MetroRiderLA

[tags]pacific electric, streetcar, los angeles, atwater village[/tags]

In this undated but old photo, a Pacific Electric Streetcar runs above Fletcher Drive in Atwater Village.
Credit: Donald Duke (uploaded by Atwater Village Newbie on Flickr, with Creative Commons license)

Streetcars are so this week. First, Metroblogging LA posted as it’s No. 1 Los Angeles urban legend about the “conspiracy” to dismantle what was once the largest streetcar network in the United States. This topic inspired some discussion here over the weekend.

Now comes along Atwater Village Newbie, a blogger who — in case the concept of the site is too esoteric — is a new resident to the Los Angeles neighborhood, to post a beautiful photograph of a Pacific Electric streetcar passing over Fletcher Drive below. The support posts of that trestle are still visible today.

Metroblogging LA has simulblogged the photo and Miles Think provides a link.

Newbie promises to upload more photos, which come courtesy of the Metro Transportation Library and Archive Collection. Props to both for the lovely pic!

[tags]pacific electric, streetcar, pedestrian, metroblogging la[/tags]

Credit: Wikipedia

Metroblogging LA has been posting popular urban legends, and the “Roger Rabbit conspiracy” places at No. 1. In short: a few large automotive companies conspired to dismantle streetcars in Los Angeles and cities around the country. The reality is, there was no conspiracy, and L.A.’s traction disappearing was more of a mercy killing by Southern Californians in the 1950s and 1960s. This is also covered in an entertaining Straight Dope column. This is also sure to stir up heated arguments, particularly among a passionate group of streetcar revanchists. They’ll probably find this entry.

The other entry is No. 6, about “nobody walking in L.A.,” although it is more whimsical than the streetcar entry.

[tags]santa monica, big blue bus, green la girl[/tags]

A Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus on Line 10
Credit: Charlie Brewer via Flickr (license)

Siel, the Green L.A. Girl, comes through once again with more news from a recent Big Blue Bus service change meeting.

First, by popular demand, Line 10’s routing is going to be via Eighth Street heading to Union Station and via Ninth Street going to Santa Monica.

Second, the fare restructuring is keeping the 75 cent fares, but both local (now free) and interagency (now a quarter) transfers are going to be 50 cents. Big Blue Bus is introducing a $2.50 local and $3.50 day pass that’s only good locally. This has to be mentioned since a few thousand riders will buy the day pass and get into an argument with a driver on another system over why the pass is not accepted.

Third is the introduction of Blue: The Transit Store. Santa Monica goes overboard in creating an environmentally friendly store, with “… photovoltaic panels, recycled tire floors, strawboard walls, recycled bottle countertops, and curved ceilings for natural lighting.” Like other transit stores in the county, it will have schedules, transit information and sales of various fare media. The store, at Third Street Promenade and Broadway, is slated to open this fall.

[tags]santa monica, big blue bus, green la girl[/tags]

Siel, the Green L.A. Girl, went to a Big Blue Bus service change meeting and reported the big change coming in June is a network of 5 minibus routes within the city of Santa Monica. The proposed routes are:

• Crosstown Ride: This line will basically replace the current Line 11, except the buses will run more frequently and add evening service. [Note: This change already went into effect.]
• Tide Ride: This line will replace the Tide Shuttle, extending its route in downtown Santa Monica.
• Pico Market Ride and Downtown Market Ride: These lines will run only on Farmers’ Market days, replacing the current Farmers’ Market shuttles.
• Sunset Ride: This new route will serve Santa Monica College, the Arboretum, and some city parks. The route will run from the Santa Monica Airport, down Ocean Park Boulevard, then make a loop via 20th Street, Olympic Boulevard, Stewart Street, and Pico Boulevard.

Interestingly, the routing proposals are not yet on Big Blue Bus’s web site.

There are three more service change meetings, on Thursday, Saturday and next Monday. Click the calendar for times and connecting transit service.

[tags]curbed la, ugliest building contest[/tags]

Ugly, pug ugly, fugly or pug fugly?
Credit: Tom Bonner, Metro via Public Art in Los Angeles

Curbed LA is calling on the Los Angeles blogosphere for sumbissions to its inaugural Ugliest Building Contest.

Until March 31, users can e-mail a picture of their (least?) favorite architectural abomination, along with an address and why they hate it. Oh, and the building must be within the city of Los Angeles proper.

Robert Coté had his multiple hategasms, with two being Metro’s Taj Mahal and Caltrans’ “Death Star” headquarters in the Civic Center (also James Howard Kunstler’s May 2005 Eyesore of the Month). Coté selected his buildings for their Baathist ugliness: indulgent opulence despite massive public discord.

This ugliness pageant is sure to spawn debate, and this could give an opportunity for MetroReaders to find nominees on transit.

With all this aside, here’s another public transportation horse in this race.

(more…)

[tags]worldchanging, servicio ejecutivo, bus[/tags]

“Paper Lobster Bus” by Ken Tanabe
Credit: Servicio Ejecutivo

This is Network brings an exhibition of artist-inspired buses to its West Los Angeles gallery, at 2130 Sawtelle Blvd., Suite 200A, with an opening reception held 4-7 p.m. Sunday, March 4.

The exhibit, “Blood, Sweat and tires” originally opened in New York City in December. It can be found on Servicio Ejecutivo, and clicking on “Sociales.” Several artists were asked to create interesting, intricate designs on cardboard buses. The site says the designs reflect the stylings of buses found in Latin America, which are colorfully decorated by their drivers.

The exhibit is on display through April 7.

Thanks to Bruce Cheung of WorldChanging Los Angeles for the tip.

Transit access: Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus lines 4, 5 and 7; and Culver CityBus Line 6 (weekday/weekend).