My Morning Drive, Part 1: The Left Turn

I take a familiar route from the Mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles into Burbank to get to Glendale, where I work. 8th to La Brea, La Brea to Franklin, Franklin to Highland, which becomes the Cahuenga Pass, then right, across the 101, to Barham, then Forest Lawn, at which point I have the option of going on the 134 East for an exit and getting trapped on the exit ramp or taking Zoo Drive by Griffith Park, which is far more pleasant and less congested.

When I first found this route, it was such a revelation. I'd been taking Wilshire east to Rossmore, which becomes Vine, then I'd stay on Vine until Franklin, turn left onto the 101-on-ramp, get off at Barham, and so on. Before that I was taking Franklin to Western to Los Feliz to the 5 North. These are all problematic for one reason.

The Left Turn.

How the hell did it take me five years of living in Los Angeles to learn that you NEVER turn left? NEVER. Okay, residential streets, maybe, but ONLY when there's a 4-way stop. If your choice is between one left and three rights, you TAKE THE THREE RIGHTS. YOU WILL GET THERE FASTER. Seriously, I cut ONE left out of my commute by taking La Brea instead of Vine and I saved 10 minutes on my commute. It's wild.