2017-03-31
2017-03-31 Viator 85
Viator85
From your Mole, to all who see this in hopes that you will enjoy your visit to this site.
ίBienvenido!
Welcome!
добро пожаловать!
LACMTA, needs 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!
METRO's Plans Means: More Toonerville Trolleys!♪
From your Mole, to all who see this in hopes that you will enjoy your visit to this site.
ίBienvenido!
Bienvenue!
Here is a new section!
CEO's Question Time
Based upon the Parliamentary PM's Question Time at which questions may be asked of the Prime Minister.
Part of FlyAway's expanded fleet♪
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. 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, at maximum, 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 canceled FlyAway privileges.
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.
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, needs 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!
When politicians involve themselves in technical matters, expect failures.
Questions for Mr. Phillip A. Washington, CEO Metro
Dear Mr. Washington:
I respectfully request answers to questions which puzzle me about the LACMTA operations. I would suggest that you present your answers to Los Angeles Times reporters who permission and the publication rights to my questions without cost or obligation. With the understanding that the results of the Question and Answer interview be published in the Los Angeles Times. This allows the widest possible to your answers and I, as a Los Angeles Times subscriber, will also have easy access to your answers.
This month's question:
As detailed above, at one time, a few years ago the LACMTA had a bus line, the 439, which connected Union Station, the West Los Angeles Transportation Center, Culver City Transportation Center, LAX City Bus Center and Aviation Station.
Now that linkage is broken and the ridership is faced with the burden of paying more money for less transportation. I believe there are few transportation agencies who pass on funds to other agencies yet expect the ridership to pay for transfers to continue their trips for extra cost while the LACMTA dips it hand ever deeper into the taxpayer’s pockets.
The routes of Flyaway buses are cherry picked and LAWA’s revenue stream presently ranges from 4.5+ times the Metro base fare of $1.75 up to 5.7+ the Metro base fare of $1.75. Additionally Flyaway charges for parking at some locations.
I would like to know why the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is allowed to operate buses in Los Angeles when such transportation should clearly should be within the purview of the LACMTA?
AMERICA'S WORST!♪
There are many reasons why the LACMTA can claim this title!
lots of rain,so waiting for a bright sun vending machine photo here.
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.
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 who 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.
In 2008 the MTA, the NYCMTA, not the one in Los Angeles County, prepared a Power Point presentation laying out a plan for the next 40 years. You can view that presentation here.
I searched for a LACMTA 40 year plan but, rien trouvé! Well, lots of verbiage was found and seemed to be mostly about how the LACMTA will spent the new found money that will flow from the taxpayers pockets. You can judge the value of the plan for your self by following this link to 81 pages of ?
Riding LACMTA services is generally not that pleasant to begin with and is only made more unpleasant by experiencing the above "punishments".
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.
2017-03
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 vehicles cutoff a 111 Line bus; including Class B licensed Hertz rent-a-car shuttle driver who has crossed the white line ahead of 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 Los Angeles Times reports (Nelson) that the LACMTA won't be able to sell naming rights to their facilities after all. Ms Nelson gives us all the details, sp please read the article.
In another Times piece (Nelson²) we find that the way to fix things on the freeways is to charge more people while raising the passenger count for those who want to use the HOV lanes. Here is a quote from Ms Nelson's beautiful prose: "Metro will also explore how to accelerate construction on new toll lane projects funded through Measure M, the sales tax for transportation projects that county voters approved in November. Those include an extension of the 110 toll lane south to the 405 interchange, and toll lanes on both directions on the 105 Freeway."
Please read all the details provided for you by Ms Nelson by following the link provided in Works Cited (vide infra).
Here is su Topo's less beautiful take: The LACMTA will use one's tax funds to build infrastructure that it will charge one to use. Does that sound good to you? It is just so wrong!
How about building RAPID TRANSIT instead of Toonerville Trolleys? That might get people out of their cars and free up the freeways. NO ONE in a right mind will trade their car for the hill & dale, stop for street traffic at grade level that the LACMTA is building and thinks is the solution. Oh, the other bad news is that in future, Los Angeles is going to grow.
The Times piece (Vartabedian) describe how Governor Brown has requested that President Trump release "Bullet Train" funds.
In another Times piece (Nelson²) we find that the way to fix things on the freeways is to charge more people while raising the passenger count for those who want to use the HOV lanes. Here is a quote from Ms Nelson's beautiful prose: "Metro will also explore how to accelerate construction on new toll lane projects funded through Measure M, the sales tax for transportation projects that county voters approved in November. Those include an extension of the 110 toll lane south to the 405 interchange, and toll lanes on both directions on the 105 Freeway."
Please read all the details provided for you by Ms Nelson by following the link provided in Works Cited (vide infra).
How about building RAPID TRANSIT instead of Toonerville Trolleys? That might get people out of their cars and free up the freeways. NO ONE in a right mind will trade their car for the hill & dale, stop for street traffic at grade level that the LACMTA is building and thinks is the solution. Oh, the other bad news is that in future, Los Angeles is going to grow.
The Times piece (Vartabedian) describe how Governor Brown has requested that President Trump release "Bullet Train" funds.
In a Times story (Vartabedian²) that stands alone yet is directly related to the Bullet Train, we find that, “[a] top Obama Administration executive at the U.S. Department of Transportation approved a $647-million grant for a California rail project in mid-January and less than two weeks later later went to work for a Los Angeles-based contractor involved in the project ...”. This is a must-read piece so that you can learn which DOT officials left the agency to join contractors.
The Times covers (Vartabedian³) a planned expenditure of $2.75 billion for Los Angeles properties which will be used for Bullet Train infrastructure.
What can a Mole say? If they ever get it built?
What can a Mole say? If they ever get it built?
Mr. Ralph Vartabedian along with Mr. W. J. Hennigan wrote an article entitled “This troubled, covert agency is responsible for trucking nuclear bombs across America each day", which appeared in the Sunday,March 12, 2017 edition, and possibly other editions of the Los Angeles Times. It is slightly off-topic for la Taupe, but I can highly recommend it to everyone. Please read it so that the details can be added to your “Worry List”. Seriously, this is important investigative reporting, replete with maps, photos and diagrams –Bravo! Please read it here. This Mole would like to see them add Ms Nelson to the team and take on the LACMTA! Mr. Washington, you said you just felt a frisson?
From the Guardian in the UK, we say "Thanks for the excellent coverage" and for allowing us to link to their video of a Japanese breaking the world text video, here. And of course to the Californians who are trying to implement the "Bullet Train" technologies of the 1960s, we say "Eat your heart out".
And without a doubt, we must say to the LACMTA, who takes light rail which could be rapid transit and runs it over hill and dale, forcing it to stop for vehicular traffic at grade level, and ending up Toonerville Trolleys, we can only say "In your dreams".
Please follow the links, where provided, in "Works Cited”, below and read the work of all these hard-working reporters.
The Los Angeles Toonerville Trolley experience♪
«La femme est une page blanche sur laquelle l’époux écrit à son gré.»
[The woman is a blank page on which the husband writes as he pleases.]
Merci beaucoup à http://evene.lefigaro.fr pour la citation! Et merci bien à google.fr pour le matériel biographique.
Ars longa vita breva Jean Siméon Chardin (1699-11-02~1779-12-06) est considéré comme l'un des plus grands peintres français et européens du XVIIIᵉ siècle. Voici sa peinture L’Enfant au toton Portrait d’Auguste-Gabriel Godefroy.
Merci beaucoup à http://www.panoramadelart.com/ pour nous permettre de voir cet art belle.
Rveview the work of Jean Siméon Chardin by clicking on this link page, then PgDn, click on the leftmost autoportrait, then you will be able to step through the photographs one by one by pressing '>".
Merci bien à http://www.rivagedeboheme.fr de nous avoir permis de voir ce beau travail! Quel site nous permet d'agrandir l'image.
Merci bien www.google.fr pour le matériel biographique.
¿Musica?
Let's listen to Francis Poulenc's (1899-01-07~1963-01-30) Sonata for Clarinet and Piano featuring Martin Fröst Marc-André Hamelin, linked here.
Metro Area – Lower your expectations!♪
The Mole rides again, so you aren't stunned by the poor condition Metro "contracted line buses" [Contracted to MV Transportation, that is.] 24 hour system.)
LAXCBC Universal Drop Off Point♪
2017-03-17 While waiting for his bus, La Taupe meets a couple from Vancouver and a Japanese economics student who is studying near Vancouver and who heard our conversation and joined in. Interesting!
2017-03-29 We leave the LAXCBC and head south toward Long Beach aboard a 232 Line bus with its' dispatch and all other audio set at ultra high. Soon, the door on the driver's storage compartment swings open and bangs against the metal housing around it. The driver tries several time to lock it closed to no avail.
At Mariposa Station we stop and wait for the North Bound 232 which is headed to the LAXCBC. The passengers exchange buses and we continue on in a bus that sounds like it hasthe barrel of a ready-mix truck on it roof —it's that noisy.
2017-03-31: The Russians are coming! No, they are already here. La Taupe assists a couple from Moscow in finding their bus at the LACCBC.
Then later, he meets Russian two men who, using their smart phone, have mastered the Green Line navigation. Better than many Los Angelinos who get on a bus or train with little idea of how to get where they are going.
2017-03-29 We leave the LAXCBC and head south toward Long Beach aboard a 232 Line bus with its' dispatch and all other audio set at ultra high. Soon, the door on the driver's storage compartment swings open and bangs against the metal housing around it. The driver tries several time to lock it closed to no avail.
At Mariposa Station we stop and wait for the North Bound 232 which is headed to the LAXCBC. The passengers exchange buses and we continue on in a bus that sounds like it hasthe barrel of a ready-mix truck on it roof —it's that noisy.
2017-03-31: The Russians are coming! No, they are already here. La Taupe assists a couple from Moscow in finding their bus at the LACCBC.
Then later, he meets Russian two men who, using their smart phone, have mastered the Green Line navigation. Better than many Los Angelinos who get on a bus or train with little idea of how to get where they are going.
FlyAway bus parks at LAXCBC♪
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?
2017-03-20 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.
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.
This is another look at what the UAE Dubai's Metro system on the fifth anniversary of operation. See it here.
Listen to the announcements at a pleasant audio level vs the ear drum splitting level offered aboard some LACMTA equipment. And subways lit at an acceptable illumination instead of thinking that you are back in Sherlock Holmes London, think the dimness of 7th/Metro Center or Union Station.
Consider too, LACMTA's filthy stations and their lack of maintenance at the stations. Build it cheap and the devil with maintenance, that does describe it, doesn't it?
Beautiful and functional, Well done Dubai! جميلة وظيفية، أحسنت دبي!
Thanks to youtube.com for your great support! and " Thank you as well to Gulf News TV for the upload!
Cosmology
A google.com search for FRB (Fast Radio Bursts) returns 2,570,000 results. Your Mole finds an article about Fast Radio Bursts in the London based
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ extremely interesting. The article, in part, says, "A team from Harvard University suspects mysterious energy flashes detected in galaxies far, far away may be caused by a species of super-advanced aliens firing up their interstellar spacecraft. Interested? Please see it here.
Score Box OOS and related Lists of Shame
A google.com search for FRB (Fast Radio Bursts) returns 2,570,000 results. Your Mole finds an article about Fast Radio Bursts in the London based
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ extremely interesting. The article, in part, says, "A team from Harvard University suspects mysterious energy flashes detected in galaxies far, far away may be caused by a species of super-advanced aliens firing up their interstellar spacecraft. Interested? Please see it here.
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
2017-03-22 17:18 232Line #11035 North 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
Nelson, Laura J. “Transit officials backtrack on controversial policy to sell naming rights for Metro stations“ Los Angeles Times. Feb. 27, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-metro-naming-rights-20170227-story.html
Nelson², Laura J. “L.A. County will consider tighter rules for carpool and toll lanes
“Los Angeles Times. Feb. 24, 2017 Web.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-carpool-lanes-20170324-story.html
Vartabedian, Ralph. “Gov. Brown asks Trump to reverse course and let California have rail funds “ Los Angeles Times. Feb. 27, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-brown-grant-letter-20170301-story.html
Vartabedian², Ralph. “Two construction firms seek an extra $300 million for bullet train work“ Los Angeles Times. Mar. 3, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-cost-increases-20170302-story.html
Vartabedian³, Ralph. “California's bullet train board bad-mouths the state's Republican delegation”. Los Angeles Times. Mar. 15, 2017. Web. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-train-attack-20170315-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
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