MetroRiderLA

The MetroStore is a bit of an enigma, I’m not quite sure why it exists because I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who’s ever purchased anything from it, and only because I’m the type of person who would start a blog dedicated to the Metro.  But it exists, and maybe more people shop their than I think, because they keep adding new crap, this Matchobox MetroLocal for example!  For $3 you can have a cool little metal replica of your favorite (or most hated) Los Angeles bus.  And coming soon… Metro Rapid (early spring) and Metro Express (early summer)!

A few weeks ago I reported on Damien Goodmon’s new venture, GetLAMoving.com, while the site itself seems to still be under construction, they have set up a presence over at MySpace. Let’s hope the actual site is up and running soon, but until then add yourself as friend on their MySpace and leave a comment telling them to get their site moving! Hey, you might even find a transit date there!

Oh, and while you’re MySpacing, don’t forget to add MetroRiderLA as a friend too!

I found out via Lifehacker that Google Maps quietly updated their New York City maps to include prominent buildings and subway stations, and apparently they’ve done the same for Los Angeles! Now all we need is Google Transit support and we’re all good.

Don’t forget: TMIV’s Google Earth KML files for Metro Rail

Some of the adorable artwork from the site that doesn’t quite adore Metro Rail: I Hate You Metro Rail.

Today I discovered a website that’s not shy about wearing its heart on its sleeve (or URL as the case may be)… the aptly named I Hate You Metro Rail.

I Hate You Metro rail tells the harrowing and sad tale of young Johnny Buckleweed of the Buckleweed clan, a family who lived in a city with excellent public transit but for unknown reasons wanted to move to a city with piss-poor public transit. And so the Buckleweeds move from New York City (this is an assumption on my part, it’s never fully revealed in the story) to Los Angeles, only to lose their matriarch in a train stop abduction/murder that could have been prevented had the Metro Rail arrived on time as promised. Thus Earl and 10-year-old Johnny Buckleweed are left to fend for themselves in what presumably must be the worst city in the entire world for rail transit. Poor Buckleweeds.

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Marissa Gluck over at CurbedLA discovered this fantastical MetroMovie that proposes building a monorail over the Los Angeles river bed. Intriguing. Could add a whole new layer to the Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan. We’ll just have to wait 30 to 50 years to see!

WMATA’s Next Bus Interface.

The Metro librarian, Matt Barrett, has come through yet again with information on another tool that has the potential to change the way we “Go Metro”. A few days ago Matt was invited to check out a demo of a new webtool from Metro that will give real time estimated “next bus/train arriving” info via web and/or cell phone. His thoughts?

“It won’t be perfect when it rolls out, but it looks like a decent starting point.”

Let’s take a look…

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