Comments on: Transit woes in Los Angeles http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/ "Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the Internet." Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:59:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: calwatch http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/#comment-1063 calwatch Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:06:01 +0000 http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/?p=1660#comment-1063 Remember though that the carpool lane on the 10 is 3+ between 4 and 7. If three are going, you should drive because the carpool lane will provide time savings, and 3+ makes the lane go fast enough. Lately I've noticed that the alleged Friday afternoon jams on the 10 are not as bad as they were before gas hit $4 a gallon. So you might luck out there. Remember though that the carpool lane on the 10 is 3+ between 4 and 7. If three are going, you should drive because the carpool lane will provide time savings, and 3+ makes the lane go fast enough. Lately I’ve noticed that the alleged Friday afternoon jams on the 10 are not as bad as they were before gas hit $4 a gallon. So you might luck out there.

]]> By: calwatch http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/#comment-1062 calwatch Fri, 11 Jul 2008 06:02:02 +0000 http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/?p=1660#comment-1062 Ah, an old blogger from the Cal days (back when I was alternately ripping away at the ASUC and the Daily Cal). And you were the science writer, as I recall. Silver Streak is worthless. It is slow to board due to the annoying fare system (they print out receipts for every person who pays cash, which makes for long dwell times at all the stops through Downtown). Eastbound, it WILL get stuck in traffic on the 10, and that, combined with the annoying fare structure, makes it a pain. You get wi-fi on the eastbound ride, which might tilt it towards the bus. After 8 pm, Foothill normally substitutes regular sized buses rather than the long articulated buses, and those don't have wi-fi. I like the Santa Monica 10 though. It is fast and the extra 50 cents is worth it. Take advantage of the Metrolink Day Pass privilege... when you buy a Metrolink ticket that day, you can ride any local transit for free that day (you would only pay the $1.50 upcharge on the Silver Streak, and the ride on the 720 would be free as well). If you are ever in Pomona again, drop me a line. Pomona was a dump when I was growing up and it has gotten cooler but overall still can't shake its reputation of being a dump, the Glass House and the Arts Colony notwithstanding. Have fun. Ah, an old blogger from the Cal days (back when I was alternately ripping away at the ASUC and the Daily Cal). And you were the science writer, as I recall.

Silver Streak is worthless. It is slow to board due to the annoying fare system (they print out receipts for every person who pays cash, which makes for long dwell times at all the stops through Downtown). Eastbound, it WILL get stuck in traffic on the 10, and that, combined with the annoying fare structure, makes it a pain. You get wi-fi on the eastbound ride, which might tilt it towards the bus. After 8 pm, Foothill normally substitutes regular sized buses rather than the long articulated buses, and those don’t have wi-fi.

I like the Santa Monica 10 though. It is fast and the extra 50 cents is worth it. Take advantage of the Metrolink Day Pass privilege… when you buy a Metrolink ticket that day, you can ride any local transit for free that day (you would only pay the $1.50 upcharge on the Silver Streak, and the ride on the 720 would be free as well).

If you are ever in Pomona again, drop me a line. Pomona was a dump when I was growing up and it has gotten cooler but overall still can’t shake its reputation of being a dump, the Glass House and the Arts Colony notwithstanding. Have fun.

]]> By: Irwin http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/#comment-1061 Irwin Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:04:18 +0000 http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/?p=1660#comment-1061 BBB #10 is generally faster to Union Station than Metro 704 from Santa Monica despite the slow traffic on I-10. The other suggestion I have is to take Foothill Transit Silver Streak all the way from Union Station to Pomona Transit Center rather than Metrolink. It will be a lot cheaper and it has more frequent service (every 10 minutes) so if you miss one (let say your BBB#3 is stuck on the 10 freeway due to accident), you are not totally screwed. BBB #10 is generally faster to Union Station than Metro 704 from Santa Monica despite the slow traffic on I-10. The other suggestion I have is to take Foothill Transit Silver Streak all the way from Union Station to Pomona Transit Center rather than Metrolink. It will be a lot cheaper and it has more frequent service (every 10 minutes) so if you miss one (let say your BBB#3 is stuck on the 10 freeway due to accident), you are not totally screwed.

]]> By: Cathy http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/#comment-1060 Cathy Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:16:07 +0000 http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/?p=1660#comment-1060 I would take the Blue Bus #10. You are going to have a slow trip on the freeway, but the 704 is not reliable in my opinion, and you will go thru the most obtuse traffic in Hollywood. I would take the Blue Bus #10. You are going to have a slow trip on the freeway, but the 704 is not reliable in my opinion, and you will go thru the most obtuse traffic in Hollywood.

]]> By: Cyrus Farivar http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/#comment-1059 Cyrus Farivar Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:34:38 +0000 http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/?p=1660#comment-1059 Is the No. 10 faster than the 704? Is the No. 10 faster than the 704?

]]> By: rY. http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/2008/07/09/transit-woes-in-los-angeles/#comment-1058 rY. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:25:17 +0000 http://cyrusfarivar.com/blog/?p=1660#comment-1058 For your Eastbound trip, you might want to look at the Blue Bus #10 "Freeway Express" bus to save a little time getting from Santa Monica Blvd to Union Station. In the defense of the Transit Teethling that is Los Angeles, most of the people who are dipping their toe in the low-Carbon, fuel efficient, traffic insulated pool of public transportation are doing it for commuting purposes. Your itinerary requires a "reverse commute" after hours, making things substantially more complicated. Perhaps I am a transit optimist (ok, I *am* a transit optimist), but I'm tickled that this kind of cross-town journey is even possible! ;) (And, having said that-- make sure you factor Friday I-10 and/or CA-60 traffic into your comparison, because NOT having to deal with THAT has its own psychological benefit.) For your Eastbound trip, you might want to look at the Blue Bus #10 “Freeway Express” bus to save a little time getting from Santa Monica Blvd to Union Station.

In the defense of the Transit Teethling that is Los Angeles, most of the people who are dipping their toe in the low-Carbon, fuel efficient, traffic insulated pool of public transportation are doing it for commuting purposes. Your itinerary requires a “reverse commute” after hours, making things substantially more complicated. Perhaps I am a transit optimist (ok, I *am* a transit optimist), but I’m tickled that this kind of cross-town journey is even possible! ;)

(And, having said that– make sure you factor Friday I-10 and/or CA-60 traffic into your comparison, because NOT having to deal with THAT has its own psychological benefit.)

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