2017-01-31
2017-01-31 Vae Viator83
Vae Viator83
From your Mole, to all who see this in hopes that you will enjoy your visit to this site.
Bienvenido!
Welcome!
добро пожаловать!
From your Mole, to all who see this in hopes that you will enjoy your visit to this site.
Bienvenido!
Bienvenue!
добро пожаловать!
AMERICA'S WORST!♪
There are many reasons why the LACMTA can claim this title ...
METRO's Plans Means: More Toonerville Trolleys!♪
The graffiti artists have been working on the posters aboard LACMTA conveyances! They made an excellent point as well. Vehicles which run at grade level and stop for stop signs and signals are not Rapid Transit, no matter how much one spins the topic, the truth cannot be avoided. Rapid transit is the first choice of major American cities, except for Los Angeles!
The LACMTA is promising a 15% reduction in commute time —although my understanding is that it will require 40 years to accomplish the task. Perhaps they might want to add a few more years because, as one can see in the photo above, the bar is set high.
METRO's Plans Means: More Streets Torn Up with No Bus Stops!♪
If only these taggers worked for the LACMTA we wouldn't be experiencing half the problems. But then these taggers ride the buses, see and understand both the problems and their solutions.
I thing that we need some humour. How about this LACMTA "solution" which is designed to "get people out of their cars". The LACMTA plans to place about 100 electric cars and charging stations in Pasadena neighbourhoods. That an organization that has 6,000 buses wouldn't consider running shuttle-buses through the areas, at least a peak commuting time.
Cars in Los Angeles County [most current year available]♪
In order to entice these 7.5+ million drivers out of their cars, then each of the 100 electric cars would have to be shared by 75,331.31 or more than 75,331 people. This may not reach the level of a Grand Challenge Problem, but it will be close.
But like another of the ideas that was plugged, the electric bike which the Pasadena radio station lady, let's call her Pollyanna, was hyping —perhaps something less than practical. I found that particular item available on Amazon for $1,529.10! If the price doesn't keep one away, then the thought of hauling it up stairways onto trains, into elevators etc. certainly would. Your Mole thinks that only a poor soul with a death-wish would take this thing into Los Angeles traffic.
Why not buy a serviceable used car to take you to the station?
America's Worst LACMTA Transportation: Risible, NOT Rapid!♪
Punishment?♪
Now that the LACMTA has a fist-full of dollars will they, at last, begin to deliver the service which we deserve; including but not limited to:
Building restroom facilities where they are needed. They know the locations!
If the drivers have restrooms the ridership needs them as well;
Providing security at the LAXCBC and along bus routes especially at 96th ST and Airport BL; The LACMTA devotes lots of money to "security", which is likely NOT cost effective, but almost nothing is spend on REAL system security. Providing an “app” or a telephone number is not providing security.
Training bus drivers that can DRIVE, which will be partly evidenced by positioning their buses at a bus stop equidistant and an EASY step to/from the curb. Many drivers lack a sense of professionalism and not all drivers are able to pull up to a bus stop properly; near the flag and close to the curb for the full length of the bus. It is probably just a case of the 98% giving the rest a bad name. Also, eliminating those drivers who break then accelerate and repeat, viz. rough and jerky driving —nothing focuses attention like a few firings for lack of aptitude.
Providing a pleasant on-board ambiance; no LOUD audio emanating from Metro vehicle's on-board audio systems, dispatcher radios or the riders' personal audio devices. NOT employing drivers who think they are there to provide entertainment —Silence is Golden!
Disallow boarding of passengers with unpleasant body odors, dragging trash bags stuffed with recyclables, drunk and/or unruly etc., etc.
Importantly, adding the bus drivers number to the scrolling sign inside the bus, so that riders can report those drivers who are rude, crude and have poor driving skills. Obviously, the LACMTA is unable to make those determinations.
This would be an important addition to the scroll as the ridership WILL identify the rude and incompetent whereas the LACMTA is incapable of doing so.
This would be an important addition to the scroll as the ridership WILL identify the rude and incompetent whereas the LACMTA is incapable of doing so.
Many, if not most, bus drivers DO NOT secure wheelchair passengers. Rather, they ask passenger if they wish to be secured; most seem to reply "NO". In the event of an accident, these heavy wheelchairs could bounce around the bus and injure other passengers. But like many items, safety to passengers is extremely low on the LACMTA's priority list —if they even have such a list.
The LACMTA badly needs to foster a culture of openness and transparency! Providing quarterly and annual reports for each significant project, reporting which reflects project status in terms of ahead of or behind plan and a budget metric showing dollars over/under budget would allow the public to evaluate their competency.
Universal Drop-Off Point?♪
La Taupe has commented a number of times on changing the drop off point of Metro buses at LAXCBC so as to minimise the distance one has to travel when transferring from a Metro bus to another Metro bus. It would be a simple change. No matter how simple or easy, the LACMTA will do —I believe— only what a court order demands and then drag their collective feet in the implementation.
That said, Bay 9 is shown above . It could be the universal drop-off point for Metro buses. That would place all Metro buses the shortest distance from arriving metro buses. If Bay 9 proves unsatisfactory then, the LACMTA will have to do some of its' own work in finding a solution :-) Err, don't hold your breath.
That said, Bay 9 is shown above . It could be the universal drop-off point for Metro buses. That would place all Metro buses the shortest distance from arriving metro buses. If Bay 9 proves unsatisfactory then, the LACMTA will have to do some of its' own work in finding a solution :-) Err, don't hold your breath.
Please review these prior posts on a more efficient arrangement of the LAXCBC on: 2013-03; 2014-12; and 2015-10.
Su Topo as heard from seniors on the unfair and disproportionate Muni transfer price increase forced on them. It turns out to be a 250% increase from ten to twenty five cents. The fair thing to do would be to roll it back to 10 cents for a period equal to the period that it was at 25 cents, then raise it to 15 cents. ¿Cómo esta abuelita?
Riding LACMTA services is generally not that pleasant to begin with and is only made more unpleasant by experiencing the above "punishments".
Part of FlyAway's expanded fleet♪
(By the way, what is LAWA doing in transportation anyway??)
(By the way, what is LAWA doing in transportation anyway??)
FlyAway, aided by the LACMTA, Picks the Taxpayer's pockets
This is a topic which su Topo has often touched upon but to which he will devote still more space. Especially since the LACMTA and seems disinclined to defend its territory .i.e., charter MD Transportation. The aid provided by the LACMTA takes the form of its lack of a will to resist and an eagerness to eliminate any of its bus lines which might compete for even an infinitesimal fraction of the business.
Not only do the big buses not giveth the small ones take away too! FlyAway, in reality, LAWA —a city agency continues to provide transportation to LAX from a number of origins. The LACMTA has no single-seat bus service to LAX. When it cancelled the 439 Line it severed Metro connections between Union Station, the West Side Transportation Center, Culver City Transportation Center and Aviation Station. This left the the field open to LAWA who could charge something greater than four (4) times Metro's full fare.
At the time FlyAway came into being Metro pass holders were allowed to ride to LAX on their passes. The LACMTA was greasing the skids that early on! I made the ride and it was comfortable and faster than the 439 Line. Had they continued to allow us to ride on our passes, very likely I would have considered it a benefit that Metro was providing me and not be writing this today.
However as time passed the pass privileges on Dash, DOT Commuter Lines were also eliminated, joined the cancelled FlyAway privileges and, how shall I say, went extinct? Along with many single-seat buses which forced us to take multiple Metro Buses/Trains to get where we needed to go. And don't forget, we once had Metro transfers available to us.
All those things are gone! While the base fares have gone up making the ridership shoulder the burden of paying MORE for LESS!
What does the LACMTA have to say? Except for their usual policy of telling us how great transportation is in Los Angeles —nothing, a complete stonewall.
LACMTA, need money? How about standing up for your charter, the limits of which seem to be defined in your title “The Los Angeles County Transportation Authority”. You should be running Flyaway, charge the tourists $10 each way to the airport, let pass holders ride on their passes and spend the profits on running a reconstituted 439 Line which can connect Union Station, the Westside Transportation Center, the Culver City transportation Center, the LAXCBC and Aviation Station. That way the hodgepodge that the LACMTA has cobbled together would start to appear as if it were an actual system!
The photograph below documents the situation at the Maxella AV and Lincoln BL stop on the BBB number 3 Line. It is the sort of “work” one would expect from the LACMTA. They taped or caused to be taped shut the aperture in the plastic pipes associated with power poles. These pipes continue to be used as improvised trash cans. BBB N.B. The stop still needs a trash can!
BBB Maxella Trash Fix???♪
Su Topo will include this comment in every post with the above until BBB corrects the problem. For quite awhile BBB has been charging for inter-line transfers, reversing the long-standing policy of free transfers to other BBB lines. This presents the BB as less friendly to its ridership than in years past.
Too, BBB has spent lots of money to build a big headquarters on Colorado BL just east of 4th Street. Mr. King, just a few dollars for a trash can, you might need a few more to cover other bus stops too, will erase this section. After all, it is Marina Del Rey! :-)
Why a trash container is needed♪
The photo above shows exactly what people will do when a trash container is not provided. They will jury rig something. What they did, in this case, is rip off the tape which covered the plastic pipes at the base of the utility pole and stuffed their trash into the pipe, nice, huh?
Edward F. King, Director of Transit Services
City of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus
The man pictured above could ensure that trash containers are installed along BBB routes with a simple three-line memorandum.
White Line Incursion Series
Su Topo uses video to highlight the problem of scofflaw drivers endangering Metro bus passengers yet, no authority seems to want to take ownership of the problem. The issue is not unique to the particular site documented by your Mole, but is illustrative of a general problem. Your Mole encourages you to report similar problems to the appropriate agencies in your area(s) and hope that you will have better luck than he. In the youtube.com videos linked below one can see exactly what happens when the policing agencies fail to enforce traffic laws.
Further, when the agency responsible for public transportation is so lacking in every skill necessary for success yet will apply their only tool to the job. when you only tool is a PR flack; then every issue seem soluble by issuing a press release.
Further, when the agency responsible for public transportation is so lacking in every skill necessary for success yet will apply their only tool to the job. when you only tool is a PR flack; then every issue seem soluble by issuing a press release.
The video(s) linked below document the important fact that a never- ending stream of vehicles fail to use the lane as required by law.
Neither are the policing agencies active when it comes to protecting us by bringing these obvious and frequent traffic law violations to an immediate halt. The LACMTA is derelict as well, in that they fail to use the near hourly proof of the violations captured by the on board cameras, mentioned here, and discussed at length in the posting of 2012-05-31.
2017-01
In this video and you'll see a rent-a-car shuttle and several cars, cutoff a 111 Line bus. Several of the cars cutoff the bus after it begins to move.
This video will show a vehicle cutoff a 111 Line bus.
Here we can see another Class B licensed rent-a-car shuttle driver cross the white line and then a number of patient drivers follow the bus.
These incursions happen multiple times per day so it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs.
Airport auto rental shuttle drivers and others, if shown in the above videos, are all Class-B operators and should know better; but often they don't care and neither does the LACMTA and any of the policing agencies which have jurisdiction in the area.
Please carefully note that in some videos, pedestrians are pinned to the curb by the vehicles that cut in front of the bus —as a result these pedestrians are illegally denied the right-of-way. Which right-of-way would be unchallengeablely theirs IF, and only IF, Mr. Washington would review su Topo’s simple solution (vide infra) and implement it.
In spite of the potential for these violations to occur several times per HOUR, I have never seen a police presence at this location. One would think that with a bus schedule taped to the dashboard one of the several policing agencies would have made some arrests by now. Unless they have "more important" work to do than protecting bus passengers.
La Taupe feels that it is appropriate to dedicate these video(s) to ALL the agencies that should be protecting us. So, they are dedicated to (1): Airport (LAWA) Police, (2) the L.A.P.D., (3) the L. A. County Sheriff’s Department and (4) Mr. Washington who is the current CEO of the LACMTA.
Su Topo has recommended a simple solution to the problem. That is, have the 111 Line buses pull up to pedestrian crosswalk, stop there stop and discharge passengers. Doing so eliminates the space in front of the bus which the always-in-a-hurry scofflaws use to cut in front of the bus. But, with the LACMTA nothing is simple. Although the solution could be implemented with nothing more than a memo to the 111/311 Line drivers, it is a task for which the LACMTA so far has proved to be inadequate.
Metro's Flag a revés♪
At sea, a vessel in distress will fly its' flag upside down. It is only right that, given the dysfunctional LACMTA, we should fly Metro's flag in that manner.
In this section it is su Topo's intention to call your attention to situations which he has observed that highlight the "LACMTA Way" of doing things.
An homage for her "contribution" to L.A. transportation.
Your Mole would like the former head of LAWA remembered for her "contribution" to Los Angeles area public transportation. She was quicker than her contemporary, the former bus driver and former head of the LACMATA, to implement the lucrative FlyAway service and discouraged all attempts, however feeble, to bring other modes of transportation to LAX.
Too, we should memorialize her attitude vis-à-vis public transportation directly to LAX in following the transportation direct-to-airport access pattern used by many, if not most, world-class airports, to wit, “
you go under the airport, it is fraught with problems, ...” [hardly a get it done attitude!].
you go under the airport, it is fraught with problems, ...” [hardly a get it done attitude!].
The Mole reads the papers and other things, obviating the necessity of your doing so.
The Times covers (Nelson) the need of LACMTA for more money for the downtown Band-aid, er, Connector. The need should easily be satisfied since the agency has it's hands deep in the taxpayer's pockets.
“If approved, the increase will raise the cost of the project to $1.75 billion, 28% higher than originally budgeted.” Officials also acknowledged that they hadn’t budgeted enough for other project costs, including land acquisition, consultants and legal fees [emphasis, Mole].
The Times reports (Nelson2) on the $1.6 billion which dropped into the LACMTA's eager hands.
This quote from Ms Nelson's piece: "... Metro officials have vowed to finish the subway by 2024, so that if Los Angeles is selected to host the summer Olympics that year, visitors could ride the train between venues at UCLA and downtown."
La Taupe would like to know how the executive vowers will be punished when they fail to deliver. Please, just two more quote from Ms Nelson's great work: "Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said he hoped [emphasis: Mole] tunneling on the Purple Line’s two final phases could take place concurrently. That aggressive schedule could pose challenges for the agency, which often struggles to complete major construction projects on time."
Here is a quick comparison in build-outs. London's Cross rail subway:
For just over three years [May 2012 and 26 May 2015], eight giant tunnel boring machines burrowed below the streets of London to construct 42km of new rail tunnels◊.
◊This Mole understands that the LACMTA is presently planning to use only a single tunneling machine —whatever the hopes of LACMTA executives might be.
“If approved, the increase will raise the cost of the project to $1.75 billion, 28% higher than originally budgeted.” Officials also acknowledged that they hadn’t budgeted enough for other project costs, including land acquisition, consultants and legal fees [emphasis, Mole].
You won’t be surprised that the project is the “Regional Connector” which la Taupe feels is unnecessary at this time. In future, if a need for this band aid is established it can be implemented by building a new subway line which would cross existing lines. would be naturally occur as an ancillary function; as opposed to building a line to nowhere as the LACMTA Is presently doing.
The Times reports (Nelson2) on the $1.6 billion which dropped into the LACMTA's eager hands.
This quote from Ms Nelson's piece: "... Metro officials have vowed to finish the subway by 2024, so that if Los Angeles is selected to host the summer Olympics that year, visitors could ride the train between venues at UCLA and downtown."
La Taupe would like to know how the executive vowers will be punished when they fail to deliver. Please, just two more quote from Ms Nelson's great work: "Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said he hoped [emphasis: Mole] tunneling on the Purple Line’s two final phases could take place concurrently. That aggressive schedule could pose challenges for the agency, which often struggles to complete major construction projects on time."
This will be my final quote From Ms Nelson's eminently readable work: “You have my word,” Washington said during a press conference Wednesday in Century City. “If it doesn’t happen before 2024, you can fire me.”
Su Topo's says: "Sounds like an eight year job-security plan to me."
Here is a quick comparison in build-outs. London's Cross rail subway:
For just over three years [May 2012 and 26 May 2015], eight giant tunnel boring machines burrowed below the streets of London to construct 42km of new rail tunnels◊.
◊This Mole understands that the LACMTA is presently planning to use only a single tunneling machine —whatever the hopes of LACMTA executives might be.
Please note that London's effort accomplished almost three times the length of the LACMTA's Wilshire subway's tunneling requirement in just three years. Second opinion? The ambiance on the London Underground is better too!
The South Korean Transportation Agency is to CHSRA (vide infra) as the LACMTA is to the Amish Transportation Authority. Your Mole extends his sincere apologies to the Amish communities.
The Mail Online covers (Robinson) South Korean officials plans for a train that approaches the speed of sound. The piece is interesting as it details Elon Musk's idea for a hyper-loop and what seems to be South Korea's adaption of the idea. IF you share su Topo's interest in these topics you will find Mr. Robinson's article rewarding.
Times communicates (Vartabedian) the latest regarding CHSRA's work. This quote from Mr. Vartabedian's prose really puts you in the picture: "California’s bullet train could cost taxpayers 50% more than estimated — as much as $3.6 billion more. And that’s just for the first 118 miles through the Central Valley, which was supposed to be the easiest part of the route between Los Angeles and San Francisco." Please read this rich-in-detail article by following the link in Works Cited", below.
Another article by Mr. Vartabedian2, which although are presented in their reverse order of publication by La Taupe, never-the-less are understandable in any order. These articles constitute fine investigative reporting by Mr. Vartabedian!
businessjournals.com covers (Ellingson) the fact that Elon Musk is opening an Hyper Transportation Technologies R & D facility in Toulouse, France. So, this is what the post MagLev world looks like??
New York City = 113♥ years of transportation experience♪
♥updated by lametromole.
♥updated by lametromole.
Los Angeles = 1 year 10 times [ESTIMATED] of transportation experience♪
View of the "barriers" at the Green Line Hawthorne-Lennox Station.♪
One can see that the "protection" is provided by a low wall upon which a cyclone fence is constructed.
View of the "barriers" at the Gold Line Lake Street Station.♪
This is better protection that that available at the Hawthorne-Lennon Station. However, such higher walls apparently, are not used between stations. Please look for more detailed coverage of this next year.
* Whether they be complaints involving rough Silver Line bumpy and noisy rides, loud dispatch radios, ASAs which are too loud, noisy freeway rail stations, babbling drivers, etc.
The Los Angeles Times covers
Please read the complete stories by the other fine reporters cited herein by following the links provided, where available, in Works Cited, below.
Mademoiselle Fontette de Sommery (17..-1790)
[Education weakens the inclination to evil, and strengthens the inclination to good.]
Merci beaucoup à http://www.expressio.fr/ pour la citation! Et Merci bien à http://data.bnf.fr/ pour le matériel biographique.
Ars longa vita breva Charles Théophile Angrand (1854-04-19~1926-04-01) was a member of the Pointillist school. Here is his Les Villottes‡
‡Une page de Wikimedia Commons, la médiathèque libre.
To see more of M. Angrand's work Cliquez ici.
‡Une page de Wikimedia Commons, la médiathèque libre.
To see more of M. Angrand's work Cliquez ici.
¿Musica?
Let's enjoy a performance of Claude Goudimel's (circa 1520~1572-08-27), Videntes Stellam.
Thank you!" to www.youtube.com for this beautiful work. We also thank
The S'abonner, who uploaded the video.
Metro Area – Lower your expectations!♪
The Mole rides again, so you don't have to wonder how long your eardrums will last after being exposed to the inordinately noisy Metro "contracted line buses".
Job Secutity Metrolink Style♪
Signage weakly disallows entry, so they keep coming.♪
2017-01-09: It in this case is an annunciator which will display the arrival schedule for BBB.
LAXCBC Universal Drop Off Point♪
(dates are ISO8601 format, times are expressed in the 24 hour system.)
Job Secutity Metrolink Style♪
2017-01-04 As su Topo waits for the Gold Line, he notices that the Metrolink custodian "puts something back inthe business —so to speak.
SIX or more bags of recyclables♪
2017-01-04 on board a Gold Line train: I feel exactly as one would feel in athrid world country. The man pictured blocks, for all intents and purposes, the ingress and egress to this car. When he finally leaves, there are wet spots marking his presence.
The Dirty Harbour Freeway Station♪
2017-01-04: Actually it's quite a bit dirtier than I was able to depict in the short wait for a Silver Line bus. Maintenance is not a word which is part of the LACMTA's lexicon.
2017-01-07: Yet another civilian auto enters the LAXCBC and circles around for a while before he figures it out while the LAXCBC, in spite of "security" cameras,
doesn't see the problem.
FlyAway bus parks at LAXCBC♪
2017-01-07: This Mole can see no valid reason why a FlyAway bus should be parked at the LAXCBC. Neither can he understand why LAWA is allowed to run a transit operation like FlyAway?
Just five minutes more♪
2017-01-08: It is early, dark and cold. I'd like a seat but the entire bus bench has been hogged by a sleeping someone.
BBB Gets It done♪
2017-01-09: It in this case is an annunciator which will display the arrival schedule for BBB.
2017-01-11 La Taupe Keeps hoping that the LACMTA will rationalize the organization of the LAXCBC. This may prove to be the triumph of experience over hope.
No Loo For You♪
2017-01-various: The saddest words ...
2017-01-10 Aboard a Green Line train: A man with a terrific B.O., shouts periodically into the operator's cab: "Let me off at Avalon!" He keeps a finger firmly on the "Door Open" button, mistaking it for a stop signal. Finally, someone shouts back: "It stops at every station!"
2017-01-15: Aboard an west-east line. The driver grants several riders une entrée gratuite. Yet when a senior rider asked to be let off while the bus was at the curb slightly short of the "official stop" so that the rider could
catch his north-south bus. The driver responds with the stop is over there!
2017-01-24 Waiting for a 232 Line Bus: The driver [76791] kept her foot down to encourage a fast idle, which I thought was disallowed. Upon boarding I found the usual MV Transportation "service" —blaring dispatch radio, way-too-loud ASA, etc.
2017-01-28 On board a 117 Line bus, number 8403: It is noisy —as shown above. Listen to this cacophony here. In order to "enjoy" what those of us who sufferer at the hands of the LACMTA must, you are advised to set the volume as LOUD as you can stand. The rattling which you hear is a loose overhead panel which could and would be repaired in any normal operation.
Empty Promises♪
2017-01-09: Your Mole spent more than an hour [between 09:00 and 10:00 waiting for a 704 bus on Santa Monica Blvd. One finally showed up
with no explanation. The signage above remains an unfulfilled promise as it indicates a bus will appear every 20-40 minutes between 08:00 and 14:00.
2017-01-10 Aboard a Green Line train: A man with a terrific B.O., shouts periodically into the operator's cab: "Let me off at Avalon!" He keeps a finger firmly on the "Door Open" button, mistaking it for a stop signal. Finally, someone shouts back: "It stops at every station!"
2017-01-15: Aboard an west-east line. The driver grants several riders une entrée gratuite. Yet when a senior rider asked to be let off while the bus was at the curb slightly short of the "official stop" so that the rider could
catch his north-south bus. The driver responds with the stop is over there!
2017-01-24 Waiting for a 232 Line Bus: The driver [76791] kept her foot down to encourage a fast idle, which I thought was disallowed. Upon boarding I found the usual MV Transportation "service" —blaring dispatch radio, way-too-loud ASA, etc.
Loud & Louder♪
More money wasting by the LACMTA!♪
2017-01-30: Your Mole is attracted to the colourful, glossy, no doubt expensive brochure pictured above. Measuring 3cm by 43cm and covering an area of 3,096 cm², it lists "nearly 400 locations to load your TAP card." But nowhere does it detail what, exactly, can be loaded.
Is it wrong to publish such a list? You can decide that, but first, let's subject the idea to some discussion. Firstly, how are these vendors paid? They charge the going rate for a given service, keep their fee and remit the difference to the LACMTA. Purchases made at a "Metro Customer Center", of which their only a handful, from the customer interface standpoint, operate in much the same way —except they keep the entire amount.
At minimum, sales at Metro locations should be discounted by the amount of the usual fee paid to sales outlets.
Also, for one thing, they could open up the on-bus sales and allow stored value to be added, and if they are still offering a free METRO Transfer to those who load the a fare on the tap card at a vendor's location, they could do the same thing in the case of an on-bus purchase. Example: your Mole adds two dollars to his card and $1.75 is applied to his fare and a free METRO Transfer is added to his Tap Card. That seem equitable to this Mole. The rider is not forced to purchase a Day Pass with which he can ride all over Los Angeles County to find someone to sell him he right thing and repeat the same hassle on the next day to obtain his free METRO Transfer.
The free Metro Transfer offer, lacks sincerity and is for all practical purposes unobtainable to an normal bus passenger, who have litttle enough free time as it is. The LACMTA should be installing vending machines at more locations, Bus Centers like the LAXCBC etc. But that would make it too easy for the ridership wouldn't it? Any one who understands exactly where the LACMTA'S ridership stands in relationship to the agency, its' management and vendors know that no action which will in any way benefit said ridership will ever be taken!
Pictured below is the map which must be navigated in order to find a Customer Centre. Just another LACMTA devised hurdle to negotiate: one must have a computer, know how to find the "nearest" location, click on the Metro M and then FINALLY obtain an address. Frequently one would have to use the "Trip Spoiler" in order to find how how to get to the Customer Center by Metro bus. All this to obtain a free transfer which will expire two hours after it is purchased. If anyone from the METRO dis-information office would ever try this they likely would quit their job.
The LACMTA'S Customer Disservice Group has decided that it's better that you, dear reader, call and find out for yourself, rather than them making it as simple as possible for you by being proactive.
At minimum, sales at Metro locations should be discounted by the amount of the usual fee paid to sales outlets.
Also, for one thing, they could open up the on-bus sales and allow stored value to be added, and if they are still offering a free METRO Transfer to those who load the a fare on the tap card at a vendor's location, they could do the same thing in the case of an on-bus purchase. Example: your Mole adds two dollars to his card and $1.75 is applied to his fare and a free METRO Transfer is added to his Tap Card. That seem equitable to this Mole. The rider is not forced to purchase a Day Pass with which he can ride all over Los Angeles County to find someone to sell him he right thing and repeat the same hassle on the next day to obtain his free METRO Transfer.
The free Metro Transfer offer, lacks sincerity and is for all practical purposes unobtainable to an normal bus passenger, who have litttle enough free time as it is. The LACMTA should be installing vending machines at more locations, Bus Centers like the LAXCBC etc. But that would make it too easy for the ridership wouldn't it? Any one who understands exactly where the LACMTA'S ridership stands in relationship to the agency, its' management and vendors know that no action which will in any way benefit said ridership will ever be taken!
Pictured below is the map which must be navigated in order to find a Customer Centre. Just another LACMTA devised hurdle to negotiate: one must have a computer, know how to find the "nearest" location, click on the Metro M and then FINALLY obtain an address. Frequently one would have to use the "Trip Spoiler" in order to find how how to get to the Customer Center by Metro bus. All this to obtain a free transfer which will expire two hours after it is purchased. If anyone from the METRO dis-information office would ever try this they likely would quit their job.
Navigate This!♪
With so few locations, couldn't they just print the address list? Yes, the could, but ... .
One would also think that they could highlight the Metro location in the Directorio, with underlining, or something. But again, ... .
The lovely Directorio offers this: "To ensure [that] you find the type of pass you want, call the vendor ahead of time."
No hours of operation are indicated so you will not be sure whether a ringing phome means that they're closed or too busy to take your call.
The LACMTA'S Customer Disservice Group has decided that it's better that you, dear reader, call and find out for yourself, rather than them making it as simple as possible for you by being proactive.
Bringing better service to others, by bypassing you♪
So, equal taxation but unequal provision of service that is the LACMTA way. But it is time to bring an end to that approach. This Mole has commented on the Rapid service in the past. Pointing out that Rapid lines don't always stop when the cross other LACMTA lines, nor do they stop at county facilities, e.g., the excellent Los Angeles County Libraries. Why not? Well one could ask the Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Association.
So what if the line took six minutes longer but, some students could get to a library sooner. And while they're at it, stops should be added for Los Angeles City Libraries too!
This Is Not Rapid Transit♪
The photo above concretises the idea that the EXPO line will not deliver deterministic travel because, look at the signals and the traffic folks, it isn’t RAPID TRANSIT.
Your Mole feels that by showing you month-by-month examples of the LACMTA's failures, you will come to see that throwing more money at this dysfunctional organisation is not the path to solution. It is a direct path to more money wasting by the LACMTA.
Ear (and Eye) to the Rail
Transit as unseen and unimagined by the LACMTA
The LACMTA (Subordinate to LAWA)
Presents
Every Which Way But Right!
OR
Four (OR Five) Seats to LAX!
OR
The LACMTA Tries Again; Asymptotically to LAX!
OR
Metro is the worst way from the City Center to the Airport, LAX, that is!
The purpose of this section is to make people aware that the LACMTA is not home to many problem solvers. I hope to accomplish this end by presenting the solutions adopted by other cities, some in foreign countries, in solving the city to airport rapid transportation challenge.
Cautionary Note: Those employed by the LACMTA or LAWA should NOT view the following video(s). The speed of the train(s), the fact that they neither share the right of way nor stop at stop lights, because they are truly rapid transit, will likely make you dizzy, nauseous, confuse and frighten you.
Thanks to youtube.com for your great support! and to Mew Suay for the upload!
Cosmology
A Science Daily report of January , 2017 reports on hidden black holes.
For complete details please read the article here.
And please do follow the link in the article which begins with "Explore the Wow signal of 1977 ...".
A Science Daily report of January , 2017 reports on hidden black holes.
"These black holes Are relatively close to the Milky Way, but they have remained hidden from us until now," said Annuar [Ady Annuar, a graduate student at Durham University]. "They're like monsters hiding under your bed."
Will these black holes consume our planet? It depends what relatively close means. Follow the link, read the report and speculate for yourself.
Do we live in an anisotropic universe? or not?? Follow this link and learn what Astronomy Now has to say about the matter.
Thanks to: Science Daily, Astronomy Now and, of course, to The Free Dictionary by FARLEX.
BBC News reports: "Fast radio bursts last only milliseconds but in that moment, whatever makes them blasts as much energy into space - in the form of radio waves - as our Sun emits in days or even weeks."
One can read this nicely detailed report here. Spoiler Alert: The BBC's sources do not support the idea that an alien civilization might be trying to contact us.For complete details please read the article here.
And please do follow the link in the article which begins with "Explore the Wow signal of 1977 ...".
Thank you BBC! for allowing us to view this fascinating material.
The Hubble Space Telescope site offers us a view of planets transiting a Red Dwarf star here.
Thank you, http://hubblesite.org/!
The Hubble Space Telescope site offers us a view of planets transiting a Red Dwarf star here.
Thank you, http://hubblesite.org/!
Score Box OOS and related Lists of Shame
I.D. Numbers of buses with Out of ServiceFare Boxes: Date/Time, Line/Bus #, Direction, e.g.,
route/bus#(date,time); direction
2017-01-24 125 Line #9759 East Bound FARE BOX OOS.
route/bus#(date,time); direction
Note: No or few entries above do not necessarily mean all fare boxes are in operation.
I.D.Numbers of Distracted Drivers: xxxxx (i);
None included here, but observations of a minor nature may be included in the main posting;
Codes: (i) Extended conversation(s) with passenger(s) or (ii) cell phone call(s). Frequently, details can be found in the text above, (ii*) cell phone call(s) which are aggravated by some other action, (iii) Self-distracted. Codes (ii*) and (iii) will ALWAYS be explained in the posting.
I.D. Numbers of Buses Defaced by WhoIs stickers: xxxx;
~UR or +UR = (+UR) whois sticker and the ugly residue left after passengers partly remove the sticker. (~UR) = Only the ugly residue left after passengers almost completely remove the sticker. +L = an old (legacy) sticker black letters on a plain white background –these are the original form of the defacement.
* Another reason for displaying the operator's ID on the internal display and the headsign.
ID numbers of Buses whose Head and Tailsigns disagree: Not noted xxxx/xxxx;
Format is Bus number followed by Headsign number/Tailsign number.
ID numbers of Buses without Braille signs: xxxx;
METRO drivers Lack of Basic Technical Skills Report
The format is Driver number F[{Y/-n/+n}] C[{Y/N+/-}]. Meaning of F if Y the driver stopped with the Bus stop “flag pole” somewhere between the bus front door frames. A negative number, e.g., -3 is the approximate distance in metres (think yards dear readers) between the nearest bus door vertical frame member and the flag pole signifying that the bus stopped short of the flag. A positive number, e.g., +3 (metres) is the approximate distance between the nearest bus door vertical frame member and the flag pole signifying that the bus stopped past the flag. The value for C[{Y/N}], “Y” tells us that the driver stopped within an easy step from the curb to the bus, “N” means it was NOT an easy step from the curb to the bus. It is this Mole's belief that an average experienced good driver should be able to control his bus so as to position in near the curb and with the flag pole slightly to the front of the bus.
I.D. numbers of drivers who are unable or unwilling to position their buses parallel to the curb, a short step from the curb and/or equidistant from the vehicles exits. At the present time (2016-05-31) there are too many drivers to name, whose skill at parallel parking is deficient .
XXXXX F[+0] C[Y]; F[+7], C[Y]; xxxxx F[Y], C[Y]; xxxxxF[Y], C[Y]; N.B. distances are in metres, think yards.
13 metres is this is MORE than a 40 foot bus length. nnnnn* = Contract Driver
I.D. numbers of drivers who are almost guaranteed to give you a Rough and Jerky (R& J) ride: xxxxx;
I.D. numbers of drivers who will give you a potentially life-threatening ride: XXXXX(J)date; XXXX-XX-XX(-);
Codes: S = not wearing seat belts; J = bad judgment (unsafe driving practices).
La Taupe's Abréviations
ADADO = Automatic Destination Announcement (on) Door Opening. This feature is installed on many buses and operates on extremely few. Another “money down the toilet” LACMTA investment. La Taupe that this is intended for the visually impaired because people who can see can read the “head signs”.
ASAS = Automatic Stop Announcement System the GPS (Global Positioning System) driven mechanism for generating audio for the upcoming stops. N.B. Because of the low power (read weak) processors used in the on-board stops may be too close to identify stops separately. This is known as a granularity problem. Then too, if the driver operates the bus at speed above the speed limit you will find the system “back announcing” stops which you have already passed. I find that this will NOT keep some drivers from complaining “that you didn’t signal (ring) in time”. They don’t understand their relationship to the system and how, by driving faster than the GPS computer, they can bias it.
BART = Bay Area Rapid Transit – Please note the use of the word “Rapid” because it is a word we almost never hear in Los Angeles.
BBB = Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus
CHSRA = California High-Speed Rail Authority, which is the equivalent, in more
ways than one, of the LACMTA.
CC or CCMBL = Culver City (Municipal) Bus (Lines)
CCTC = Culver City Transportation Center this is the place formerly known as FHMTC = the Fox Hills Mall Transportation Center (Sepulveda& Slauson)
FFE = Full Fare Equivalent (presently $1.75)
GTrans (Gardena transit?) formerly GMBL = Gardena Municipal Bus lines
ITC = Inglewood Transit Center
LAWA = Los Angeles World Airports.
LAXCBC = the LAX City Bus Center.
OCTA = Orange County Transportation Authority.
OOS = Out Of Service.
Rapid Transit = does not compete for right of way, that is, it will not run at grade unless it has EXCLUSIVE DEDICATED USE of the right of way).
R&J = Rough and Jerky [ride].
TT= Torrance Transit.
T1= the normal type of driver/staff.
T2= is the non-stop talker type of driver/staff, on the phone or to passengers,
T3= the uncommunicative type of driver/staff, sometimes surly.
WLATC = the West Los Angeles Transportation Center (Fairfax & Apple)
Su Topo’s Disclaimer and apologia
Your Mole always attempts to write an easy-on-the-eyes page using text input. Blogger.com however, has other ideas and will often not stay with a single font type or point size, produces extraneous spacing and etc. I wish I had time to debug the HTML which they produce, it is NOT the straight text which I pasted into the form, but I don’t. Therefore, I apologize on behalf of Blogger.com for the changes which they make, of which I do not approve. Sometimes, what I see, thankfully you don’t, is 24 point type –it is giant and other times they swallow my text, although it still seems to be there. In fairness to them, things seem better, although this is partly because I do understand which of their “features” do the most damage to me and consequently do not use them. Communicating these problems to them, for me, is something like having teeth extracted without the benefit of anesthetic, actually it is less fun than that. By their design, there is no simple e-mailing them with "Please look at my say, posting of 2009-06-28, it is weird!” I have been submitting feedback and experiences slow but positive progress. Until all issues are resolved, lo siento. [Addenda 2014-07-31]: Things have been much better lately. There is a more responsive feedback system now. [Addenda 2015-08-22]: Recently, even the "Feedback" mechanism has failed to submit problems. [2015-12-31] The feedback section disallows screen shots which show problems with the "final posting", such as, orange sections which cover blocks of text and change the font size. All it would take is allowing and attachment. But, ... [Addenda 2016-03-31] Since Blogger.com forced me to learn HTML 5, I can fix "many" of the problems which apparently were caused by using Word notation in "imported" files. The mystery failure to save problem still occurs but have diminished. [insert crossed fingers icon here :-) ].
I like blogger.com very much, and IF things ever normalise, I will consider deleting this "Disclaimer and apologia" section.
Your Mole’s Copyright Statement
All original photographs and original written materials are copyrighted © 2007~2016 by LAmetroMole. As of 2016-06-01 copyrighted photographs will include copyright text. ♪Clicking a photo will often* present you with an enlargement (sometimes successive clicks will further enlarge the photo). *This feature is dependent upon the Internet browser which you use and possibly other factors. Single use publication rights are granted provided the following statement is prominently displayed below the photograph: "copyrighted © 2007~2016 by LAmetroMole (http://lametromole.blogspot.com)"
FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains or provides links to copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, sustainable development, environmental, community and worker health, public disclosure, corporate accountability, and etc. We have often included relatively brief quotes from articles and etc., sometimes in addition to a simple link, because we have found that links frequently go "bad" or change over time. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without fee or payment of any kind to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes and to those who access the site via any and all other channels. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Music or other recorded material on this site, or referred to by this site are copyrighted by their respective artists and are made available here for evaluation purposes only. Please support the artists you like by buying their commercial CDs, MP3s and downloads.
Your Mole’s Conflict of Interest Statement
This is to certify that I, the blogger who is known as the LAmetroMole, with respect to this blog, except as described below, am not now nor at any time during the past year have been, nor is it my current intention to ever be:
1) A participant, directly or indirectly, in any arrangement, agreement, investment, or other activity with any vendor, supplier, or other party doing business with any of the entities about which I have written, which has resulted or could result in personal benefit to me.
2) A recipient, directly or indirectly, of any salary payments or loans or gifts of any kind or any free service or discounts or other fees from or on behalf of any person or organisation engaged in any transaction with any of the entities about which I have written.
Any exceptions to 1 or 2 above are stated below with a full description of the transactions and of the interest, whether direct or indirect, which I have (or have had during the past year) in the persons or organisations having transactions with any of the entities about which I have written.
there are no exceptions.
Date: 2009-06-24 s/LametroMole
Works Cited
Ellingson, Annlee. “ Hyperloop Transportation Technologies to launch location in France”. http://www.bizjournals.com/. Jan. 24, 2017. Web. http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2017/01/24/hyperloop-transportation-technologies-to-launch.html
Nelson, Laura J. “Metro officials want to increase the budget for this downtown
subway project – again.” Los Angeles Times. Jan. 4,2017. Web.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-wilshire-subway-funding-
20170104-story.html
Nelson, Laura J. “Metro officials want to increase the budget for this downtown subway project -- again". Los Angeles Times. Jan. 18, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-regional-connector-budget-20170118-story.html
Robinson, Julian. "The train that will travel at the SPEED OF SOUND: South Korea developing public transport capable of hitting 620mph".
http://www.dailymail.co.uk. Jan. 1, 2017. Web. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4132476/South-Korea-train-travel-SPEED-SOUND.html
Vartabedian, Ralph. “California's bullet train is hurtling toward a multibillion-dollar overrun, a confidential federal report warns".
subway project – again.” Los Angeles Times. Jan. 4,2017. Web.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-wilshire-subway-funding-
20170104-story.html
Nelson, Laura J. “Metro officials want to increase the budget for this downtown subway project -- again". Los Angeles Times. Jan. 18, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-regional-connector-budget-20170118-story.html
Robinson, Julian. "The train that will travel at the SPEED OF SOUND: South Korea developing public transport capable of hitting 620mph".
http://www.dailymail.co.uk. Jan. 1, 2017. Web. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4132476/South-Korea-train-travel-SPEED-SOUND.html
Vartabedian, Ralph. “California's bullet train is hurtling toward a multibillion-dollar overrun, a confidential federal report warns".
The Los Angeles Times. Jan. 6, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-cost-overruns-20170106-story.html
Vartabedian2, Ralph. “Federal warning of higher bullet-train costs prompts sharp opinions, plans for congressional hearings”. The Los Angeles Times. Jan. 1, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-react-20170116-story.html
An artifact of the streets of Los Angeles, created by a brother Mole!
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The above is ### 30 ### in Braille
# posted by LAMETROmole @ 10:00 
