Angelenos are happy to pay for public transport, but loth to use it

THE EXPO LINE, a light railway which connects the city of Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles, is a marvel. For decades, Angelenos travelling to and from the beach had to sit in traffic on Interstate 10. Since 2012, when the line opened, repurposing a long-closed Pacific Electric rail line, they have been able to catch a sleek train instead. On board, Josh, clutching a smart yellow bicycle, says that thanks to the line he has managed to avoid buying a car since moving back to the city from New York three years ago. Instead, he commutes by bike and train to his tech-firm office each day.

Such stories delight urbanists, who want to make LA less dependent on the car. The city is trying hard to throw off its reputation as an automotive city. In 2016 71% of voters in Los Angeles County approved Measure M, a ballot initiative which imposed a sales tax to fund public transport. That and older taxes mean for every dollar they spend, people in the Los Angeles urban area now contribute 2 cents to public transport. Several new rail lines are planned. Last year the mayor of the city of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, announced that he wants to reduce the number of car trips there by half over the next 30 years.