California: 5 Ways to Outsmart LA Traffic

The good news about Los Angeles is that you'll never get bored. With everything from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the picturesque coastline, the City of Angels rarely disappoints. The downside of a city with such allure is that millions are drawn to it, resulting in major traffic snarls. However, with a little luck, a little planning and a little technology, you might be able to beat the gridlock. 

Travel at Off-Peak Times:

While nothing in life is guaranteed, you can bet L.A. freeways are going to be jammed during the morning and evening rush hours. With Los Angeles County’s population topping 10 million, lots of people are heading to work between 7 and 9 a.m., and the same workers drive home in the late afternoon. If you set your own hours, if you're traveling for pleasure or if you're simply running errands, you can choose to avoid peak-impact times. Tinker with your departure times if you work a more traditional 9-to-5 job to see if there are any seams in the traffic. If you normally leave for work at 8 a.m., try 7:45 or 8:15 a.m. instead to see if the traffic flow is better.

 Learn the Most Congested Routes: 

One of the best ways to avoid traffic is to know where it is most likely to be and to plan a route around it. Los Angeles is filled with heavily traveled segments, and learning the times and places where congestion is likely to occur is critical to avoiding it. The 405, between the 105 Freeway and the Getty Museum, is considered the nation's most congested route. Another heavily traveled stretch is the 10 Freeway heading west to the beach on a beautiful day. If you need to go in that direction, know that it will be packed and search for alternative options, such as Venice Boulevard. The Southland’s freeway system is extensive, but there are also lots of ways to get around without using it. Many surface streets are well known to Angelenos as being great alternatives to sitting on bumper-to-bumper freeways.

Via: National Review

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