Dodger Blue(s)

Metro Local 2 - Sunset Blvd/Innes Ave

Once upon a time (last year), there was a magical free shuttle that took riders from Union Station to Dodger Stadium every ten minutes.

Today, Dodger fans who wish to make the game on time have two choices:

1. Hang out for half an hour or more in the endless sea of cars converging on parking lots A-P or 1-12.
2. Take a hike.

Not for the faint of heart, hiking up to Dodger Stadium from the bus stop at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Elysian Park Ave will give you a small workout. But it will also save you the $12 parking fee, and maybe a trip to the gym. The way down is much easier, but on both trips, watch for frustrated drivers.

The Metro Local 2 and 4 lines run regularly from Pershing Square to the corner of Sunset Blvd and Elysian Park Ave, which is also the main parking entrance for Dodger Stadium.

In the future, the bus might come right up to the front gates. Dodger Stadium has released their Dodger Stadium: The Next 50 Years plan, and it includes provisions for better public transportation access.

Would you like to encourage Dodger Stadium to restore the Union Square shuttle? Call them at (323) 224-1507.

Rolling on the Metro

L.A. Bus and Train Lines

Ride your bike and ride for free on Thursday! Just carry your bike or helmet on any bus or train for a free ride on bike to work day (May 14, 2009).

If you haven't ridden the bus or train, have been too shy to try it, or simply want to find a good use for the bicycle collecting dust in your garage, try riding to work tomorrow. If you do, you could be entered to win fabulous prizes (in this context, fabulous prizes include, but are not limited to, electric bicycles).

Never ridden your bike in Los Angeles before? Here is some help with planning your route:

• Detailed map from MTA (PDF)


• Wikipedia list of Los Angeles bike paths

And finally, here are some frequently asked questions about riding your bicycle:

1. Do I have to wear a helmet?
   
   While you won't get a ticket if you are an adult for not wearing your helmet, you are crazy if you don't.


2. Can I ride on the sidewalk?
   
   You can ride on the sidewalk in Los Angeles, as long as you are not endangering pedestrians.


3. What if there isn't a bike lane?
   
   Cyclists call it "Taking a Lane" when you ride so that a car must leave the lane in order to pass you. This is legal, and encouraged by many bike riders. Don't be afraid - you have a right to be in the lane - although if it is rush hour, it might be a bit terrifying.


4. How do I put my bike on the bus?
   
   It can be scary the first time, but if you are taking your bike on the bus, it needs to go on the bus rack in front (note: these are sometimes full, and not available on all busses).
   
   If you are the first one with a bike, lower the rack by squeezing the handle. Load your bike into one of the slots, and lift the securing bar. It is a good idea to let your driver know your stop when you board the bus. If you are the last one with a bike, make sure you put the bike rack back up before riding off!

If you're interested in more information about riding your bicycle in Los Angeles, or advocating for future bike routes, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has information for LA City, while Metro has information and planning sessions for bikeways covering all of LA County.

Dirty Chips and Plastic Bananas.

Metro Rapid Bus 754 - Vermont/Melrose

If you have a pitcher of sangria, a view of Elvis and the Virgin Mary, and healthy helping of black beans, you might just be inside the Original Cha Cha Cha.

Inside the pink exterior are two dining rooms where the Chiquita Banana would feel right at home. It is one of those rare wonderful places that thrive in Silverlake or Venice beach, where good food and a friendly atmosphere blend perfectly with the eclectic decor.

Every time I go, the Dirty Chips with Guacamole are the first things ordered. Before 2pm you can enjoy breakfast dishes with sides of plantains (which are my personal favorite here). After 2 pm, make sure you make it to happy hour: 4-7pm Monday - Thursday for $10 Sangria pitchers.

The side dishes are always a hit, and I hear the Jamacian Jerk Chicken is amazing, although I can't say I've tried it myself. Best of all, everything comes with fresh, warm bread, perfect for dipping in black beans.

You'll leave a little happier, a little warmer, and feeling a little bit more like a part of the family that has kept Cha Cha Cha standing (out) on the corner for the last 22 years.

Tap That Pass

Only slightly thicker than a credit card, the TAP is the daily, monthly and weekly pass - Los Angeles' RFID answer to NYC's Metro Card.

What they do:

• Give you a satisfying beep every time you board a bus or train (note: it makes the same noise in the train station, but not on the busses, whether or not you have a balance on your card)


• Pay your fare without taking your card out. Just wave your wallet or purse over the TAP station - like magic!


• Stand up to the wear and tear of daily (ab)use, month after month (mine is over a year old)


• Save you from paying for transfers within MTA (because, well, you have to buy an unlimited pass)


• Let you reload your pass online

What they don't do:

• Give you the chance to buy or reload a pass from your bus driver -- train stations are the easiest place to buy passes


• Let you load up the cards with a set amount; you get unlimited passes only good for the day/week/month


• Make life easier for Grammar Girl (people have a tendency to say "TAP Pass" just like "ATM Machine")


• Give you your TAP card for free ($2 please)


• Convince people to pay their subway fare


• Keep monthly riders from getting citations

It is better than the paper passes in many ways. It makes more sense, and is easier to access. But it is unnerving that MTA requires tapping the card, even for in-station train transfers, and threatens citations if you do not. It is faster than swiping a card the way they do in New York City, but slower than flashing a paper pass.

Depot Revival

Metrolink – San Bernardino station

The birthplace of McDonald’s and one of the oldest Southern California communities (the “gateway to Southern California”), San Bernardino is now better known for its sprawl, fires, and placement on oft-debated lists of most dangerous cities.

San Bernardino as it stands now, is a prime example of (sub)urban planning gone a bit awry. Housing prices in San Bernardino are (and were) so low compared to the continuing high cost of homes in the Los Angeles market that many workers grit their teeth for four hour (or longer) commutes because they cannot afford to live closer.

With a large portion of the population gone for ten to twelve hours a day, San Bernardino has suffered. However, the rising cost and length of this commute has left some hope for the future of this community, which was originally based on rail travel. The necessity of commuter trains is slowly translating into improvements to the old Santa Fe station, which was once the heart of San Bernardino.

The Santa Fe Depot opened on July 15, 1918. It marked the beginning of a new era, as the largest station west of the Mississippi. During the height of passenger train travel (from 1920 - 1950), sixty to eight-five percent of people living in San Bernardino were employed at the station.

With the rise of the automobile and the decline of rail travel, the station slowly decayed. What started as a city hub in the 1900s almost became a great loss to the city in 2008. Without organizations such as the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society and San Bernardino Historical Society helping to re-open the depot, Amtrak and Metrolink service to the San Bernardino area would have disappeared in June 2008. Although it is now open, the beautifully restored depot has restricted hours, and depends on limited funding and volunteers to keep the doors open and welcoming riders.

The future of the station is looking brighter, as SANBAG and other San Bernardino area organizations see it as a hub for transportation and, subsequently, commerce. Improvements to the area include plans for shops, restaurants, and other commuter conveniences in the "Mercado Santa Fe Depot District". By June 2009 a new parking structure for San Bernardino Metrolink riders is expected to increase ridership and launch the restoration of the area surrounding the Metrolink station.

With all of these changes, there is a great opportunity for San Bernardino residents. While Metrolink is both less expensive and faster to ride for a daily commute, many residents are afraid to leave the convenience of their car. A new commerce center will not only allow for that convenience, but it will also restore money to the community which would otherwise be spent along the road to or from downtown Los Angeles. The new parking structure will make it more convenient for riders who live too far to walk to the station, and offer greater security for cars that are left in the city.

Right now the train stations in the Los Angeles area suffer from the same plague: too many cars and too few amenities. Hopefully this will prove to be the first of many mixed-use stations along the Metrolink lines.

The Big Moveoutski

Metro Express Line 445 - Pacific Ave / 3rd

I have to admit, I’m a bit of a beach nut. I need to be near the water, which is why I spent so much time in West Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

You haven’t heard from me in quite some time. Well, that is because I’ve been in the process of moving. It takes a long time for a little squirrel to move across town, even with my bus pass.

I found this little town called San Pedro. It is just across the water from Long Beach. From my new place I can walk down to the harbor and visit the sea gulls, or check out the starfish. I can ride the old Red Cars on the weekends, and even go for hikes around the cliffs. And I can still catch the bus and be downtown in about thirty minutes (my bus stop even has its own burger joint, which is a coffee shop in the morning).

It’s a pretty nice little area, perfect for me. And while there are plenty of locals, not very many people in Los Angeles know very much about San Pedro.

You know how much I like telling you about places you haven’t explored.

The only downside is that there aren’t as many trees here as there were in West LA. But I’m working on that too.

A different drum

Santa Monica 2 - UCLA

This weekend I visited the 23rd Annual UCLA Pow Wow.

There were dancers, drums, crafts, and children. And fry bread.

It wasn't the biggest Pow Wow I have been to, but it had some great highlights. Walking through the booths, the art of Debbie martinez-Rambeau particularly caught my eye. There were also more traditional silver crafts, fetish carvings (from Zuni and other tribes), and for about $10 I was able to pick up the materials to make a couple of dream catchers. Not too bad.

On the less traditional side, there were a few booths, with companies like Full Blood Skates which are bringing a different look and stronger feel to tribal pride. It's nicer to see than the End of the Trail images.

I don't have any pictures of the crowds, you'll have to go yourself to see the dancers.

But I did get my own little drum. I was the envy of all the UCLA squirrels.

If you missed this one, the SCIC Annual Pow Wow is one of the best open Pow Wows in the area, and it is coming up in July.