streets of love

I think there are two types of drivers in this city. Those who primarily travel on the freeways and those that prefer surface street travel. I'm of the latter. Given the situation I will normally choose to traverse the city via the intricate street network versus the freeway. I feel that by doing this you can really connect to the city. Granted, if one is traveling from say Mid-City to Whittier the obvious choice would be freeway but I'm talking about the short jaunts from Hollywoooood to Downtown and the like.

Here is a brief tribute to a few of those streets that I truly love.

6th Street - Eastbound anywhere from Fairfax to Downtown
Temple - Westbound from Downtown to Virgil
Virgil - the entire length
San Fernando Road - for when you happen to be driving from the Burbank Trader Joes to Los Feliz during rush hour
Glenoaks - ditto and you want less warehouses, more fast food
Riverside Drive -Southbound or Northbound alongside the 5
Stadium Way/Academy Drive - for cutting thru Elysian Park and actually feeling like you've temporarily stepped into another world
Zoo Drive - Southbound thru Griffith Park from Burbank to Los Feliz for the same reason as above
Cahuenga - thru the pass, both sides
Rimpau - North and Southbound, I think I just like saying the name
Olympic - all of it, both ways, from Downtown to West LA

I could go on, there are so many that hold a special place in my heart. And I like to vary it up a bit, try new alternatives. It keeps you alert and, again, more in tune with the city as a whole.

Oh and the only redeeming aspect to driving in the Burbank area...left hand turn lanes with accompanying green arrow. Hallelujah. I've never seen so many left hand turn lanes with arrows. It almost makes it enjoyable to go on errands during my lunch hour. Can't wait until L.A. implements the same, which is coming soon yes?

What are some of your favorites?

x

Comments

[Lisa]

That's why I always call you for directions when I don't want to use the freeway ;)

[m]

I would have to agree that 6th Street east of Fairfax is just glorious.

[Mike]

Wilton between Sunset and Wilshire. Perfect cross section of L.A. -- you get an almost-completed brand spanking new high school; apartments and small homes; beautiful Craftsman homes close to Hancock Park; Russian, Latino, Korean businesses; a cool curve half-way through the drive; and it's the best North-South shortcut going from Los Feliz to Mid-Wilshire and back again.

[shannon]

I forgot about Wilton, that is a great cross section of LA. Normandie can be interesting too, depending on the time of day you wish to travel it.

[Big Mo]

LA is getting the arrows with the yield, which are move traffic more efficiently.

Big Mo

[-k-]

All of Washington Blvd. It's amazingly untouched from 50's and has very little LA-ness to it.

[shannon]

-k-
agreed on Washington Blvd...plus how can you not stop at Maxwell for some great breakfast? that's the one thing i miss from the westside.

Big Mo
i know i read that somewhere...can't wait for it to get instituted at some of the more unruly intersections...then again, i've programmed myself to avoid such places.