MetroRiderLA

Boy, MetroRiderLA has been very busy with its Yelp reviews. Since a soft start in December 2006, MetroRiderLA’s Yelp presence has greatly expanded. As of February 1, there are 95 reviews, 34 of them firsts.

We have 17 friends, 4 fans and 15 compliments. Our review votes have earned 110 useful, 59 cool and 6 funny votes.

For February, MetroRiderLA’s next big push to combine Yelp lists with public transportation is to enter and review Metro Rail, Orange Line and Metrolink stations on Yelp! Our reviews have included nearby transit connections to the establishments we have reviewed. Now, by entering the stations themselves, this allows Yelp users to see what establishments are near stations at various radii (half a mile, one mile, etc.).

Following the jump is the methodology used in station star ratings. Only the nerds need to continue.

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In just a few weeks after adding a Yelp badge to the site (see lower right), MetroRiderLA has made its presence felt on the site, a social-networking site that’s part MySpace, part GoogleMaps and part Zagat guide. It’s quite a useful service.

Fred Camino and I have provided the content, and we also add the public transit connections to each location.

As of 4 p.m. January 3, our Yelpcast has 53 reviews. We received 5 compliments, made 10 friends, and our reviews have earned 65 useful votes, 35 cool votes and 1 funny vote.

From MetroRiderLA, we thank you for using our badge. More reviews are coming.

Are you still working on the list of New Years resolutions for 2007? Are your current plans a little hackneyed, or just straight up unachievable? Why not make some transit resolutions? MetroRiderLA has a few suggestions…

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The Year in Transit is a Los Angeles tradition. It’s a tradition that goes back 10 years, but it’s a tradition nonetheless. But to have continuity for a decade when the audience is the internet, 10 years is legendary.

And in 2007: The Year in Transit, the legend continues.

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1. Daily Posts: That’s right. I’m going to try and make sure there’s something new up here to read every weekday. I can’t promise hard hitting journalism, but maybe, just maybe something to talk about.
2. Advertising: Don’t cry “sell out” just yet! I’m looking into creating a sort of “MetroMall” where business that support/relate to public transit could connect with my readers via advertisements, affiliate programs, or whatever. So don’t think you’re just going to see another ugly GoogleAdsense banner advertising weight loss scams on the page. Plus, the ads will have to meet MetroRiderLA’s vigorous aesthetic standards.
3. More MetroMovies: I’ve dug out the old DV camera and I’m going to be using it this year to capture the public transit lifestyle here in Los Angeles. Mayor Villaraigosa was just the beginning of the “Made by MetroRiderLA” MetroMovies.More resolutions after the jump… (more…)

MetroRiderLA would like to wish all of our readers a Happy Holiday!

Thanks for supporting this blog since its creation this past June, it’s been a fun ride and I’m still amazed that anyone reads it all. But for those of you that do, a heartfelt thanks! Look for a lot more content in 2007, including more MetroMovies from the MetroRider crew, as well as a number of new features and who knows what else.

I herby dub 2007 The Year of the Public Transit Lifestyle. Resolve to ride.