MetroRiderLA

I’ve ridden just about every line on just about every transit system in Southern California. That’s nearly a thousand different routes on over a hundred systems. Yet there is a small yet vast sector of bus services I have never used: peak-hour commuter buses.

Until now. “What a Rush” is a public journal entries of using the suburb-to-job center buses that only operate during morning and evening rush hours. Where do they run? Are they comfortable? How many people ride them? Find out in this occasional series.

Hey n00b!  Are you scared of the bus?  Worried about getting lost underground when you ride the Red Line?  Think that LA Public Transit is an oxymoron?  Well it’s time you grow some cojones and become a true MetroRider.  Doc on the Train has a great post that answers 12 of the most pressing questions an LA transit newbie might have.  Concise and quick, it’s a veritable Idiots Guide to the MTA.  Hell, I finally learned what the hell zone fare means!  Go check it out and earn your Metro wings.

Doc On The Train: Riding in LA 

The monthly Transit Coalition dinner is coming up next Tuesday, July 25th at 6:30pm at Philippes the Original in Downtown LA. I highly recommend every reader of this blog do what they can to attend the meeting and show your continued support and interest in the future of transit in Los Angeles. The meetings are informal but informative, and everyone involved is extremely friendly and welcoming to new members. You’ll pick up a wealth of new information, discuss the most recent events relating to LA transit, and have the opportunity to speak your mind. The Los Angeles Public Transit community is growing everyday online, with new blogs and sites forming every week, but it’s one thing to sit in front of your computer and write a rant or post an opinion, it’s another to get up and really get involved. So hop on your favorite mode of public transportation and make your way Downtown next Tuesday from some tasty french dipped sandwiches and a few hours of transit talk.

For more information:

• The Transit Coalition
• MetroRiderLA Event Calendar
• Philippe the Original

There’s another series of important service changes, this time in the San Gabriel Valley. Foothill Transit provides most of the local and express bus service in the region, and it has some key changes in store.

The biggest is replacing its most important route, Line 480, with what seems to be modeled on the Orange Line, a new service called Silver Streak. The page also lists the other route realignments and cancellations.

There are still meetings available throughout July and August. Foothill is also accepting comments by mail, snail mail and fax. Consult the page for meeting dates and addresses.

Metro has posted a list of service changes, that may go into effect as early as December 2006. Others, like some of the suggested Metro Rapid lines, may take longer to implement.

The Westside/Central service changes are not listed.

To sound off on any changes, visit one of the meeting sites listed. Written comments (mail, e-mail and fax) are also accepted and are made as part of the public record. The document has all the relevant addresses. 

I just found this great blog dedicated to LA’s only subway, the Metro Red Line. The Metro Red Line Blog has very imformative and well written posts “about the future of the Metro Red Line and a candid examination of all consumer issues that will result in improved service to the users.” It seems that the blog is created by the members of The Transit Coalition and has the following goals:

• Many consumer issues need to be addressed collectively
• Removal of legal prohibitions on tunneling
• Develop and gather substantial public support

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