It’s the weekend of Carmageddon, so if you’re looking for a Great Escape, you have a few choices—explore your local community, ride a bike, take public transportation by bus or rail for FREE, or if you’re able to splurge for something a bit more extravagant and need to get to LAX, the Westside or downtown—charter a helicopter.
Briles Wing & Helicopter, Inc., based on the east side of Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is offering one-way and round-trip “Skybridge” jet helicopter shuttle service to LAX, Santa Monica Airport and downtown L.A. beginning Friday, July 15 from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, July 16-17 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Monday, July 18 from 7 a.m. and continue as needed. The helicopter service will operate between Briles’ office and ramp area at VNY and Landmark Aviation, 6201 West Imperial Highway at LAX. Landmark will provide van-type ground transportation to and from all LAX terminals. For prices, parking, luggage weight limits, flight duration and other info: Phone (818) 994-1445 or e-mail mick@toflyla.com. Briles Wing & Helicopte is located at 16303 Waterman Drive, Van Nuys, CA 91406 (entrance off Woodley Avenue between Roscoe Boulevard and Saticoy). http://www.executive-helishares.com/405/
If you’ve never taken advantage of the Los Angeles Metrorail and bus routes, this is the perfect time to try it. There will be free rides on the Metro Orange, Red and Purple lines as well as on 26 bus lines via the Metro in areas most affected by the 405 shutdown.
Here's a list of bus lines offering free rides July 16-17. For more information, go to www.metro.net.
2 Downtown LA-Pacific Palisades via Sunset Blvd
4 Downtown LA-West Hollywood-Santa Monica via Santa Monica Blvd
20 Downtown LA-Santa Monica via Wilshire Blvd
33 Downtown LA - Santa Monica via Venice Blvd
150 Canoga Park-Universal City Station via Ventura Blvd
152 Woodland Hills-North Hollywood Station via Fallbrook Ave
155 Sherman Oaks-Burbank Station via Riverside Dr, Olive Ave
156 Van Nuys-Hollywood-Panorama City
158 Chatsworth Station - Sherman Oaks via Devonshire St, Woodman Ave
161 Thousand Oaks Transit Center-Warner Center
183 Sherman Oaks-Glendale Station via Magnolia Blvd
224 Sylmar Station - Universal City Station via San Fernando Rd & Lankershim Blvd
230 Mission College-Studio City via Laurel Canyon Blvd
233 Lake View Terrace-Sherman Oaks via Van Nuys Blvd
234 Mission College-Sherman Oaks via Sepulveda Blvd & Brand Blvd
236 Sylmar Station-Encino via Glenoaks Blvd & Balboa Blvd
240 Northridge via Reseda Blvd
242 Porter Ranch-Woodland Hills via Tampa Ave
243 Porter Ranch - Woodland Hills via Winnetka Ave
244 Chatsworth Station-Woodland Hills via De Soto Ave
245 Chatsworth Station - Woodland Hills via Topanga Canyon Blvd
656 Van Nuys/Hollywood Blvd
704 Metro Rapid - Downtown Los Angeles - Santa Monica via Santa Monica Blvd
720 Metro Rapid - Santa Monica/Commerce via Wilshire Blvd & Whittier Blvd
733 Metro Rapid - Downtown Los Angeles/Santa Monica via Venice Blvd
761 Metro Rapid Pacoima/Westwood via Van Nuys Blvd & Sepulveda Blvd (Note: buses will be using Sepulveda Boulevard between Ventura Boulevard and Getty Center Drive. It goes without saying to expect greatly extended travel times on this line between Sherman Oaks and Westwood due to anticipated traffic congestion.
