Tom Cruise’s daring stunts at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony shifted global attention to Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Summer Games. But as the spotlight shines on LA, a stark reality emerges: the city faces a daunting task in transforming itself into a metropolis worthy of the international spotlight in just four short years. Rampant crime, homelessness, traffic congestion, crumbling infrastructure, and a host of other challenges threaten to overshadow the Games. The LA solution? A car-free Olympics.
The ambition is bold: banning personal vehicles from Olympic venues and relying heavily on public transportation. The LA Organizing Committee has proposed the “Twenty-eight by ‘28 Project,” a plan for 28 transit projects aimed at accommodating the influx of over a million visitors. But six years after its inception and with just four years left before the Games, the project is struggling. A recent report from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reveals that 10 out of the 28 projects are behind schedule and unlikely to be completed in time. Only five projects have been finished so far, highlighting the challenges in transforming a city deeply reliant on cars.
Despite these setbacks, Mayor Karen Bass remains optimistic, promising to deploy 3,000 buses for the event. However, this plan raises concerns about the financial burden on Los Angeles and the potential disruption to other transportation agencies and communities. Diverting 3,000 buses to a single city, even for a major event, will have significant repercussions, especially in a region like Southern California, where personal vehicles are the primary mode of transportation.
The reality is, Southern California’s car-centric culture is deeply ingrained. LA County alone boasts over 7.5 million registered vehicles, and the city’s vast area of 469 square miles contrasts sharply with the more compact Paris, which spans just 41 square miles. This sprawling landscape necessitates multiple transfers for residents, discouraging reliance on public transit. Adding to the challenges are the safety concerns surrounding LA’s public transportation system. Recent incidents like a bus hijacking that resulted in a passenger’s death have sparked public anxiety. While such incidents are rare, the persistent presence of knife attacks, sexual assaults, and homeless activity on public transit raises serious questions about the safety of visitors.
Given these factors, the idea of a car-free Olympics seems increasingly unrealistic. The LA Metro’s report frankly acknowledges the limitations of public transit, suggesting a potentially disappointing experience for out-of-town visitors and a negative lasting image for the city. Local residents may be more inclined to skip the Games than abandon their vehicles. The car-free Olympics, originally envisioned as an eco-friendly initiative, has become a symbol of unrealistic ambitions. The city’s failure to deliver on promises has exposed the limitations of political rhetoric and the challenges of implementing large-scale projects. The missed deadlines, rising costs, and bureaucratic inefficiencies highlight the disconnect between ambition and reality. While a car-free Olympics may have sounded good on paper, the harsh realities of LA’s transportation landscape have unveiled its impracticality, casting a shadow over the city’s ambitions for the 2028 Games.
