Shuttle Bus Film to Roll Soon at Theaters

Los Angeles is using a show-biz approach to promote its 10-year-old Westwood shuttle bus service, which provides transportation between the Federal Building and Westwood Village on weekends for only 25 cents.

The city’s 30-second film, starring Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, will be shown in Westwood movie theaters this spring along with other public service announcements and film previews.

The brief film is designed to remind the public that the shuttle service provides free parking at the Federal Building and a 25-cent ride into Westwood Village, officials said.

The shuttle is intended to reduce congestion in Westwood Village with its many restaurants, movie theaters and stores, they said.

“The Westwood shuttle can help solve parking problems in Westwood,” said Donald Howery, director of the city Transportation Department, which sponsors the shuttle. Ridership averages about 250 a day, he said.

The department decided to make a film because officials considered it an effective way to reach “a good cross section” of visitors who frequent Westwood, Howery said.

The filming took place last weekend in the parking lot at the Federal Building at Wilshire Boulevard and Veteran Avenue.

The shuttle’s circular route proceeds from the Federal Building east on Wilshire, north on Glendon Avenue, west on Weyburn Avenue, south on Gayley Avenue and west on Wilshire to the starting point.

Buses leave every eight minutes beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fridays and at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays, and run until 1:30 a.m. both days.