THE SURE CURE FOR
HOLLYWOOD “PARK-O-PHOBIA”:
THE HOLLY TROLLEY,
THE L.A. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S
SAFE, HIP AND EASY ALL-NIGHT $1 ALTERNATIVE
TO PAYING MULTIPLE AND EXPENSIVE LOT FEES
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Designed In The Tradition Of Old-School Streetcars, The 50-Passenger Orange Buses Shuttle Clubgoers Between City Parking Lots And Numerous Hollywood Night Spots, With Stops At The Hollywood And Vine And Hollywood And Highland Metro Centers
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L.A. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, Who Spearheaded The System That Launched In January 2006, Touts That “You Can Beat The Crowds, Relax, And Tour The Most Exciting Nightlife District In The Country All At The Same Time”
Anyone who's ever spent a weekend night club-hopping in Hollywood has experienced one of the tougher realities of life in L.A.—the dreaded Park-O-Phobia . The symptoms come in questions every commuter mutters when they're honing in on their first destination of the evening: Where will I park? Will my car be safe? Will I have to pay at every nearby lot if I go to a few different places? Will I get a parking ticket?
Then comes the fear that used to top them all…the specter of public transportation. If I hop on a bus, how much does it cost each time and how do I get around?
Since January 2006 and the launch of The Holly Trolley , it's not only been a snap to get around, but it's also a fun and entertaining cultural experience. Spearheaded by L.A. City Councilmember Eric Garcetti and a service of the L.A. Department of Transportation , the Holly Trolley—an orange trolley bus designed to look like an old-fashioned cable car—offers an all night long, stress-free $1 shuttle service with stops at twelve minute intervals at numerous parking lots and clubs throughout the greater Hollywood area.
The buses, which have seating for 30 and a total capacity of 50, run nonstop from 6:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Participating bars, restaurants and nightclubs have promotional tokens that are good to ride all night. MTA day passes and LADOT Pass Holders are also accepted, and fares can also be paid on the trolley.
The Trolleys, which were granted a six-month extension this past December by the L.A. City Council, were introduced to help alleviate parking issues in the Hollywood Entertainment District where the burgeoning nightclub scene has traditionally had a negative impact on neighborhood street parking for residents.
Although conceived for L.A. residents who drive to Hollywood to go out on weekend nights, it's also great for visitors staying in Hollywood hotels and hostels, most of which are convenient to Holly Trolley stops near Hollywood & Highland. In November, 2006, Garcetti told Warren Olney on Which Way L.A.? that “we are going to admit we are a city finally, not a sprawling suburb. Our best friend is really going to be density in this city.”
Garcetti adds, “It wasn't too long ago that Hollywood Boulevard was a ghost town at night. As the City Councilmember representing Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, some of the work that I've been proudest of is bringing new development, attractions and nightlife to Hollywood. Today it's one of the world's top entertainment destinations. But it's recently become harder to get around. That's why I worked with the Hollywood nightclub owners to create the Holly Trolley. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, the trolley circulates around the nightlife neighborhood, stopping at Red Line stops, public parking garages and centers of activity in between. It costs one dollar to ride all night (and some nightclubs will give you promotional tokens), and you can use your receipt as parking validation for the city's garages at the Arclight and at Hollywood & Highland.”
The Holly Trolley route (a map of which can be found below and at http://www.ladottransit.com/other/trolley ) runs as follows: from the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, the route goes eastward on Hollywood, south on Cahuenga Boulevard, east on Sunset Boulevard, north on Vine Street, west on Yucca Avenue, south on Ivar Avenue, west on Selma Avenue, and north on Highland. This route includes stops in front of or near Element, LAX, L'Scorpion, Geisha House, Mood, ArcLight Cinemas, Basque and the Pantages Theatre.
The Holly Trolley is designed to be an exciting nightlife experience in addition to a convenient and cost-effective bus ride. Besides the contemporary look and feel of the customized car, passengers are officially welcomed by “ambience directors,” well-dressed security officers who act as bouncers and offer information for first time riders. The ambience goes a step further by pumping in music from Sirius satellite radio, minus Howard Stern.
Passengers commenting on numerous websites mention a smooth ride. Others are pleased with its “pulsating beat” and the experience of being on a “rolling nightclub,” where according to news reports, “people were up and dancing in the aisles, the beat was pounding, booties were shaking and everyone was screaming, having a good ‘ol time.”
Because the trolley only drives eastbound on Hollywood Blvd. (heading away from Hollywood and Highland), it rarely encounters much traffic.
“The choice is yours,” says Garcetti. “You can wait in line to pay upwards of $50, $75 or even $100 to the valets outside any one club—and then do it all over again at the next one—or you can leave your car in a parking garage for a tenth the price and ride the trolley through the neighborhood to the destination of your choice. You can beat the crowds, relax and tour the most exciting nightlife district in the country all at the same time.”
