Julian Levy, a political science student at Occidental College, the lack of a personal vehicle limits their ability to participate in social activities. Levy often has to leave events early to catch the last bus or train, missing out on the full college experience.
“I remember feeling very frustrated… simply because I didn’t have a car,” Levy shared. “I had to leave my friend’s birthday party early because of the time I would spend on public transportation, which is much slower.”
Despite these challenges, students continue to find ways to make public transit work for them. For many, the cost savings outweigh the inconveniences. As Zak Nirenberg, a student at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, put it, “It’s not just for school, but for life in general. I don’t have to pay for parking anywhere. I don’t have to worry about finding parking. It’s fantastic.”
