Don’t diss the sys

1. The official MTA website can be unwieldy for first-timers. For an easier-to-read overview of bus and subway lines in your neighborhood, visit experiencela.com.

2. The MTA sponsors one of the most lauded public art programs in the country. But did you know local artist Pae White and architect Tom Marble designed the rainbow upholstery on the Rapid and Orange bus lines’ seats, with a pattern based on old transit tickets? Bonus: The design camouflages graffiti.

3. The Culver City transit system has been around for 80 years—and it’s a still a lovely ride. Like the equally pleasant Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, these green buses are modern, almost always run on schedule, and the fare is only 75 cents each way. However, drivers still don’t give change.

4. The Metro rail is freakishly quiet and astonishingly clean. To keep it pristine, there’s a $250 fine for eating or drinking on the trains or in the stations.

5. Many buses now have monitors that broadcast the amusing bilingual programming of Transit TV, a nationwide content provider. Zany cooking shows, daredevil break dancers, wacky fruit and vegetable animations—it’s always a low-production-value viewing adventure.
 
6. There are all sorts of event discounts—for stage musicals, skate rentals, free entrance to the Viper Room on Mondays—if you travel via the MTA. Check out “destination discounts” at mta.net.