Los Angeles sets wheels in motion for car-free Olympic Games

Not having a car in Los Angeles is tantamount to not having shoes in New York, the film producer Robert Evans once quipped.
However, a city renowned for its love of the automobile and a relative paucity of public transport has unveiled ambitious plans for a car-free Olympic Games in 2028.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, said the metropolis was aiming to bolster its network of buses and trains to ensure that millions of visitors to California are not stuck in hours-long queues on the city’s infamously busy motorways.
“We’re already working to create jobs by expanding our public transportation system in order for us to have a no-car games,” Bass said. “And that’s a feat for Los Angeles as we’ve always been in love with our cars. We’re working to ensure that we can build a greener Los Angeles.”
Bass and officials organising the Los Angeles games spent weeks in Paris to see what lessons could be learnt from this year’s Olympics.
The French capital has a vast subway system, whereas the Los Angeles equivalent only provides partial service to the region. Work is under way to expand the Metro’s Purple Line, which would provide a direct route from the downtown area to the University of California, Los Angeles campus where the athlete’s village will be situated. If the line is completed in time, it would cut what could easily be a drive of well over an hour to a 30-minute train ride.
• How I embraced my inner hippy on this cool California road trip
The size of Los Angeles County represents a challenge for organisers. Bass said she envisioned fans taking buses and trains to the different venues, but they are stretched across the region. Sailing will take place at Belmont Shore in Long Beach, while football is expected to be hosted at the Rose Bowl, 37 miles away in Pasadena. The LA28 organising committee said it was planning a “public transit-first” games.
Some of the venues, such as the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, will have parking for thousands of visitors, while others are smaller, with public transport needed to drop off fans nearby. To help, Bass said Los Angeles would hire a fleet of 3,000 buses sourced from across the country.
The mayor also said she hoped employers would help ease traffic by allowing employees to work from home during the 17 days of the games. “It’s going to be a lot easier because we did go through Covid, so people will have some reference point in recent history as to how you could do that,” she said.
While Bass’s plans are ambitious, some Angelenos have doubts that they will be achieved in time for the games. James Scott, a project manager at an architecture firm, said: “It would be great if they could finish all the transportation projects they have lined up, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
• MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to host World Cup 2026 final
“The city is in dire need of proper public transport options. Compared with other global cities the current set-up is not in the same league. It is no wonder Angelenos rely so heavily on their cars. But if it takes an Olympic Games to get LA up to standard then I’ll be happy. The city will have a busy four years ahead and I expect to see even more bulldozers around town.”