MetroRiderLA

The MetroMole is back in 2007, and now he’s equipped with a digital camera! Check out his most recent article for:

• A way to save babies!
• More wasteful Metro marketing exposed!
• A possible alternative to TransitTV?
• A haunted bus stop!

That’s right, I’m bringin’ back the news roundup. Matt, the Metro Librarian, does a great job at gathering transit news on his blog Los Angeles Transportation Headlines, so I’m just going to take the juiciest tidbits from there, along with anything else I might pick up (unlikely) and post it in the roundup. Why? Well for one, I promised a post a day in 2007, so this will make things a little easier for my lazy self. Also, since this blog has an active comments section, it will be a good way to discuss the latest news. Finally, in order to make it slightly more than a rehash of Matt’s work, I’ll post a “cool” picture with each roundup. The picture may or may not have anything to do with public transportation or Los Angeles. Enjoy.

• American Public Transit Association 12/28/06: Transit Benefits Increase
  The federal tax benefits for riding public transportation to work are increasing. Good thing since you made that New Year’s resolution to ride the public transit to work!
• Pasadena Star News 12/29/06: Railing against noise
  South Pasadena residents are losing sleep over the Gold Line and its loud ass train noises. Is this another case of NIMBYism or has the MTA boned up again? Methinks the latter.
• L.A. Times 01/02/07: She’s L.A.’s pedal pusher
  Monica Howe risks life, limb, and social life for the Greater Good, that of a cycle-centric LA.

Are you still working on the list of New Years resolutions for 2007? Are your current plans a little hackneyed, or just straight up unachievable? Why not make some transit resolutions? MetroRiderLA has a few suggestions…

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1. Daily Posts: That’s right. I’m going to try and make sure there’s something new up here to read every weekday. I can’t promise hard hitting journalism, but maybe, just maybe something to talk about.
2. Advertising: Don’t cry “sell out” just yet! I’m looking into creating a sort of “MetroMall” where business that support/relate to public transit could connect with my readers via advertisements, affiliate programs, or whatever. So don’t think you’re just going to see another ugly GoogleAdsense banner advertising weight loss scams on the page. Plus, the ads will have to meet MetroRiderLA’s vigorous aesthetic standards.
3. More MetroMovies: I’ve dug out the old DV camera and I’m going to be using it this year to capture the public transit lifestyle here in Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa was just the beginning of the “Made by MetroRiderLA” MetroMovies.More resolutions after the jump… (more…)

A couple of days ago, the LA Times featured an article shedding some light on the mysterious TAP boxes you’ve been noticing (and tapping… don’t worry, I’m guilty too, it’s instinctual I think) in MetroRail stations, on buses, and at Orange Line Stations. These boxes are essentially high tech fare boxes, designed to take advantage of TAP (Transit Access Pass) cards, a new system of paying for your Metro rides throughout the city and county. While currently in a limited testing phase, according to the article TAP Cards will be widely available within the next two years.

So what is it that makes a TAP card so much better than the current system?

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This month marked a critical anniversary for me, one that has prompted me to look back on the past decade of my life and ask myself how things came to be as they are today. How did I become a person who was content to live without a car and who felt so strongly about that decision that he would take time to advocate that others follow suit? What could have happened ten years ago that would prompt such introspection?

In December of 1996 I was given the legal right to drive a car.

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