IIRC it was a Friday about 2 pm in June or July. We stopped in to see the Coliseum and grab a quick bite to eat so one would think we would have been right in the middle of traffic.............It was the morning on the 405 right by LAX that was the worst for about 2 or 3 miles due to construction mainly. Passed LAX and by the time I got up to the UCLA area it was empty but that was at 10am so it wasn't a big surprise to me. I did see the 710 going into Long Beach was just nasty one day as I passed over it. All I saw were trucks mainly sitting there headed for the dockyards.

PCH is a pretty cool ride along the ocean. Ventured up to Wayfarers' Chapel for our friends wedding and down to Laguna Beach on that road.

 

You should come take on Washington DC, I-95 becomes a parking lot for 60 miles if a vehicle simply breaks down. If you catch it at the right times though it ain't bad. Evening rush hour headed South starts at 2 pm and can last until 11pm everyday except Friday. On Friday it starts at noon and lasts for the next 12 hours. I've seen 495 at a standstill for no reason except volume at midnight where it joins up with 95. Any wreck that takes place, it's automatically a 5 mile backup, if it's there for an hour it becomes 20 miles.

 

Yep, I-95 is pretty legendary. Googling around for discussions of North America's worst highways yields some good reading. You gotta wonder about the geniuses who design multi-lane highways without shoulders. That instantly turns any wreck into a bottleneck.

The 405 is so bad that "405 parking lot" is not only a mug:

The 405 Parking Lot Mug from Zazzle.com

But also a location one can check into on foursquare:
https://foursquare.com/v/405-parking...af5cc08fb0ef47

 

Very few people who live in the Los Angeles "Basin" are lucky enough to work that close to home. It is not "known" for it's mass transit system.

It HAS one, and the bus system is fairly reliable. Do you take the bus or bike to work?

From where you are, I see no need to get onto the 405 or even the PCH. You are INDEED lucky to live AND work within that small enclave of the L.A. "area."

I used to live out there. MANY years ago. I doubt seriously that you were even a "dream in your Daddy's eye" when I lived out there in 1970. I don't think the 405 existed yet.

I lived in Rialto. I go there now almost weekly. I have no problem "managing" the traffic around there, but... I don't much like it! I learned to drive on the L.A. Freeway system. [when there were about 5 of them!]

I sometimes go to Industry. That would be closer. Either way... IF I wanted to... I could drive or Mass transit to an area near you. [Probably the 105 and PCH.] Know a good bar near there?

 

Been there done that, too. Spent a year or two at Ft. Meade [NSA] back in the late 70's. Had to drive thru there alot when I started trucking in 2005 and on.

Usually would take the 301/50 over the bridge to avoid that area if it was going to be "that" time of day.

Pretty scary when you're EMPTY.... and the Nor'Easter blows.

 

You thinking of the 301 Harry Nice Bridge Hobo? 301 brings you from I-95 back out to 495 without running the "Mixing Bowl" area. 50 is the Bay Bridge from Annapolis over the Chesapeake Bay. I've only been over that one going to Dover, DE. Both are interesting on a windy day in any vehicle. It's not uncommon to hear the Nice bridge is closed due to wind. If they don't close it, this is the result: [ATTACH=CONFIG]1025[/ATTACH] What can Brown do for you, get that UPS driver a new uni.

 

Wow. You might have run into my brother! Tall (6' 4") Mst. Sgt. with a stone face....black hair....Army Uniform.

 

Hobo, yes, I'm one of the fortunate few who can bike to work.

I rarely go as far east as Rialto, though I have a soft spot for the Big Bear area and should get out there more. It's beautiful there.

There are some decent watering holes around here. If you come this way, stop by, and I'd be happy to shoot the breeze.

EDIT TO ADD: Since I just found out you love Mexican food, and Mexican food excites me much more than drinking, if you come here, let's do Mexican food instead!