MetroRiderLA

• Terence Jeffery, a cartarded conservative nimrod, is my new comedy hero.  His defense of Americuz “free-market transportation” system is a laugh riot.  Terence buddy, read this and then go eat your slice of pizza and be quiet, cuz I’m not buying it.  Cartard.
• Los Angeles freeway bike rebels garner national attention.
• Orange Line to keep going… all the way to the Chatsworth Metrolink Station.
• Amtrak president Alex Kummant gets real in a great interview with Reuters.  A must read.
• Los Angeles rail ridership up from a year ago, but bus ridership is down.  Dear car-culture refugees: fear not the bus.
• Thousand Oaks bus system offers Google Transit and NextBus technology to help riders figure out where they are going and stay on schedule. Nice!
• Hey, remember when Austin’s CapMetro went up against Miss Traffic and won?  Well they’ve pwned Metro again by launching an official agency blog.  Nice!

Image courtesy of misterjt.

• Streetsblog releases a new Streetsfilm… about Los Angeles and the Orange Line!
• ORLY? Cars are bad for your health.
• Long Beach moves forwards with Bicycle Master Plan.
• A little transit love letter from Long Beach.
• Angelenos love to talk about saving the environment, they just don’t wanna have to pay for it.
• The Big Blue Bus offers free rides to Santa Monica College students.

‘Twas the night before Metro

Orange Line began

and all trough my body

I had goosebumps and chills

in anticipation of my very first ride.

I had been thinking

about that very moment

for the last couple of years

ever since I heard

the busway was coming my way.

I can still remember

when I would ride my bike

even drive a car

parallel to the busway

the old right of way.

Just dreaming and waiting

for the day to arrive.

And when they started testing

with no passengers yet

I would stand in awe near the stations

just watching the artics go by.

But alas! The day had arrived

five in the morning

I was ready to board

from Winnetka Station

to NOHO and back.

This feeling of anticipation

I cannot describe

unless you’re a MetroRider

you can’t comprehend.

I’m just waiting

and anticipating

the Gold Line extension

out to East L. A.

Come late 2009

God willing

I’ll sure to be there!!!

© Rogelio Gómez

• Traffic accidents cost L.A./Orange County nearly $11 billion… add that to  the $9 billion cost of congestion.  Oh yeah, this is the yearly cost.  The American Autombie Association conducted the study.
• CityWatch knows best: subways are not for L.A., “modern computer controlled cars suspended from or running on top of rails” are.
• City Beat looks at the absurdity and cost of fare gates.
• The Orange Line may be headed to Chatsworth… in six years.