MetroRiderLA

If you weren’t aware, (and I was definitely not) today is Dump the Pump Day. What does that mean? Well, the answer was not immediately clear to me. Obviously it means is a national day of public transportation awareness, but other then that I’m not really sure what happens. Public transportation is definitely not free for the day, at least not on Metro. I know there have been arguments for and against that in the past, but today seems like it would be ideal if well promoted.

So in honor of DTPD, Metro has announced four new rapid lines. Two of which are the new Rapid Express lines. How very exciting of them. The new lines are as follows:

- Line 704 on Santa Monica Boulevard

- Line 760 between Downtown Los Angeles and Metro Blue Line Artesia Station via Long Beach Boulevard

- Express Line 920 along Wilshire - KNBC reports it will start at Vermont and stop at Western, , Fairfax Avenue, Beverly Drive, Westwood Boulevard and Fourth Street in Santa Monica

- Express Line 940 along Hawthorne Boulevard in the South Bay
According to the official Metro press release, these lines will cut travel time by 15% over existing Rapid lines. So is that 40% total or 36.25% total? I was never very good at math.

The two express lines will start service on Monday. The release wasn’t clear on when the 704 and 760 would start running.

Curbed had a post a few days ago about a reporter from Philly who came to LA and really enjoyed our rail system. Like a lot. Probably more then we do. The article he wrote gives a bit of insight in to how a tourist sees our city. I especially like what he says about the fare honor system:

“L.A.’s high-speed transit is - are you sitting down, preferably on a subway bench? - based on the honor system. You can’t crawl under the turnstiles to con Metro; there are none. No one collects a ticket.”

Now if everyone could take the system for what it is, we would be a much happier Los Angeles.

Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus system is introducing new service in the form of “MiniBlue.” According to their website it will be an “eco- friendly way to get around town. These smaller, faster neighborhood Rides take you right where you want to go.” It doesn’t actually say how it’s going to be eco-friendly, unless they just mean that riding a bus is more eco-friendly then driving. It looks like there will be three new services added. A Cross Town (14th and Pearl to 18th and Ocean Park), Downtown Market (4th and Arizona to 7th and San Vicente) and Pico Market (4th and Ocean Park to 23rd and Colorado) will be added to the already in service Tide Shuttle. Right now there’s not much info up on the BBB’s website such as when it will start or if fares will be the same. Updates as they come.

Unfortunately there will be no Austin Powers tie-in… That we know of.

Thought your favorite band was the coolest and most socially correct? Well check this out: Not only are the Secret Machines playing a show in San Diego this week to benefit the hardest hit regions in Dafur, but early next week they will be playing a show at Union Station to raise awareness of public transportation here in LA. There will also be a special DJ set by Shepard Fairley and a photography exhibit by Mark The Coberasnake featuring people riding public transportation. Here’s the catch - you can’t come by car. The 8:00pm show requires a valid incoming Metro ticket to get in. And they’ll apparently be checking to make sure you didn’t park at Union Station and buy a Red Line ticket once there. Ok, so when we said free, we really meant $1.25. But hey, a cool band in a cool building. You can’t really go wrong.
Secret Machines
Tuesday, October 24^th
7:30pm @ Union Station
Valid Metro Ticket required for admission

http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/newspdf/ttc20061017c.pdf
www.myspace.com/secretmachines

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