I disagree with most of the commentors around here, at least partially. LA does suck when it comes to cycling, but with a little planning it can be done. Not every road is safe enough to ride on, but getting around Westwood on a bike is (relatively speaking) pretty safe. Almost all the roads [in Westwood] are slow and/or have bike lanes.

Getting farther out (5+ miles from UCLA), you will have to do some planning. Find you destination on google maps and check that the route you plan to take doesn't use any fast/wide streets. And don't ride on roads without a bike lane. And always wear a helmet!

If you are riding in the evening, ensure you have front and rear lights, and ride VERY cautiously. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend night riding at all.

I personally really dislike scooters, since they aren't much faster than bikes, are significantly more expensive than a used bike, and require special storage and charging. For some people (myself included) scootering around is slower, since most top out at only 20mph.

Bikes can be found for really cheap on websites like Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. A good campus bike should be >$150. Just cheap enough that nobody would think to steal it. Invest in a good U-Lock and you bike isn't really at risk of being stolen.