Where to live?
Thread started by
terminal at 04.15.15 - 9:18 am
My lady and I are moving to LA from Oregon. We have 6 bicycles and no car so we need your help!
Needs:
1) Within 10 mile commute of CSU Dominguez Hills
2) A bike shop where we can meet new friends and drink beer after hours. (we'll bring the beer)
3) somewhere I can park all day with my laptop to work remotely.
Wants:
1) A brewery
2) A delicious breakfast spot
3) Rain?
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I don't know the area you want to live but I do know any McDonalds for #3 needs
sexy04.15.15 - 10:07 am
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#3 ammendment: Somewhere I can park all day and work remotely without dying of heart failure in the process.
terminal04.15.15 - 10:37 am
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Probably not too many people left around this forum who are familiar with that area. But the Blue Line is nearby, so you could live anywhere from downtown to Long Beach and your commute there would be pretty easy.
Can't help you with breweries.
Forget about rain.
Good luck!
theroyalacademy04.17.15 - 9:52 pm
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I believe San Pedro (which is LA city) is within 10 miles, there are a few Ridazz living there pretty happily.
the reverend dak04.19.15 - 12:04 pm
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Go west towards Redondo.
Not much to choose from in that central CSUDH area.
San Pedro is nice but kinda far.
Avoid Manhattan Beach douchery.
Joe Borfo04.21.15 - 3:23 am
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Man this site is really frightening me! Redondo Beach? Have you even ridden in that area? There's absolutely NO infrastructure in that city. I guess if you're thing is just to ride on the beach with all the brahs, then yeah, there's infrastructure there! If you're trying to get around the local stores and do some shopping via bike travel, in my opinion, look elsewhere to call home.
What would really open your possibilities is to plan around the Metro trains. Traveling Metro and bike will get you around just about everywhere and their system ain't that bad. This would open alot on where to live. My tip is to look at the infrastructure around where you want to live and actually do some riding around it. A big plus would be a local framers market, but that's just me talking now.
DArK ENERgY04.23.15 - 11:02 pm
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Being a Portlander I am prone to farmers market action. My partner and I have been discussing the convenience of the blue-line. Would it make sense to live in the south side of the city-proper?
Where along the blue line is the best concentration of bike infrastructure and walk-able neighbourhoods?
-Zander
terminal responding to a
comment by DArK ENERgY
04.24.15 - 1:51 pm
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The south area of LA, commonly called San Pedro doesn't get serviced by the blue line, which I'm sure you know. Finding pretty much anywhere close to the blue line would be of benefit. The trains have a good schedule and run late. On the weekends the train from the ends of the lines is 2am. Usually later than that! Being close to the dtla area gets you close to everything.
As far as infrastructure goes, look at Google Maps. That would give you a good idea on what infrastructure is there. It doesn't tell the whole story, but gives an idea. Walkable hoods? Dtla.
Go ahead and float areas and peeps will give you info on it. I'm not all that crazy steering you too much unless I really feel good about it.
DArK ENERgY04.26.15 - 10:10 pm
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Welcome to LA. I don't know where you ended up moving, but downtown Long Beach probably would be best for you (you'd still have to ride to CSUDH though). You've already learned something important, which is never to listen to Joe Borfo. I'm sure you'll do very well here.
PC05.8.15 - 2:40 pm
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We haven't moved yet. We're planning to be out in late June to get an apartment. We're looking at places along Figureoa st. north of Staples center. What do you all generally think about that area? Fun? Snooty? Dangerous? Infested with mimes? We're lookin in that area because its downtown and in our price range.
terminal05.18.15 - 11:28 am
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That area in DTLA is kind of rough, but on the upswing. It's also not very close to CSUDH. For the money yer paying, u could live a lot closer to school, and in a better neighborhood. If I were you I'd find a nice part of San Pedro or Long Beach. Even Cerritos has some decent places, but Pedro is the by far the best IMO. Better weather, and more for your buck. Great riding along there, too.
tallcans4tallbikes responding to a
comment by terminal
05.18.15 - 9:01 pm
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Take out the fun freaks and personality (and weather) of Portland and you have San Pedro. A port city partially on bluffs next to shipping and rail. It may be far from LA but yer not missing much. Pedro is ocean living at a fraction of the usual cost.
tallcans4tallbikes responding to a
comment by terminal
05.18.15 - 9:04 pm
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Now go pop a Minutemen Tape in and turn it up! Mike Watt knows what he is talking about!
tallcans4tallbikes responding to a
comment by terminal
05.18.15 - 9:05 pm
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Not to shit talk my hometown or anything, but: being close to shipping and rail are nice if you're a longshoreman or a cargo container. Unfortunately Pedro's public transporation sucks.
Definitely has more character than Long Beach, though. Even people from Long Beach will freely admit to that.
Forget Figueroa north of Staples Center, you can't afford it.
PC05.21.15 - 3:19 am
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Not sure why peeps don't like dt, I'm thinking maybe getting older? That sounds like a good spot if you found something you like. You are close to the blue line and in the center of the metro rails. Should be easy for you to take the train or ride to school. What's great is your right in the middle of a happening hood! And if you want to get out of town, that's easy too.
The LB area would work too if you can get close to the rail line.
DArK ENERgY05.22.15 - 12:20 pm
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If possible, get a car and move to Echo Park / Silverlake, as that's the area it sounds like you'd like to be in.
Long Beach is definitely on the upswing, but living there without a car would leave you a bit isolated from the rest of L.A.
JB05.22.15 - 10:56 pm
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Hey JB, you know that Scratchers commercial where that chick gets everyone to start clapping? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DedKLVlSIgM Well this is not one of those times! This may come as a shock to you, but there are some people out there that likes being carless and get around just fine. And no, its not just dishwashers from Olive Gardens!
And I do know of people in LB area that get around without a car and they seem to be doing just fine. Also around means LA county.
DArK ENERgY05.29.15 - 5:40 pm
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Sounds like you want to live in Portland...;)
Just move as close to where you need to be most of the time and tough it out. Traffic is awful almost everywhere and rents are crazy (maybe you are rich? I dunno. That might make some things easier). Very few places are truly "bike friendly" yet so there's that, too. Carson has a new craft brewery I've heard good things about it. You can visit cool places like your most excellent bike shop, Silverlake/Echo Park, DTLA, Venice etc. in your "free" time.
Yeah try to be as close as possible to the train and sorry if you don't like sunshine that's one of LA's good points very little rain...:)
alicestrong05.30.15 - 5:18 pm
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Nobody said that people can't get around "just fine" only by bike, but if you live close to things or you've got a car, your life gets MUCH easier in L.A., which was why I recommended doing one or both, especially for someone that's new to the area.
YMMV, obviously, but getting back to Carson or Long Beach at 3AM when you're beat and the trains aren't running, and you don't have a car, can be a bit of a drag.
JB06.2.15 - 4:31 am
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I wouldn't drive a car again for anything-and I'm out here on the edge of the county. Almost 7 years now no drive a car? It's doable. Go bikes!! :)
alicestrong06.2.15 - 7:14 am
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Very impressive there Alice. I know I was car-free for many years and it was awesum, but also not by choice.
@ Original Poster: A car is optional, but in a city as large as L.A., it is a huge convenience. Most ppl in LA have cars and commutes, but wish they didn't. San Pedro has some cool microbreweries, and excellent riding.
tallcans4tallbikes responding to a
comment by alicestrong
06.2.15 - 9:22 pm
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Carson is a nearby city to CSUDH
And there's an awesome new brewery there too! Phantom Carriage.
Not too sure about the breakfast spots though. Sure there are some in that area though.
BigHappy06.4.15 - 3:49 pm
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LACBC has a chapter in Carson and there's also a Schwinn bike shop...so there's some bikey stuff already going on. Maybe a good time to set up a local co-op?
What is it they say? Bloom where you're planted??
alicestrong responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
06.5.15 - 12:24 am
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Thanks so much for all the input y'all have provided. I think we're probably going to live in the old gas-company lofts in DTLA. We spent some time in carson last month and liked it a lot as well. Very cozy. I'm more of a city-boy though so DTLA it is.
Anyone coming up here to portland for pedalpalooza? We have a spare bedroom!
terminal06.5.15 - 9:36 am
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That sounds way cool! I hope you two hit it off with dtla. It's just getting rolling and you came at a good time.
Don't mind the riderless ones here. They were just riding some trend that happened awhile ago. The future is on two wheels!
DArK ENERgY06.7.15 - 4:13 pm
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Did you see any brahs while you where in Carson?
sexy06.8.15 - 2:16 am
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@ Darkenergy Well DTLA is more than 10 miles from CSUDH so that may be why some ppl suggested elsewhere. Not sure who the riderless ppl were u are referring to tho.
@ OP welcome to LA!!! Those lofts u settled on are pretty cool.
tallcans4tallbikes responding to a
comment by DArK ENERgY
06.8.15 - 7:44 am
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Apologies Sexy, I don't know what a Brah is. Is my naïveté showing?
terminal06.8.15 - 11:21 am
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@brah tallcans, well actually the OP is looking at more than 14 miles to CSUDH from his new pad. It looks like a pretty nice ride to do, but I'm thinking more than likely he'll take advantage of the Metro system. Then he'll be looking at ~2.5 miles to school. This route doesn't look bad either. The thing about being located central is that the rest of LA county would be fairly easy to get to. The big thing is that they're are already where many are trying to get to for whatever event is happening. Visitors from out of town are going to dig this too. Especially if they're coming from pdx. Union station is not that far.
DArK ENERgY06.10.15 - 5:32 pm
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