LA has a reputation for having substandard public transportation. That's largely deserved. But LA likely has more options than you think, and is investing large sums of money into making the system bigger and better. Public transportation cuts down on traffic and pollution, and saves you money on gas and parking. It could even help you lose weight. Here's a breakdown of some of your options, starting with the bus.
LA County is made up of 88 cities and a bunch of other unincorporated areas. Many have their own bus lines. The largest line is administered by the Los Angeles has a bus system administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or the Metro. While generally slower than driving, the line is pretty extensive, and a ride costs $1.25, way less than in a city like New York or London. Maps and additional info can be found on the MTA website.
Of special note is the Metro Orange Line, which is lumped into the MTA's rail system but is actually a rapid-transit bus that runs down a special busway corridor called a right-of-way in North Hollywood. Regular service and no traffic make this bus line immensely popular.
The LA Department of Transportation operates a bunch of buses that run smallish routes around the city called the Dash in what is the second largest bus fleet in the county after MTA's. The best thing about the Dash: it only costs $0.25. Seriously! One measly quarter for a ride around your local part of town, with fairly frequent service. The brunt of the Dash's service is in downtown, with multiple lines and buses running every 5 minutes. It totally makes it worth it to park at a cheaper $5 lot and pay a quarter instead of shilling out $9+ for a more expensive lot. Other lines cover various areas, including Fairfax, Hollywood, Los Feliz, and way more. Full listings here. The LADOT also operates Commuter Express buses, bringing those from the various cities into Downtown LA, as well as a few other city centers.
Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus services Santa Monica and the Westside, with many lines terminating at UCLA, as well as service to LAX and downtown. Fares are cheap with regular fare $0.75 , and discounted with student ID (and SMC students ride free). Riders can transfer to another bus system like the Metro for an additional $0.25. The Big Blue Bus also operates a mini-bus line called Mini Blue, which has buses circling Santa Monica every 15-20 minutes for only $0.50.
Other cities have their own useful bus systems, including the Burbank Bus, Culver City Bus, Foothill Transit, Glendale Beeline, Long Beach Transit, and Pasadena ARTS, as well as systems in Antelope Valley, Commerce, Gardena, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norwalk, Santa Clarita, two in Torrance, and others. Check your city's website for transportation details. To make life easier, if you travel from one city to another and need to take multiple bus lines, the EZ transit pass covers riders on most of these systems.
Check out the second article in the series — Transit Publically: The Train — which will list the various rail systems, how they integrate with the bus, and how to navigate the system as a whole.