How to Get Around and Out of the 818 During 'Carmageddon'

t’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 & Helicopter is located at 16303 Waterman Drive, Van Nuys, CA 91406 (entrance off Woodley Avenue between Roscoe Boulevard and Saticoy).

If you’ve never taken advantage of the Los Angeles Metro Rail 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 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.)