My daughter, the Big Blue Bus pro says no, they don’t take it, but she also says check the Big Blue Bus website just in case she’s wrong…

http://www.bigbluebus.com/home/index.asp

Agreed. My inclination is to assume “no”, but check the link above.

That said, Blue Bus fares are quite cheap, so I doubt it would really dent your ability to get around West Side L.A., aside from needing to turn a buck into quarters, dimes, and nickels on occasion at a convenience store.

The two aren’t completely exclusive, possibly, when it comes to transfers. The rules may then change a little.

Also: Metro transfer rules are pointlessly confusing (i.e. you can’t transfer onto a bus of the same number from whence you got the transfer, etc., but may be able to transfer to other transit authorities, stressing “may”) You’ve been warned.

I don’t think so.

Metro/Big Blue transfer rules ARE weird.

Basically, if you pay $1 on the normally 75-cent Big Blue, you get a Metro transfer.

So you can transfer to Metro from the Big Blue, but Metro doesn’t give out transfers TO Big Blue. In fact, I’m not sure Metro gives out transfers at all. But Big Blue to Big Blue transfers are free.

Definitely the answer is “No”. The Big Blue is privately owned and the MTA is a city bus system. I lived in Santa Monica but worked in Hollywood so I took both. The Big Blue is only 5 cents though so that’s a plus… and the Blue is really clean… take it instead of the city buses when you can. The 7 down Pico is a great bus and you can go to UCLA on the 10 I believe. There’s always a great lecture, show, etc. happening there.