NY metro area vs Los Angeles metro area, which reigns supreme?

[Buzz Rules]

NY metro area vs Los Angeles metro area, which reigns supreme? I think both are great even though they both have big challenges that need to be solved as well. But just for some fun banter, those who live in one of the areas or visit often, which tops your list and for what reasons?

 

[mjkacmom]

I’m not familiar with the LA area, but have lived in the NYC metro area my entire life. I think we win regarding public transportation!

 

[tvguy]

I’m not familiar with the LA area, but have lived in the NYC metro area my entire life. I think we win regarding public transportation!

I have never been to NYC, just changed planes at JFK once almost 50 years ago but it would be hard not to have better public transportation than Los Angeles. But the flip side, in LA you are not tied to a public transit schedule, you just jump in your car and go. Slowly sometimes, but you can go whenever your want.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I have never been to NYC, just changed planes at JFK once almost 50 years ago but it would be hard not to have better public transportation than Los Angeles. But the flip side, in LA you are not tied to a public transit schedule, you just jump in your car and go. Slowly sometimes, but you can go whenever your want.

Just an FYI @tvguy , NY metro goes beyond NYC. It includes parts of CT, NJ, and the Hudson Valley (incase you didn't know). Metro North (the local train system here) does a pretty good job transportation wise. Are the trains in the LA suburbs good?

 

[NYCgrrl]

…If you have doubts about which metro area is better and you live in one of them, you must move to Idaho.
It’s the law.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I've been to LA many times, and I just spent a week in NYC. We saw 5 fabulous shows in NYC, all within walking distance of our hotel. We hopped the subway several times to go out to Brooklyn, The Bronx Zoo and the Grand Central area. We never waited more than a few minutes for a train. And sitting in LA traffic doesn't compare to the speed of the subway. As a visitor, NYC wins for me.

That said, I would never want to live in NYC. It's a completely different lifestyle than I'm used to. The winters are too cold for my taste. I've always lived in the California suburbs (SF Bay Area). I like the freedom of having a car. I like the big, free parking lots when I need to shop. I live in a congested area, but people are spread out and not "warehoused" like they seem to be in NYC. However, my son has been living there for about a year and half and he's thriving. He loves the energy of the city and the fact that there's always something interesting to do. The theater scene is his thing and he's always entering and winning lotteries for discount show tickets. He's an actor who alternates between doing shows (all outside of NYC so far) and living in NYC, auditioning and working at his survival jobs. I really enjoy visiting him there and I'm glad he's happy and doing so well. But I'll keep my feet planted in CA.

 

[tvguy]

Just an FYI @tvguy , NY metro goes beyond NYC. It includes parts of CT, NJ, and the Hudson Valley (incase you didn't know). Metro North (the local train system here) does a pretty good job transportation wise. Are the trains in the LA suburbs good?

I have no experience with the light rail system in LA. Love the article below that points out that some in Los Angeles don't even know the system exists!
Thanks for the clarification on NY metro. Does the system operated 24 hours a day,7 days a week, 365 days a year?

Local governments here from time to time would require employers to do a survey and try and get more people to use public transit or car pool. Our public transit system is not 24 hours a day and about half our staff either had shifts that started before public transit opened for the day, or ended after public transit had shutdown for the night. I have been on public transit here once in my nearly 67 years, and I was 5 at the time, and I have no idea why we just didn't drive.


https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/los-angeles-metro-guide

 

[Buzz Rules]

I've been to LA many times, and I just spent a week in NYC. We saw 5 fabulous shows in NYC, all within walking distance of our hotel. We hopped the subway several times to go out to Brooklyn, The Bronx Zoo and the Grand Central area. We never waited more than a few minutes for a train. And sitting in LA traffic doesn't compare to the speed of the subway. As a visitor, NYC wins for me.

That said, I would never want to live in NYC. It's a completely different lifestyle than I'm used to. The winters are too cold for my taste. I've always lived in the California suburbs (SF Bay Area). I like the freedom of having a car. I like the big, free parking lots when I need to shop. I live in a congested area, but people are spread out and not "warehoused" like they seem to be in NYC. However, my son has been living there for about a year and half and he's thriving. He loves the energy of the city and the fact that there's always something interesting to do. The theater scene is his thing and he's always entering and winning lotteries for discount show tickets. He's an actor who alternates between doing shows (all outside of NYC so far) and living in NYC, auditioning and working at his survival jobs. I really enjoy visiting him there and I'm glad he's happy and doing so well. But I'll keep my feet planted in CA.

Have you visited other parts of NY before or just NYC?

 

[Buzz Rules]

I have no experience with the light rail system in LA. Love the article below that points out that some in Los Angeles don't even know the system exists!
Thanks for the clarification on NY metro. Does the system operated 24 hours a day,7 days a week, 365 days a year?

Local governments here from time to time would require employers to do a survey and try and get more people to use public transit or car pool. Our public transit system is not 24 hours a day and about half our staff either had shifts that started before public transit opened for the day, or ended after public transit had shutdown for the night. I have been on public transit here once in my nearly 67 years, and I was 5 at the time, and I have no idea why we just didn't drive.


https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/los-angeles-metro-guide

https://new.mta.info/about

https://www.njtransit.com/our-agency/about-us

 

[longboard55]

The LA system works well put is very limited in its coverage, not even close to NYC

 

[NYCgrrl]

Does the system operated 24 hours a day,7 days a week, 365 days a year?

The subway operates 24/7
MetroNorth, LIRR and NJTransit each operate on their own schedules, 7 days a week, 365 days a week.

 

[Buzz Rules]

365 days a week.

That's a long week....

 

[Buzz Rules]

The LA system works well put is very limited in its coverage, not even close to NYC

Have you visited NYC/LA before or is this just an observation in general?

 

[NYCgrrl]

That's a long week....

Hehe…have you ever heard of a New York minute? See? We have are own sense of time

 

[Buzz Rules]

Hehe…have you ever heard of a New York minute? See? We have are own sense of time

I'm from the Hudson Valley and totally understand the NY "state of mind".

 

[RedAngie]

Despite common misconception, LA has an extensive public transportation system. However, service can be limited on many routes and transfers can be ill timed.

I often rode the bus to/from work when I lived in LA. Fortunately, I lived a block away from the bus stop and my place of employment was directly on the route.

But hands down NYC’s system is superior.

 

[longboard55]

Have you visited NYC/LA before or is this just an observation in general?

Been on both. Not even close. LA is too spread out

 

[Magical2017]

I would have to have lived in both places to be able to give an accurate response. I don't think visiting counts since it is a different experience, but I found LA very annoying and poorly laid out.

 

[LKing]

Depends on what your priorities are.

LA -> DL = 26 miles
NYC -> WDW = 1091 miles

 

[SirDuff]

I have never been to NYC, just changed planes at JFK once almost 50 years ago but it would be hard not to have better public transportation than Los Angeles. But the flip side, in LA you are not tied to a public transit schedule, you just jump in your car and go. Slowly sometimes, but you can go whenever your want.

Because you cannot use a car in NYC? Sorry, I'm not getting how this is a "flip side"? My family that live in Manhattan all have cars (well, mainly SUVs but you get the point).