MetroRiderLA

And should we? Would any of you use it?

Copied from their press release:

Earn rewards while you ride
10.30.2007

Apply for your BART Rider Rewards MasterCard®, issued by Chase, and start earning points redeemable for something you use every day, BART tickets.

The BART Rider Rewards MasterCard® works just like an airline frequent flyer card, only better! Cardholders have the opportunity to earn points redeemable for BART tickets.

BART is the first major urban public transportation agency in the country to provide customers with a program like this.

OUTSTANDING BENEFITS FOR CARDHOLDERS
The BART Rider Rewards MasterCard® allows cardholders to earn points faster than most other rewards cards. Cardholders earn five points for each dollar spent on eligible BART purchases: at BART ticket vending machines, tickets purchased online through bart.gov, linking the BART Rider Rewards MasterCard® to a BART EZ Rider smart card, and reserved parking permit purchases made at bart.gov/parking.

In addition, cardholders can earn two points per dollar on purchases made at qualifying entertainment locations and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

* Points can be redeemed for BART tickets or cash.
* 2,500 points earns a $25 BART ticket
* 4,500 points earns a $48 BART ticket
* 6,000 points earns a $64 BART ticket
* 5,000 points earns a check for $50
* 10,000 points earns a check for $100

There is no annual fee.

APPLYING FOR THE CARD IS EASY
Just apply for the card by using Chase’s online application or call Chase at 1-866-482-8180.

I’m thrilled about the thread on Prop 91. I think it’s one of the best things we can do on this blog: discuss political matters as they relate to transit.

So I propose we take the opportunity to discuss the upcoming February election.

As mentioned, Prop 91 has direct implications on public transit. Prop 92 (which mandates spending on community colleges and restricts fees) has indirect implications (by tying up funding that might be used on other things, including transit). And Props 94-96 may generate revenues by expanding gambling, although most of these funds aren’t restricted to any programs (as far as I know).

I’m not aware of other issues on the ballot. Perhaps there are local issues someone can bring up?

And of course, there’s the little matter of the president! Does any candidate (in any party) have a very strong pro- or anti-transit platform? This issue isn’t covered much in the popular media, that’s for sure!

Last, but not least, I’d like to nag you all to register to vote by Jan 22. You can start the process online here.

Copied below is a letter from today’s Long Beach Press-Telegram:

Wrong kind of ticket

The Naples Boat Parade draws thousands of people into a confined area in a unique expression of yuletide spirit. We think it is unequaled in Southern California.

Over the years the Long Beach Police Department has tacitly waived the usual parking restrictions as a practical expression of reality in allowing these families a chance to witness the holiday celebration. After all, it’s only one night a year. This year, however, the LBPD saw fit to reverse this welcoming gesture by issuing parking tickets. As a resident of Naples for many years, I consider these actions shameful. What about next year? Has this wonderful event turned into just another revenue opportunity?

Kristine Zirretta

Long Beach

What’s wrong here?
1) She thought that because she got away with parking illegally before, she had a right to do it again.
2) She never considered the fact that Naples is served by 3 bus lines (A, D, and 131, with the 171 close by, a bike path (class 3), and a ferry (the AquaLink).
3) But maybe public transit makes no sense, because no line takes her from her home to the parade. Why? Because she’s a resident of Naples. That’s right–she already lives at the destination, and still took her car. If you’ve been to Naples, you’d know that this is a micro-sized neighborhood. It’s a tiny island, and the Boat Parade encircles the damn thing. There is no point on the island more than a quarter mile from the shore. And it’s extremely pedestrian friendly, as far as neighborhoods go.

The LA Times ran an article today about extending the super-congested 57 freeway over the Santa Ana riverbed from the 5 to the 405.

Pardon my editorializing, but this is the kind of transit planning that makes me spit nails.

The Santa Ana River is the largest river in Southern California–larger than the LA and San Gabriel Rivers combined. Rivers (and all water bodies) are an extremely scarce resource in this region. And what do we do with our natural heritage? We encase it in concrete. We’ve already paved it on three sides, and now we want to pave over the top too.

Similar proposals have been voiced for the LA River, but so far they have been shot down.

Who the f@ck thinks it’s a good idea to take a unique, irreplaceable resource and turn it into a freeway? Maybe it’s the same people that think it’s wise to build mansions on eroding coastal bluffs or major housing developments in floodplains below a levee.

We have talked a bit about the financial subsidies given to cars. But here we are sacrificing major natural capital.

If OC had built its Center Line, we could be talking about restoring the river instead of entombing it.

This picture of the Santa Ana River was taken in Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. It’s a bit south of the proposed 57 extension, so it wouldn’t be directly affected. I don’t have a pic of the region, but it happens to run right by my office!

The American Planning Association has released their list of the top 10 neighborhoods in the US (and top 10 streets, too).

The neighborhoods were ranked “by several characteristics, including good design, functionality, sustainability, and community involvement.”

Not surprisingly, LA failed to make it onto either list. Probably because it lacks good design, functionality, sustainability, and community involvement.

We were out-did by out neighbors to the north (North Beach in SF) and south (Hillcrest in SD).

(Personally, I’m a bit hurt that my hometown of Boston didn’t get mentioned on either list.)

Anyway, I toss this out to the group: what neighborhoods in LA should have made the list? Or at least, been a good contender?

Pick from this map:

In case you aren’t familiar with it, MuseumsLA is an offshoot of the ExperienceLA website, but focused (of course) just on museums. These websites encourage angelenos to take advantage of our city’s rich cultural offerings by taking the train. Or bus. Anything but a car.

I think it’s a terrific idea, but I’d like to see the public transit trumpetted front and center.

Anyway, MuseumsLA is promoting a Museum-Free-For-All day on Saturday, October 6. Here’s a link to their announcement/

And here’s a list of participating museums (note that some of these museums, like the Getty, are free anyways):

* Armory Center for the Arts
* Autry National Center’s Museum of the American West
* California African American Museum
* California Heritage Museum
* California Science Center
* Craft and Folk Art Museum
* Fowler Museum at UCLA
* The Getty Center
* Hammer Museum
* Japanese American National Museum
* Laguna Art Museum
* Long Beach Museum of Art
* Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
* The Museum of Television & Radio
* The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA)
* Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA)
* Museum of Tolerance
* Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
* Norton Simon Museum
* Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
* Orange County Museum of Art
* Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
* Pacific Asia Museum
* Santa Monica Museum of Art
* Skirball Cultural Center
* Southwest Museum of the American Indian.

I may be “organizing” a group of Long Beachers to hit up the MoLAA. But personally, I’ve been eager to check out the Autry, or the NHM (although, sadly, the Spider Pavillion would still cost extra, I think).