The MetroBoard of Directors recently approved the expansion of its newest bike-share stations (including electric bikes) to several key neighborhoods in Los Angeles. With Bird scooters taking over the westside, Metro Bike Share is working hard to update its programs, particularly in Central LA.

After considering overall space, access and convenience, safety, and commuter patterns, it’s clear that this bike-share company selected some of the city’s most densely-populated and traffic-congested neighborhoods for its new bike-share stations.

The potential impact these bike-share stations will have in each neighborhood is still unknown. However, if changes are anything like what happens when the Metro builds a new train station in a neighborhood, these five communities will likely experience even more economic growth and development in coming years.

Here’s what you need to know about each neighborhood and where you can find these bike-share stations.

Pico-Union

Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles

Located slightly west of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) is Pico-Union, which as its name suggests, is the neighborhood surrounding the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Union Avenue. With Union Station is down the street, it makes sense to put a bike station in this part of the city.

The neighborhood has long been pedestrian- and cyclist-oriented, especially with the mom-and-pop stands, food trucks, and street vendors along the community’s busiest boulevards—Venice, Pico, and Olympic. Most of the homes in this neighborhood are apartment complexes or older single-family properties with prices ranging from the low $400s to over $1 million, according to Neighborhoods.com listings. 

Westlake

Westlake is another DTLA-adjacent neighborhood that’s welcoming new self-service stations. Home to MacArthur Park, a city designated historic landmark, this LA community was relatively untouched by new development for decades.

It wasn’t until recently that the neighborhood started experiencing its own development boom. Westlake is notorious for having little to no parking, no left turns during peak traffic hours, and some of the worst congestion in the city, so the new bike station is expected to alleviate some of these traffic issues.

Most of the residences in Westlake consist of apartment buildings, however, single-family homes can also be found along some of the neighborhood’s pocket streets. Home prices in Westlake range from the high $200s to over $2 million—and it’s only expected to rise in coming years.

Koreatown

Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles

Throughout the years, Koreatown has transformed into one of the city’s top places to live thanks to several reasons, including convenient access to quality eateries and a multitude of nightlife options. Developers have flocked to the area, and new condo developments are quickly rising throughout Koreatown—adding more residential high-rises to the already-packed neighborhood.

Bike-share stations may help residents navigate easily throughout the area and avoid using their cars or worrying about finding a parking spot. Most homes in Koreatown are apartment or condominium complexes that vary in amenities, size, styles, and prices. Many range from the high $200s to nearly $7 million.

Rampart Village

Until recently, the neighborhood of Rampart Village was relatively unknown—even to locals. Since the developing community sits between the highly desirable neighborhoods of Silver Lake, East Hollywood, and Koreatown, it was merely known as a neighborhood that commuters would pass through on their way to these adjacent parts of the city.

Rampart Village is recognized for being home to a number of strip malls, single-family homes, and small apartment structures. However, due to the arrival of local fixtures such as Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers and several trendy dive bars, the neighborhood is evolving into an activated corridor, which would benefit from having bike-share stations.

With home prices ranging from the low $300s to over $2 million, Rampart Village is also among one of the city’s most affordable communities to live in.

Echo Park

Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles

Real estate in Echo Park has climbed over the past few years, with prices now ranging from $500,000 to over $4 million. But this neighborhood is still popular among homebuyers thanks to its bike-friendly lanes and pedestrian-friendly public spaces.

Local staples include Echo Park Lake, a park that’s popular for paddle boating, duck watching, jogging, and picnicking. Since many residential areas in this neighborhood sit on hilly terrain, locals using the Metro’s new self-serve bike stations can save some energy by hopping on one of the transit company’s electrical bicycles.