Los Angeles boasts a huge fleet of buses, up to 2,000, covering over 3,625 sq km (1,400 square miles) of street at peak hours every day. Run by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority, or Metro, most buses are a distinctive orange colour and run on 189 routes around all of Los Angeles County. In addition, Rapid Red lines offer limited stops along more crowded surface streets. Green Culver City buses and Santa Monica Big Blue buses also run through the city, crossing over the boundaries of their own municipalities into adjacent neighbourhoods to provide even more options in surface transportation. Fares ranging from 50 cents to $1.50 make the buses a good way to get around town without breaking the bank. Schedules and route information are available on board as well as at www.metro.net, www.bigbluebus.com or www.culvercity.org/bus. Although class distinctions in LA are most readily apparent to bus riders – those who can afford to drive usually do – taking the bus can also be a nice way to sightsee, since many routes meander through different parts of LA, rather than travelling on a straight route. Of course, buses are at the mercy of the flow of traffic, so getting places can be a slow process. If you have the time, they can be a good alternative to driving and can show you a whole side of life in LA that cannot be seen from the inside of an automobile.