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ChineseRide Free On New Years Eve!
Sick of getting murdilated on the streets by drunk drivers? Me too. And so is Metro. Therefore, on New Years Even Metro is opening the not yet built fare gates to any and all between 9pm and 2am. All buses and rail in the Metro system are free so put away your car keys or better yet, throw them away forever, and get on board!
To make this even more appealing to all, everyone comment on as many Metro accessible New Years festivities as you can come up. Bars, clubs, dance offs, whatever! Bring it on!
Edit: According to Metro all trains will be running all night on Dec. 31 and into Jan. 1 with 20 minute headways. I guess after 2 am you have to pay! -Fred 12/28/07 11:00am
Discussion
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Please keep discussions civil: exercise Troll Controll.
Dan W is very much against this. In the previous thread he was extremely critical of bending/suspending the rules for special events. I am not putting words in his mouth. He was quite clear on this point.
Ahh, the worm turns and puts the shoe on the other foot as what goes around comes around and we end up having done to us what we do unto others.
But why why WHY are they stopping the free rides at 2am - considering that’s when bars close?! Metro really doesn’t know its ass from its elbow, does it?
In case anyone hadn’t noticed, in addition to the free rides until 2am, Metro is running the rail lines every 20 minutes all night for New Years, so even if you’re out past 2, you can still use Metro Rail (including getting to the Rose Parade).
Talk about putting words in someone’s mouth. He did not say there was something wrong with a governmental entity changing the rules for a special event (and did say that if she wants the rules changed, she should lobby the city council). He said that people should not expect the rules to be changed for them just because they think it should be, ie people shouldn’t expect to get a free ride past 2am just because they think it should, but if the rules were temporarily changed to say rides are free until 2am, then there’s nothing inherently wrong with that (and does give enough time for people to get home after New Year’s itself). Whether he thinks the rules should be changed in a particular circumstance is a different matter. Allowing people to ride free for a 5 hour time period is different than allowing parking in a normally illegal parking spot, but regardless of what the situation is, if the government decides to change the rules, that is their prerogative.
“Dan W is very much against this. In the previous thread he was extremely critical of bending/suspending the rules for special events. I am not putting words in his mouth. He was quite clear on this point.”
Uh, nice try.
I said I was against motorists being allowed to break the law for special events just because they think their entitled to break the law because their motorists.
These two special events are different and the rules are different.
If a motorist is taking away parking from existing residents or otherwise parking unsafely, that is very different than keeping drunk drivers off the road by allowing them to ride free on transit. It’s not as if new year’s riders are boarding the bus and then refusing to pay out of sense of entitlement for a free ride. That would be the fair comparison.
It the MTA decided not to offer free rides then no one should have any sense of entitlement to get one when they board the bus on New Year’s Eve just because they think they should have one, anymore than no one should have any sense of entitlement to drive and park their car anywhere they want just because they believe they should.
The proper way to do special parking arrangements for an special event is to have the city pro-actively designate event-specific parking arrangements, with clear marked signage, not the police ignoring parking laws at their discretion.
But nice try.
These two special events are different and the rules are different.
Exactly. What is the word for that again?
Rob: You are misrepresenting Dan. He advocated changing the rules for special events, but you say he was critical of this. He was critical of ignoring the rules for special events.
Dan: I slightly disagree with you on one minor point: If the local police don’t think it’s worth their time to ticket all these illegally parked vehicles, I wouldn’t criticize them for prioritizing other things (within reason, I guess!).
I’d lobby the city council to tell the motorists to lump it - Dan W.
Dan does not believe in changing the rules for special events. so much so he is prepared to actively polic against it.
I did not put words in his mouth. I said that in my first post and triple checked before saying something so provocative. He said himself that motorists should “lump it.” Rules for thee but not for me. There’s a word everyone here is trying mightily to avoid but you all know what it is. The word would come so easily to you if I had said we need to suspend parking rules at special events but never budge on transit fares and service for special events. There, that wasn’t so hard.
As if it matters at this point, I am very much in favor of Metro’s actions.
wow how amazingly on topic as always! (though love it all anyway.) however, anybody not wanting to join in on the mincing of words above and have some good ideas for new years festivities that are metro accessible so that all can enjoy this luxery but might not be so savvy, please speak up!
Too bad no one’s listing New Year’s events reachable by Metro. You can now return to your debate.
Rob: You are misrepresenting Dan. He advocated changing the rules for special events, but you say he was critical of this. He was critical of ignoring the rules for special events.
Read closer. Dan said the letter writer should try to get the changes made but that he was very much against it. He said “lump it.” Everyone keeps making assumptions. I didn’t assume Dan was in favor, I read what he wrote. You didn’t read the letter, you assumed all kinds of things not in evidence.
Dan doesn’t believe in general special event exceptions. I do. For this I am vilified for things that are correct per the posts and he is defended for things that are contrary to the written record.
Can anyone at least admit that Dan said “lump it?”
Where did I say this?
I would argue against exempting residential and metered parking laws for THAT event. However, if the City Council believes that it is better for the community to change the parking rules for that one event, so be it. I know how I would argue, but I would respect the city’s decision.
Allowing people to ride the bus for free on New Year’s Eve specifically may keep drunk drivers off the road and it may save lives. But I can see the argument against free rides on New Year’s Eve too.
But yes, I did say “lump it” to motorists who want special privileges to park in residential neighborhoods they don’t live in just because they feel above using other forms of transportation to get to an event, don’t want to arrive earlier or follow the marked guidelines. Public parking restrictions are in place for a reason.
The answer for public events like parades is to encourage commercial lots to open up their garages for special events for which they may charge motorists the right to park there, or the city can open up public parking lots for free if they wish. Special shuttle buses can be arranged too.
In general, I do say “lump it” to single-occupancy motorists who think they are “too good” to ride transit.
In general, I do say “lump it” to single-occupancy motorists who think they are “too good” to ride transit.
Let them eat cake? [You need to look up the real meaning of that phrase before considering it either an insult or inappropriate.]
Now I see it is about single occupancy vehicles and not privately operated vehicles. I need a scorecard to track the changes on your team. Presumably you are willing to make ADA concessions?
I’m glad to talk about this calmly. How do you feel about closing streets for the marathon? Closing streets for the Gold Line construction that is apparently driving many small minority stores out of business? Some exceptions good, some bad. Four legs good… [Another reference you need to look up for original context.]
Here are my last thoughts on this matter on this thread so it can get back on topic — an example from my own life.
I attend the gay pride festival every June, usually both days, as do half-a-million other people — a much bigger event than the one referenced. When I used to drive to the event I would go early on both days so I could get a space in the Pacific Design Center which I happily paid for. At no time did I expect, nor did I feel entitled to park in a residential space that would normally require a permit or that the cops should just ignore the meters — regular residents and businesses not attached to the festival be damned. No, I certainly didn’t assume that. If someone proposed to the West Hollywood City Council that residential and meter parking restrictions should be suspended for the weekend, I would say, “no”, as there are transit and private parking arrangements available.
————
Now, back on topic.
The main reason to allow free rides on NYE is to keep drunk drivers off the road. I just wish the rail system went down Ventura Blvd., Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire Blvd. so that more people could use the all-night subway.
Personally, I won’t be starting my new year with a hangover, but happy and safe celebrating to those who do.
Well, in 2006 the Red Line was a giant new year’s party, since the Giant Club was closed down by the fire department that year. Assuming it doesn’t rain, Giant Club will be there downtown, as is the Rose Parade route (don’t forget the 180 runs owls too), Hollywood/Highland, Universal City, Pine Avenue in Long Beach, etc. all accessible by Metro Rail.
OCTA does it right and lets you ride free coming and going, with free service from 6 p.m. the 31st to 4 a.m. the 1st. RTA runs service for free after 6 p.m. as well, but no bus route runs after midnight, which makes this pretty stupid, although to their credit they did mention the fact that hardly anything runs past 8 p.m. in their press release this year, in case some drunk gets the bright idea of standing at a bus stop waiting for their free ride.
From today’s L.A. Times:
Downtown L.A. is the heart of the city — and the party. Ring in the New Year with 50,000 of your closest friends downtown. The area will be festival central.
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/theguide/la-gd-cover27dec27,1,4063574.story?coll=la-theguide-printedition
Tricky to get to on transit, but fireworks make the night:
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
December 31
Fireworks shot from the south jetty light up the sky over Marina del Rey on New Year’s Eve. Beginning at 11:59 p.m. & 30 seconds, one firework will be shot into the air each second, counting down to midnight when a five-minute fireworks show will burst across the night sky. Fireworks can be seen from almost anywhere in the marina. Free. 310-305-9545
It’s not a bad show, but it’s not a great show either. I went to it in 2004 when I ran out of ideas to spend New Year’s. (This year I am camping out on the Rose Parade route.) The Santa Monica 3 and sprint over to Washington Boulevard, or take the leisurely walk up Ocean Avenue towards Venice Boulevard instead (only owl service in the area).
Fireworks are fun, although you’re right, that would be tricky by transit. The only two choices would be the BBB3 if you are in Santa Monica and get to it quickly after the fireworks end, or Metro 33 (to Santa Monica or to downtown on Venice, including connections to the Blue/Red Lines and Union Station), although that would be a good 1+ mile walk at best.
Note: Starting writing my above post before calwatch’s post was there.
I seriously know of like 5 different things happening in downtown or nearby. It’s amazing how much a year does to a part of city. 2 years ago I celebrated it in downtown and there were things happening, but not as publicly known. Now its the word on everyones mouth; “theres somethign happening in downtown at..” or “I heard someone is throwing some party”. Downtown is booming!
I’m going to recommend a lot of my friends to tke the subway into downtown so they dont have to drive.
There are so many things going on throughout Southern California that they would be too hard to list.
There are a few mass gatherings, but many restaurants and hotels are also putting on parties and some people like smaller celebrations.
L.A. did try a high-profile New Year’s celebration in 2000 which was an enormous disaster. The failure was due to several reasons, among them:
1. Forcing people to obtain tickets for a free event. Supposedly, this would have deterred gangs from attending the events. It ended up deterring everyone.
2. Holding several small events, because concentrating a mass event, say in downtown L.A., would have slighted other communities.
3. Angelenos are reluctant to celebrate outdoors because firing bullets into the sky is a New Year’s pastime.
4. This event had to compete with all other private events throughout the region.
5. And many more …
Yeah, that Jay Leno lighting up the Hollywood sign with the dumb lasers didn’t help.
The problem with the mass gatherings in LA is that none of them (save the Rose Parade route, which is really a party for the next day) are free. Las Vegas and Times Square are free, and many cities do First Nights which are generally free for outdoor events. Marina Del Rey’s fireworks show hardly qualifies as a “mass celebration”.
Nina Hagen (I know, i just dated myself) is having a New Year’s Party and fundraiser for candidate Dennis Kucinich http://www.beepworld.de/members77/ninahagendas/ at 729 E. Temple downtown. She always puts on a wild show and although a long shot for president, supports funding public transit - Not the best area for door to door transit, but if your willing to walk a couple blocks…(at least until the Gold Line extension opens) I’m sure this will be fun even without hallucinogins!
Something you won’t read about in the english language press, but if you’re a fan of Rancheras/Corridos, Lupillo Rivera will be in concert free on New Year’s Eve at 1605 W. Olympic Boulevard (Olympic & Union). More info here You know the food will be the bomb. Cowboy boots, hats and huge belt buckles are probably the standard attire.
It may be a tad opportunistic but since your looking for stuff to do public transpo-wise. I was on here to see the schedule for tonights trains cuz I am heading from NoHo, dropping my Dad and little sister at Universal City Walk (all ages) and then heading to work downtown. We have 4 different parties going on,
Broadway Bar, The Golden Golpher, Casey Irish Grill and All walking distance from the Metro. Excuse the blatant plug and love that the trains running all night long.
p.s.
this worked amazingly well and many friends of mine who have openly defied my spreading of mass transit into their lives were on board and enjoying the service greatly. weekend/late night trains in LA for 2008? here’s hoping!