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Single tickets and day passes are available from bus drivers and vending machines at each train station. Weekly and monthly passes must be bought at one of 650 locations around town, including Ralphs, Vons and Pavilions supermarkets (call or see the website for the one nearest you).

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SIGHTSEEING (ALMOST) ON A DIME

For a cheap sneak peek at LA’s hodgepodge of neighborhoods, hop on Metro Rapid bus 720. For little more than the price of a candy bar, you can sit back in its air-conditioned comfort as it barrels along Wilshire Blvd all the way from Santa Monica to Downtown via Westwood, Beverly Hills, Fairfax District, Miracle Mile District, Koreatown and Westlake. Aside from Rodeo Drive, LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits you won’t pass any major sights, but you will get a better understanding of the city’s dimensions and diversity. If you get a day pass, you’re free to get on and as often as you wish. If you don’t interrupt your trip, the one-way journey takes about 90 minutes.

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Metro Buses

Metro operates about 200 bus lines, most of them local routes stopping every few blocks. Metro Rapid buses stop less frequently and have special sensors that keep traffic lights green when a bus approaches. Commuter-oriented express buses connect communities with Downtown LA and other business districts and usually travel via the city’s freeways.

Metro Rail

This is a network of four light-rail lines and one subway line, with four of them converging in Downtown (Map). A fifth light-rail line, the Expo Line linking Downtown LA with Culver City, is expected to open in 2010.

Blue Line Downtown to Long Beach; connects with the Red Line at 7th St/Metro Center station and the Green Line at the Imperial/Wilmington stop.

Gold Line Downtown’s Union Station to Pasadena via Chinatown, Mt Washington and Highland Park; connects with the Red Line at Union Station. Its East LA extension via Little Tokyo and Mariachi Plaza is expected to be completed by 2009. Another extension to Foothill in the eastern San Gabriel Valley is supposed to follow by 2010.

Green Line Norwalk to Redondo Beach; connects with the Blue Line at Imperial/Wilmington.

Purple Line Subway between Downtown LA and Koreatown; shares six stations with the Red Line.

Red Line The most useful for visitors! Subway going from Downtown’s Union Station to North Hollywood (San Fernando Valley) via central Hollywood and Universal City; connects with the Blue Line at the 7th St/Metro Center station in Downtown and the Metro Orange Line express bus at North Hollywood.

MUNICIPAL BUSES

Santa Monica–based Big Blue Bus (BBB; 310-451-5444; www.bigbluebus.com) serves much of western LA, including Santa Monica, Venice, Westwood and LAX (75¢). Its express bus 10 runs from Santa Monica to Downtown ($1.75; one hour).

The Culver CityBus ( 310-253-6500; www.culvercity.org) provides service throughout Culver City and the Westside, including LAX (75¢). Long Beach Transit ( 562-591-2301; www.lbtransit.com) serves Long Beach and surrounding communities.

DASH BUSES

These small clean-fuel shuttle buses, run by the LA Department of Transportation (LADOT; your area code + 808-2273; www.ladottransit.com), operate along 30 routes serving local communities (25¢ per boarding), but only until 7pm and with limited services on weekends. Many lines connect with other DASH routes; see the website for details. Here are some of the most useful lines:

Beachwood Canyon Route (Mon-Sat) Useful for close-ups of the Hollywood Sign, runs from Hollywood Blvd & Vine St up Beachwood Dr.

Downtown Routes (daily) Six separate routes, actually, hitting all the hotspots, including Chinatown, City Hall, Little Tokyo, the Financial District and Exposition Park.

Fairfax Route (Mon-Sat) Makes a handy loop past the Beverly Center mall, the Pacific Design Center, western Melrose Ave, the Farmers Market/Grove and Museum Row.

Hollywood/West Hollywood Route (Mon-Sat) Connects Hollywood & Highland with the