MetroRiderLA

Some of the swag at Metro’s online store is going green. Metro has added a new t-shirt, baby onesie, and lanyard with an eco-twist to their retail mix. The t-shirt, made of certified organic cotton, features the bold statement “I Ride For A Greener LA” printed in white on the sage colored fabric. It’s not as cool as a Prius, but for $19 it allows you to non-verbally communicate to the world just how much you care about Mother Earth. The Future Metro Rider Onesie (link takes you to a hilariously large image courtesy of Metro’s funky online store) is perfect for all you moms who want to show other moms just how much your rugrat cares about the environment. $15 will get you this lush certified organic cotton baby poop (100% biodegradable) receptacle. Last but not least is this slick black Metro Lanyard($6), made of 100% recycled soda and water bottles. Wear it around your neck, or whatever you’re supposed to do with lanyards, and know that your last bottle of Fiji water potentially went on to a better life.

The larger question brought about by this new product line-up is: does anyone actually buy stuff from the Metro Store?

I’ll confess. I have. Metro nerd that I am, I bought a few posters, a lapel pin, and a retractable badge holder or two for when I worked in the office (both badge holders promptly broke). I have to imagine though that I’m in the minority. Will Metro really sell enough t-shirts to recoup their investment (however small) in certified organic cotton? Do enough people buy their babies Metro apparel to ensure that there’s not boxes of organic onesies sitting in some warehouse until the end of time? These questions and more can be answered in our newest poll:

Inspired by a comment by Dan W. on the One Year Without A Car post, I present MetroRider readers with this question:

Poll closes March 5, 2008 at 12:00PM.

What is the main reason you have chosen what is clearly an alternative lifestyle in Los Angeles? Sure, there are many reasons that go into the equation, but for me, the main reason I decided to go car-free was the fact that driving (and car ownership) in Los Angeles just sucks! Everything about it was dehumanizing to me: it was stressful, boring, scary, and annoying. Environment and economics are pluses, but they weren’t really a consideration to me when I decided to get rid of my car. What’s your story?

For those of you who weren’t aware, today is the last day to enter Metro’s Miss Traffic Contest! Write 100 words on how you miss traffic for the chance to win a t-shirt, a tiara, and a bouquet of flowers! Oh, and receive the honor of being L.A.’s official Miss Traffic!

This poll will close Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 12:00 PM.

Previously:

• Miss Traffic Vs. i-Ride

This poll will close Friday, February 29th, 2008 at 11:59 PM.

MetroRiderLA is due for a new theme. I’m sticking with rail lines for this round, so it’s either Gold, Blue, Green, or Purple. Which do you want to see next? Vote now! And let me know any other ideas you might have for themes beyond the rail lines. I have this crazy idea that a Union Station theme would be pretty cool…