Urban Hike & Ride the D line UPDATE

FRIDAY MORNING MAY 8: D-LINE “TENTATIVE GUIDE”:
Ride A line to Union Station- We exit A line at Union Station and walk to the D line platform/West.
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West D line stops and activities guide (tentative/subject to change):
~~La Brea Station - to see the station and visit the upper level then re board the train
~~Fairfax Station - same as above
~~La Cienega station - SAA plus WALK north along La Cienega to Beverly center, walk or BUS to Santa Monica blvd for Laurel Supply GRAND OPENING in WEHO.
~~Return to D line via south La Cienega (walk or bus) to board East D line.
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East D line stops and activities guide (tentative/subject to change):
**~~Fairfax Station - exit and WALK north along FAIRFAX to LACMA area, Farmers Market, the Grove, Pan Pacific Park. (option Demetri Martin exhibit 20 mins) **
** ~~Return to D line via south LA BREA (walk or bus) to board East D line. **
**~~ D line to exit at 7th/Metro station.~~~ ~Option to walk to Spire 71 at InterContinental Hotel and Level 8/La Lo La Moxy). Both have amazing rooftop venues. **

IF YOU WANT TO RETURN :
Take Uber. Or go back in reverse. Take the D line to Union Station and TRANSFER to the A LINE (at Union Station). Be sure to take the A line--towards Pomona. Exit at Lincoln/Cypress Station, which is after Chinatown stop. You can ask a Metro ambassador for help.

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UPDATES AS OF MAY 4- NEW MEETUP TIME IS 11:30am AND Important Updates for “Ride the D line extension” .
Please read the following:
As I stated earlier, the itinerary was subject to change. Exciting information from a helpful source and from Metro Los Angeles is beginning to trickle out re: the new D line extension.
First of all, the TIME CHANGE.
The new D line extension service begins at 12:30, so we will NOT start at 9:00 am.** The NEW TIME TO MEET IS 11:30 AM. Meetup location is the same at Lincoln/Cypress Station. **Rides could possibly be free but still waiting on Metro to confirm this. Also, Metro is having festivities and celebrations AND vendors at each station from 12:30-4:00 pm, so I’m going to revise my plans a bit so we can partake in this very historical event. Who doesn't like a few freebies?!? Please see the new pictures I posted (from Instagram) for more details. (Thank you David for the intel).
I realize this may affect your schedules since now the event starts at 11:30 and will end later in the afternoon. Please update your rsvp if you need to revise your plans. Thank you.

Previous write up:
Hey urban hikers and explorers! The Metro D line subway extension opens Friday, May 8**(see note). Let’s go ride the D line and explore a few of the surrounding areas. There will be brand new stations at La Brea, Fairfax, and La Cienega.

This is a brisk-paced urban hike-not slow. It's moderate + level due to the pace and amount of activity. It is mostly flat route, plus a few stairs to climb UP at the stations (or escalator), at the park, and at the Beverly Center.

**NOTE - Subject to change -
IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE OPENING DATE AND TIME of the new D line extension could change. If it changes, I’ll post an UPDATE here. Please be sure to check back!

Here’s an approximate itinerary of the day trip:
We will meet at the Lincoln/Cypress Metro station*. They have free parking and they have kiosks where you can buy a TAP card if you don’t have one.
*Depending on where you are coming from, Lincoln may not work for you. If that’s the case, meet us at Union Station D line platform.

We will take the A line and get off at Union Station. Then we will board the D line to the new stations. Here are the new D line stops and what we will be exploring:

1st station: La Brea - We will get off the train here and begin a brisk paced walk down La Brea to Pan Pacific Park. This portion of the walk is appx 1.5 miles one way, and 35 minutes one way. From the park, we will then walk through the Grove and Farmers’ Market. From there, we will walk down Fairfax back to the next station. Appx 2 hours of exploring, plus or including a quick restroom break and quick snack break at Farmer’s Market. Also time for gawking at whatever catches our eyes.

2nd station: Fairfax - Before boarding here, we will walk briefly around the La Brea tar pits (appx 15-20 mins) and then take the Metro D line to La Cienega Station. If you don’t want to walk around, you can wait for us at the station.

3rd station: La Cienega - quick walk along restaurant row to Beverly Center. This walk is roughly 15 minutes one way and .7 miles one way to the Beverly Center. We will go inside the Beverly Center and climb stairs and ride their fancy scenic escalator. If you don’t want to climb stairs, I’ll find a spot where you can wait and relax. This trip will take appx 1 hour plus restroom break and also time for gawking at things worth gawking.

**RETURN :** After the Beverly center we head back to La Cienega to the D line station and return to Union Station to switch trains back to Lincoln/Cypress. Whew! **Option: **If there is time, we can also walk around Olvera Street.

Total walking times are approximate. Total trip time is approximate. In other words, everything is approximate. There will be a few stops to regroup along the way and some waiting involved due to train schedules, street crossings, intersections, waiting at traffic lights, and so on. There will also be some gawking, especially if there are doggies, but I'll try to control myself. My goal is to keep the trip within the posted time and daylight hours. I’m estimating 7-8ish miles of footwork, and 5-6ish hours for the event. Something like that.

Note: There is no “sweep” (someone who stays in the back to wait for folks) so please keep up and stay with the group. This is a brisk pace hike. I try to walk ahead of the group to guide everyone along the route. If you are faster, wait for me at intersections. If you are slower, don’t stay far behind or you will get separated from the group. At intersections, we wait for the light to change and look around before crossing. If there is no light, we wait for traffic to clear and cross when it is safe. Do NOT walk into traffic and stop cars.

COST $$:** If my math is mathing, the most we will pay for our entire fare is 5.00!!** Base Metro fare is 1.75 for a one-way trip which includes free transfers for 2 hours. Fare caps at $5.00 in a day, and after that all subsequent rides are free that day. Yeayy!!

BRING: Money for train fare, snacks, TAP card or TAP app or Apple Wallet, ID card, credit card, cash (singles $$ preferred for quick purchases), water and snacks, lunch if you want.** It is not necessary to pack heavy **since we will be exploring in the city where there are opportunities to get water and snacks such as the park and Farmers' Market.
Wear comfortable exercise clothes, workout shoes with good grip and tread, phone with GPS in case u want to leave early, bug repellant?

LENGTH: appx 7-8ish miles of footwork and appx 5-6ish hours.

BREAKS/LUNCH: We will have an opportunity to sit and have a quick snack break or coffee break or quick lunch at Farmers' Market since not everyone is on the same eating schedule and some people are fasting or on diets.

MEETUP SPOT: Lincoln/Cypress Metro Station, 370 W Avenue 26, Los Angeles, CA 90065. This station is outdoors with outdoor parking lot. Meet next to the kiosks at the bottom of the stairs by the parking lots. Or meet us at Union Station D line platform if that is your preference.

MEETUP TIME: 9:00 am sharp. We will have quick introductions and leave promptly at 9:05** to go upstairs and wait for the A train. If you need a TAP card, arrive at 8:45 and purchase one at the kiosk. I'll be there early in case you need help. If you need extra time, arrive extra early.

**PARKING: **Free lot at the Lincoln metro station

WATER: along the way

**RESTROOMS: **None at the start. The first restroom break will be at Union Station -if they have any. If not, maybe Trader Joe's on La Brea, and at Pan Pacific Park.
LIABILITY: The organizer is an uncompensated and untrained volunteer. By joining this event each member accepts full responsibility for knowing their limits, for all injuries, health issues, material losses, assessing all risks and for getting lost. Each member shall make their guests aware of these policies and releases the host from all liability.