84 Miles in Just 7.5 Hours

October 10, 2016

We constantly say that time is our most valuable asset. I have found that on the freeways of Los Angeles that asset is flagrantly wasted.

I spent this past week in the LA area on vacation. Having gone many times in the past, my wife and I strategically picked a central location as our base camp. VRBO provided many good and convenient options. The home we rented promised unsurpassed views, and seemed well located. The views were spectacular, but convenient, not so much. Many US cities compete for having the worse traffic and in my opinion LA easily wins the contest as the most congested.

Our base camp in our LA home was located at the foot of the famous Hollywood sign and was right by the ramp to the famous freeway, “The 101â€. Southern California roads are always referred to in this way, and conferring the title “the†somehow brings a road to life, and magically elevates its mission – which appears to be to suck time from your life.

After a 1 hour and 45 minute ride to cover the 24 miles from the airport to our VRBO base camp, we plotted out our itinerary for Tuesday. Four destinations were planned, which seemed manageable for a full day. The first stop was a bookstore in Burbank 8 miles away, followed by a 10 mile hop to a vintage music shop just south of downtown. Next, after a 15 mile drive, came a museum, before an 18 mile trip for dinner in Malibu. The final leg home was 33 miles.

We left base camp at 9 am and returned at 8 pm. Total time in the car for the full journey of 84 miles was 7.5 hours. Yes, that was an average speed of 11 miles per hour all on 4 to 12 lane highways. Thinking this was a fluke, I asked the local expert, my daughter, if this driving experience was an oddity. She confirmed it is the norm. Her world takes her regularly to the area south of downtown. Destinations of 40 or 50 miles require planning of 2.5 to 3 hours each way. A one hour meeting in the city of Irvine needs to include a budgeted 5 to 6 hour commute.

Real estate development in Atlanta now includes a focus on the desire to be close to work and play, so that we make the most of our valuable time. By comparison the waste of  time and productivity  driving a car in LA is mind boggling. Beautiful weather and a diverse culture made for an interesting social visit, but it does not seem to make sense for a business person on a schedule.

Carl Gambrell