If you think you'll hate driving in Los Angeles, you will hate their idea of public transportation even more. A friend of mine, who has since moved back east, had to rely on public transportation to get him anywhere in LA because he did not own a car. It would often take him 2 hours to make it to a new work site, which would take about 20 minutes in a car, because you have to change buses here, then to the Metro system, etc. This was typical. One time, I looked into taking the train from Oceanside up to LA Union Station, then a trolley out to a site in North Hollywood. That drive would take me about 2-1/2 hours on a Saturday morning. It would take me 3-1/2 hours by train/trolley, and that was only if my train got me into Union Station on time to catch the trolley line that I'd need.

San Francisco has a MUCH better system, from what my cousins up there have said.

Another issue with a bus, to think about. If you are on a public bus, and it gets stuck in a major traffic issue, you are stuck with it. If you're in a car, you have a great chance of getting off at the next exit and either sitting it out at a truck stop or fast food joint, or taking an alternative route.

Donna