How to get from UCLA to UCR and back to visit my girlfriend?

[BruinGuy]

Well the basics are I go to UCLA, and my girlfriend goes to UCR. I want to try to visit her over Martin Luthur King's day weekend, but neither of us have a car. It is too far to reasnably expect one of my friends to drive me there and back, so I am in a bit of a bind.

I was wondering if anyone knew of any transportation, public or otherwise, which could transport me to UCR either on friday afternoon, or Saturday morning, and take me back monday evening or tuesday morning. Even if it doesn't leave or arrive directly on campus, that is all right too, since I have a bike, or friends who can drive me to nearby places, and her roommate has a car, so as long as I am close I am probably alright. Thanks

 

[Ranger X]

Getting a taxi might be too expensive so you might have to take the bus. That's a LONG bus ride considering how slow buses go.

Try getting a bus schedule and figure out which buses you have to switch onto to get there safely.

 

[Stark]

Metrolink

 

[BruinGuy]

Yeah I knew a taxi would be too expensive, and I tried looking into buses. I went to MTA.net, the metro transit authorities website, and used their trip planner, but an itinerary couldn't be found I tried departures and arrivals on various days but was unsuccessful. It recognized the address on both sides, but couldn't find any itinerary between the two. So I don't know how close the MTA can get me.

 

[SlowSS]

How about rental car?

 

[LordSnailz]

Someone should hooks this brother up with a ride, when I was at ucla, there people who often headed out to UCI or UCR. Might want to ask around the dorms, post it a flyer something ... gl!

 

[BruinGuy]

I thought about a rental car, but since I am only 20, it would be a pain to get one, as many places require you to be 25, or at least 21, but was something I was thinking about.

About the Metrolink, does anyone know which stops are closest to UCLA and UCR?

 

[shopbruin]

in LA you need to get to Union Station to catch Metrolink

if you wanna be semi cheap:

take Big Blue Bus 1 to Santa Monica, or wherever you can transfer to the BBB 10 (freeway express)
take that bus to Union Station in downtown LA.

OR on MTA buses

Going on MTA (Straight of the MTA planner)
Go to SW corner of Hilgard Av & Westholme Av

Take Metro Bus 21 South (DOWNTOWN LA) at 10:50 a.m.
Pay $1.35 plus .25 transfer
Get off at WILSHIRE and ALVARADO at 11:51 a.m.

Go to Westlake Macarthur Park Station
Take Metro Rail Red Line East (UNION STA RED LINE) at 11:54 a.m.
Use transfer
Get off at UNION STATION RED LINE SUBWAY TERM at 12:02 p.m.

You can also catch the metro bus 21 at westwood and wilshire. cross the street to catch this bus.

Now you're at Union Station

at Union Station, hop on the metrolink and ride it to downtown riverside. from there you can find a way to UCR. taxi or see if she can get a ride to the station.


schedule for the Riverside Line

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

Originally posted by: Stark
Metrolink

Stop is "riverside - downtown"

 

[BruinGuy]

Thanks all and especially thanks to you, freesia, I will check that out when I get back from class. If anyone else has ideas, I am still open to them.

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
Someone should hooks this brother up with a ride, when I was at ucla, there people who often headed out to UCI or UCR. Might want to ask around the dorms, post it a flyer something ... gl!

when i was going to Santa Barbara, people posted where they needed to go and offered gas money. Even people driving posted where they were going to cut the gas cost. Give that a try.

 

[lukatmyshu]

You can take Amtrak between Union Station and Riverside .... getting from LA to the station shouldn't be that hard, and once in riverside maybe her roomate can pick you up. Good luck

 

[slikmunks]

Originally posted by: freesia39
in LA you need to get to Union Station to catch Metrolink

if you wanna be semi cheap:

take Big Blue Bus 1 to Santa Monica, or wherever you can transfer to the BBB 10 (freeway express)
take that bus to Union Station in downtown LA.

OR on MTA buses

Going on MTA (Straight of the MTA planner)
Go to SW corner of Hilgard Av & Westholme Av

Take Metro Bus 21 South (DOWNTOWN LA) at 10:50 a.m.
Pay $1.35 plus .25 transfer
Get off at WILSHIRE and ALVARADO at 11:51 a.m.

Go to Westlake Macarthur Park Station
Take Metro Rail Red Line East (UNION STA RED LINE) at 11:54 a.m.
Use transfer
Get off at UNION STATION RED LINE SUBWAY TERM at 12:02 p.m.

You can also catch the metro bus 21 at westwood and wilshire. cross the street to catch this bus.

Now you're at Union Station

at Union Station, hop on the metrolink and ride it to downtown riverside. from there you can find a way to UCR. taxi or see if she can get a ride to the station.


schedule for the Riverside Line

is the big blue bus still free for ucla students? i have a car here now... but i was just curious... sorry bruinguy, not heading out to riverside anytime soon... i may be heading out later in the quarter to play IM basketball with some homies out at UCR tho...

 

[brtspears2]

Break out the champane, someone wants to come to UCR!

But anyways, Greyhound is always a good alternative, drops you off in downtown riverside. Metrolink drops you off a little closer to the university, but still a few miles out.

But when you get here, dont judge Riverside by the first 2 miles going towards the university...

 

[BruinGuy]

At least until the end of this school year, yes the big blue bus is free for UCLA students, hopefully they will continue the program for longer, but last year when they were trying to find funding it was tough.


Okay so it sounds like if I can get to union station, I have a couple of ways to get to Riverside, be it amtrack or metrolink. But is it true that the metro bus 21 from westwood and wilshire take you directly to union station? I guess I will have to look into that, becasue I don't want to have to change busses too many times, or it will get confusing.

 

[paulee]

do they still have that board in ackerman union (by the pay phones next to the computers) where you can post a notice if you need a ride somewhere, or where people post that they are willing to split rides for gas money??

might want to look into that.

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: BruinGuy

Okay so it sounds like if I can get to union station, I have a couple of ways to get to Riverside, be it amtrack or metrolink. But is it true that the metro bus 21 from westwood and wilshire take you directly to union station? I guess I will have to look into that, becasue I don't want to have to change busses too many times, or it will get confusing.

nope you take the 21 to like wilshire and some intersection, i think it says macarthur. then you get on the RED LINE (that's the LA "subway" but it is underground and really nice) which will essentially dump you right at union station.

<-- has done it before. i took the bus to somewhere in downtown to go to the fashion district, then took the redline to olvera street, took red line back to a stop off of wilshire, and took the MTA back to wilshire and westwood, and walked back to the dorms. that was a lot of bus riding that day.

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: brtspears2

But when you get here, dont judge Riverside by the first 2 miles going towards the university...

some one in the "westways" magazine (free mag for socal AAA members) said pho saigon in riverside had the best pho in socal. riiiight.

but yes that's true... its once you cross under the bridge that says "university of california riverside" that you realize there is a school somewhere around there..

 

[The Dancing Peacock]

A friend of mine was in the exact situation that you are in. He rode MTA to Union Station then caught Metrolink like Freesia recommended. Said it wasn't that bad during the day.

 

[BruinGuy]

Okay, taking the metro bus to the metrolink and the metrolink to UCR certainly sounds like the way to go. I want to thank all of you helped, especially you freesia.

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: BruinGuy
Okay, taking the metro bus to the metrolink and the metrolink to UCR certainly sounds like the way to go. I want to thank all of you helped, especially you freesia.

aww shucks... hehe. enjoy seeing your girlfriend. i like happy couples.

 

[HamSupLo]

isn't it retarded that the red line doesn't go all the way to santa monica?