World Cup brings a rise in ridership for Metro

Reviews have been mixed, with some fans saying public transit still takes too long.

- By SEAMUS BOZEMAN

May was a great month for L.A. Metro. And then came the World Cup, with droves of fans making their way to local stadiums and watch parties.

After the leap in ridership last month, early numbers in June show that game-day ridership is high for Metro. As for the experience of taking public transit in Los Angeles amid the crush, the reviews are mixed.

“The transit is impossible,” said Ignacio Santa Cruz, who had traveled to Los Angeles from Asunción, Paraguay, to see his country’s national team play the U.S. last Friday.

“I mean, to go everywhere, you can expect at least 45 minutes of rides,” he said.

Gary Mackenzie, on the other hand, told The Times on Saturday during the FIFA Fan Festival at the Coliseum that “the roads here compared to back home are pretty crazy, man.” Mackenzie is from Scotland, where drivers use the left side of the road.

He had thought about “hiring a car” but decided against it, and “I’m pretty glad I did. ... I’m really using public transport, which has been fine.”