MetroRiderLA

I found this video on Google Video posted by TMIV. It’s a broad and basic overview of the Los Angeles rail transit system. Good for the n00bz.

[googlevideo]-3516964326369812376[/googlevideo]

The recognizable LAWA FlyAway logo.

I’d like to preface this gripe by saying how much I love the LAWA FlyAway service that brings travelers from Union Station and Van Nuys to the chaos that is LAX.

Honestly. It has revolutionized the way I get to the airport.

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The MetroMole is back with another one of his entertainingly scathing commentaries on the LACMTA.  In his most recent article, the Mole:

• Interviews a transit professional… and learns stuff!
• Disses the plans for street cars in Downtown LA
• Gets a good laugh out of Metro being called “America’s Best”
• Meets his transit “Dulcinea”…  maybe love on a bus is possible.

So go ahead and check out the writing of one of my favorite LA transit bloggers.

Image Courtesy of CBS2.COM

Terrible news. According to the LAFD News & Information Blog, an Orange Line Metro Liner bus collided with delivery truck that ran a red light today at Woodman Ave. and Oxnard St. Apparently 17 out of the 125 people on the bus were injured. Most injuries were minor, but the blog reports that one passenger suffered “serious” injuries. CBS2.COM has a video of the aftermath here.

Unfortunately, for those have followed the Orange Line, we know that this is not the first time an accident has happened. This is unfortunate, because the Orange Line has been been steadily gaining popularity since its inception (and initial string of accidents) and this frightening event might stifle the popularity a bit.

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NPR has a short segment on car-free living in Los Angeles. It’s an interview with Chris Balish, author of the book “How to Live Well Without Owning a Car“, who happens to live in Los Angeles without a car and loves it. Chris was once a self-proclaimed “car-addicted person” but chose to make the jump to a car-free lifestyle for financial reasons, which I like because a huge benefit of the car-free lifestyle is the monentary savings that come from getting rid of a car all together. It’s probably one of the best reasons to choose to go car-free. Even if you spend $150 per month on car-free transportation (Metro fare, car-sharing fees, taxi fares, etc.) you are still saving a bundle compared to owning a car when you take into consideration factors such as: gasoline, parking, service, washing, and insurance. And this doesn’t even include the upfront cost of buying car.

I haven’t read Balish’s book yet, but after hearing this interview I’m going to pick it up. Look for a report in the future.

I’ve added a new category to MetroRiderLA called “MetroMovies”.  Here you’ll find a variety of Metro themed videos found across the net, and hopefully in the future, created by MetroRiderLA authors.

To start off, here’s a clip from Google Video of Metro Division 1 celebrating the “America’s Best” Award.  Thanks to Los Angeles Transportation Headlines for finding this movie.

[googlevideo]7765750297328117171[/googlevideo]