From Fastcompany.com:

L.A. Goes Public
After decades of neglect, L.A.'s public transit gets a redesign--and a lot of new fans.

From: Issue 112 | February 2007 | Page 72 | By: Alissa Walker

"Who needs a car in L.A.?" says Eddie Valiant in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, as he hops onto a 1947 Pacific Electric streetcar. "We got the best public-transportation system in the world!" For Valiant's L.A., that was
true; the Pacific Electric once maintained an efficient electric railway with more than 1,000 miles of track. But public transit here is about to enter another golden age. A focus on design has created a smart new system gorgeous enough to wean even the most addicted driver off the high-test.

The change began in 2002, when the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority consolidated its ambitious public-art program an its in-house design studio into one creative-services department, attracting top design talent from local firms. At their urging, the MTA was nicknamed Metro, and a countywide campaign began to shift public perception. One of the first tasks was to rebrand the buses, and when the fleet began to roll out in eye-popping California Poppy, Rapid Red, and Business Blue, awareness skyrocketed.
The kicker: These weren't even new buses, just better decals and a good coat of paint.

According to Matt Raymond, chief communications officer, that kind of heightened visibility began to win over riders. "In our public surveys, 73% of those responding are more aware that Metro's service is available
to them," he says. "These are key numbers, because even without opening up new markets, our service is now perceived as more far-reaching." And the real proof of design's juju: 83% of riders say the service is improving even though it hasn't really changed.

Now working closely with manufacturers, Metro has pushed for the same extreme customization at all consumer touch points, creating a shiny new identity completely unique to Los Angeles. Metro's creative
director, Michael Lejeune, says the transformation was necessary, but not just to get Angelenos out of their BMWs. "Our goal is to employ design to attract discretionary riders--those who have a choice--by giving
Metro a distinct style," he says. "At the same time, we're giving those who are transit-dependent--those who don't have a choice--a system they can be proud of."

Riding a wave of eco-awareness and exceptionally bad congestion on L.A. streets, Metro's facelift seems impeccably timed. The Orange Line, a dedicated bus route that was the first to be built from the bottom up
using Metro's new design standards, celebrated its one-year anniversary with triple the expected boardings and plans to extend the service. Ground has been broken for the light-rail Expo Line, which will head west
and, eventually, to the Pacific. Even Beverly Hills, traditionally a stronghold of opposition to public transit, looks poised to endorse a rail route through city limits.

Although transplants to the city may bemoan its still nascent system, playing catch-up has its advantages. Whereas other public-transit systems have had to retrofit century-old design in an effort to keep up, Metro
can innovate for today's riders--and learn from other cities' mistakes. In fact, this past October, Metro was named Outstanding Public Transportation System by the American Public Transportation Association.
Even more impressive are surveys that seem to prove design's direct effect in winning over the public: "Eighty-six percent of those surveyed say that Metro's image is improving," Lejeune says. "And when people see our work, the likelihood that they will try Metro doubles. Ridership has grown at more than twice the national average." Those are pretty good numbers for a city that lives behind the wheel. So take that, Valiant--L.A.'s public transportation is a joke no more!

Alissa Walker is a freelance writer and editor of the design blog UnBeige (www.unbeige.com). She lives in Hollywood.

It has become ignorant's rote to say public transit in LA sucks and this is usually by people who never will be seen staring at you from behind a bus window. Coming from a city that is reknowned for its transit system I have pretty high standards about pub trans but not as high as people here, let me explain.
Their have been times that I have sat on a NYC subway stuck in the tunnel for god-knows-what more than 30 minutes. The funny thing is that I never said to myself that 'this is it, I'm going to go buy a car'. Have a train get stuck in the tunnel in LA for more than 10 minutes and The Daily News, The LA Times and the riding patrons will be wagging their tongues on the 6 o'clock news. It seems to be an inherent disrespect for transit in LA, that it won't work and that it's only for the poor.
I'm used to a full 24 hour service in a "transit" city so while visiting Chicago I have to admit I was a little dissapointed, it having a system as mature as NYC's and it being considered a "transit town". While visiting SF once again considered a "transit city" loved the streetcars, defitnely novel but neither the streetcar nor the bus system was anywhere nearly as extensive as our bus system here. I don't remember seeing locals as well as limiteds as well as Rapids heading down common thoroughfares.
So I'm at the point of belief that people will say anything to give themselves the excuse of sitting in their cars. How many commuters driving down the 101 could have taken the Red Line from the Valley to downtown this morning? Or the Orange Line? Or how many could take the Blue Line from Long Beach daily to downtown instead of clogging the 710? This is why I rant on about attempting to attract "choice-riders". Many of these people will never set foot on a train or bus unless you can guarantee that their will be no poor and colored people on the train and that you will have a single shot non-fat latte with an outstretched arm waiting for them as they board. Just make the system better for everyone, don't fix the roads, eliminate cheap and free parking and they will begrudginly come along after awhile.

Discussion with friend I converted who now regularly rides the Red Line:
"So are you riding the train tomorrow?"
Friend says,"Well no. I have to bake a cake tomorrow for Valentine's Day and I wouldn't want to take the cake on the train around all of those dirty people".

Note: DC has the second highest rail boarding #'s in the country of course that must mean that their rail system rocks.
LA has the second highest bus boarding #'s in the country of course that must mean they have alot of poor people who can't afford to buy a car.

It has become ignorant's rote to say public transit in LA sucks and this is usually by people who never will be seen staring at you from behind a bus window. Coming from a city that is reknowned for its transit system I have pretty high standards about pub trans but not as high as people here, let me explain.
Their have been times that I have sat on a NYC subway stuck in the tunnel for god-knows-what more than 30 minutes. The funny thing is that I never said to myself that 'this is it, I'm going to go buy a car'. Have a train get stuck in the tunnel in LA for more than 10 minutes and The Daily News, The LA Times and the riding patrons will be wagging their tongues on the 6 o'clock news. It seems to be an inherent disrespect for transit in LA, that it won't work and that it's only for the poor.
I'm used to a full 24 hour service in a "transit" city so while visiting Chicago I have to admit I was a little dissapointed, it having a system as mature as NYC's and it being considered a "transit town". While visiting SF once again considered a "transit city" loved the streetcars, defitnely novel but neither the streetcar nor the bus system was anywhere nearly as extensive as our bus system here. I don't remember seeing locals as well as limiteds as well as Rapids heading down common thoroughfares.
So I'm at the point of belief that people will say anything to give themselves the excuse of sitting in their cars. How many commuters driving down the 101 could have taken the Red Line from the Valley to downtown this morning? Or the Orange Line? Or how many could take the Blue Line from Long Beach daily to downtown instead of clogging the 710? This is why I rant on about attempting to attract "choice-riders". Many of these people will never set foot on a train or bus unless you can guarantee that their will be no poor and colored people on the train and that you will have a single shot non-fat latte with an outstretched arm waiting for them as they board. Just make the system better for everyone, don't fix the roads, eliminate cheap and free parking and they will begrudginly come along after awhile.

Discussion with friend I converted who now regularly rides the Red Line:
"So are you riding the train tomorrow?"
Friend says,"Well no. I have to bake a cake tomorrow for Valentine's Day and I wouldn't want to take the cake on the train around all of those dirty people".

Note: DC has the second highest rail boarding #'s in the country of course that must mean that their rail system rocks.
LA has the second highest bus boarding #'s in the country of course that must mean they have alot of poor people who can't afford to buy a car.

Pretty much agreed... Its not the system that needs to change, its the attitude of the people that has to be changed. You mentioned delays on NY's system not changing people's minds and its the same thing here in Toronto. Delays happen daily, some longer than others yet you don't hear anything about them on the news later on. Some of the trains running on the system are in desperate need of repair, yet people still use them. The stations are falling apart and are dirty, yet people still use them. The majority of the people using the subway are office workers, lawyers and students. Not so poor is it?

You can focus on improving transit all you want but if peoples attitudes don't start to change, those improvements wont have much of an effect on ridership.

FACT:

90% of people who diss the transit system in Los Angeles have never even ridden on it!

^^I'm not sure how much of a fact 90% is, but the rest of it is.

Here's something I learned from talking to my dad: he refuses to take the bus now. He used to ride RTD buses back in the day to get to school, but over the years he's grown to stay away from buses completely. I did get him to ride the Gold and Red Lines the other day, and he was completely impressed by them, in fact, he wants to take them for fun next week. (He possibly would want to take the train to work, but he works in West Covina where only buses serve).

So, what causes the hatred of the buses?

^^I'm not sure how much of a fact 90% is, but the rest of it is.

Here's something I learned from talking to my dad: he refuses to take the bus now. He used to ride RTD buses back in the day to get to school, but over the years he's grown to stay away from buses completely. I did get him to ride the Gold and Red Lines the other day, and he was completely impressed by them, in fact, he wants to take them for fun next week. (He possibly would want to take the train to work, but he works in West Covina where only buses serve).

So, what causes the hatred of the buses?

- Slow
- Bumpy
- Dirty (Though they are MUCH MUCH more cleaner today than in the RTD era)
- Get stuck in traffic
- Are often late
- The "sardines" effect (even when trains are full, the vehicle is wide enough to make for a less claustrophobic experience).
- Buses stop at the will of the driver; trains ALWAYS stop at every station.
- Loud

Have him try the Orange Line, see if he like it. If so, tell him the same kind of bus gets used on the streets.

But I know exactly where he's coming from. It's absolute truth that generally speaking, trains - not buses - get people out of their cars.

[QUOTE=Elsongs;11742713]- Slow
- Bumpy
- Dirty (Though they are MUCH MUCH more cleaner today than in the RTD era)
- Get stuck in traffic
- Are often late
- The "sardines" effect (even when trains are full, the vehicle is wide enough to make for a less claustrophobic experience).
- Buses stop at the will of the driver; trains ALWAYS stop at every station.
- Loud


^^
- Rude bus Driver's
- Drunks in the back of the bus
- Babies crying non-stop
- people with bad BO
- 1 person hogging up 2 seats
- waiting for the bus in the rain
- Waiting for the bus when it's 98 degrees
- Waiting for the bus while someone in a nice ride stops in front of you.
- Trying to pick up on someone while waiting for the bus
- Tired of working a stressful 8 HR shift, then have to deal with the bus crap.
- Not have change and there's no wear to get change
- you have to pup really bad and the bus is running late.
- Running late to work in the morning on a pack bus and a handicapped is waiting in the bus stop and the drivers stops and let's them on.

[QUOTE=Elsongs;11742713]

- Running late to work in the morning on a pack bus and a handicapped is waiting in the bus stop and the drivers stops and let's them on.

I believe there is something called the Americans with Disabilities Act which entitles the handicapped the right to use public transit. If you were confined to a wheelchair and the bus refuses to stop for you, that would suck for you, wouldn't it?

The rest of the list is true but the last one you listed is fucking ignorant.

On another note, some of what you listed above applies to trains as well, but we seem to tolerate them, or they aren't as unpleasant as on the bus.

^^^Agreed, but when you're in a hurry and a bus has to stop and pick someone in a wheel chair, it can potentially be very annoying, especially if the bus driver isnt good at it. Once the handicapped person is on the bus, then you never know if they are going to need to be tied down. If this is the case, thats another potential few minutes you'll have to wait. I swear to god, one time i waited nearly 10 minutes for a handicapped person to board a bus before we got moving again. It's not that I'm upset with the handicapped person, its more like being pissed that you're in traffic even though theres no one to blame. What I'm saying is that I feel where you're coming from Ferney.

Colorblind Person: What is up with these stupid rail line colors? I might as well take the damn bus...

Wheelchair-Bound Person: Pffft. Stop whining, you pussy. At least you can get on a bus without people swearing at you...

[QUOTE=Elsongs;11744304][QUOTE=Ferneynism;11744241]

I believe there is something called the Americans with Disabilities Act which entitles the handicapped the right to use public transit. If you were confined to a wheelchair and the bus refuses to stop for you, that would suck for you, wouldn't it?

The rest of the list is true but the last one you listed is fucking ignorant.



^^ Chill Johnnie Cochran you don't have a case here..... :lol:

[QUOTE=Elsongs;11742713]- Slow
- Bumpy
- Dirty (Though they are MUCH MUCH more cleaner today than in the RTD era)
- Get stuck in traffic
- Are often late
- The "sardines" effect (even when trains are full, the vehicle is wide enough to make for a less claustrophobic experience).
- Buses stop at the will of the driver; trains ALWAYS stop at every station.
- Loud


^^
- Rude bus Driver's
- Drunks in the back of the bus
- Babies crying non-stop
- people with bad BO
- 1 person hogging up 2 seats
- waiting for the bus in the rain
- Waiting for the bus when it's 98 degrees
- Waiting for the bus while someone in a nice ride stops in front of you.
- Trying to pick up on someone while waiting for the bus
- Tired of working a stressful 8 HR shift, then have to deal with the bus crap.
- Not have change and there's no wear to get change
- you have to pup really bad and the bus is running late.
- Running late to work in the morning on a pack bus and a handicapped is waiting in the bus stop and the drivers stops and let's them on.

With the exception of the last one, trains are prone to all of those things as well. Thanx "Ferney" this might be exactly the type of unrealistic expectations that Angeleno's have about public transit that other people in cities with highly developed mass transit(rail) put up with every day.
I mean right now people in say Chicago and New York are waiting for trains in 20 degree temps with the windchill maybe somewhere in the negatives. And you're worried about someone passing you up in a nice car.:ohno:

LA's playing catchup and is still trying to convince people to take mass transit, which is not an easy task with the legacy of our freeways still fresh in the memories of many. All of the money that they spent and there are still problems. Why should they expect this to be any different?

Just imagine if the situation between New York and Los Angeles were reversed. If people from New York lived here, you bet they'd push for more mass transit. The people from LA in New York might actually try the trains. If only an experiment like that were possible.

Just imagine if the situation between New York and Los Angeles were reversed. If people from New York lived here, you bet they'd push for more mass transit. The people from LA in New York might actually try the trains. If only an experiment like that were possible.

Uh, people from NY DO live here...they bitch, whine and moan about the lack of transit but don't care to do anything about it!!!! (Klamedia is in the tiny minority). It's not their city, so why should they care? It's not even a city to them, it's just a place they condescendingly call "OUT HERE." They WANT to see Los Angeles fail.

I seriously get so much shit from everyone just because I don't have a license/know how to drive a car. I PREFER to take public transit and like it. I don't have to waste money for insurance, gas, etc. I can multitask. Loads of things. I judt hate that people automatically assume I'm lazy just becauase I don't want to drive.

LA's playing catchup and is still trying to convince people to take mass transit, which is not an easy task with the legacy of our freeways still fresh in the memories of many. All of the money that they spent and there are still problems. Why should they expect this to be any different?

Just imagine if the situation between New York and Los Angeles were reversed. If people from New York lived here, you bet they'd push for more mass transit. The people from LA in New York might actually try the trains. If only an experiment like that were possible.

Huh???:dunno:

I seriously get so much shit from everyone just because I don't have a license/know how to drive a car. I []PREFER[/b] to take public transit and like it. I don't have to waste money for insurance, gas, etc. I can multitask. Loads of things. I judt hate that people automatically assume I'm lazy just becauase I don't want to drive.


WHAT!!!!!

Who do you associate with to begin with??? I've never heard of such a thing in my life. Are you sure you weren't misinterpreting things there?

I seriously get so much shit from everyone just because I don't have a license/know how to drive a car. I []PREFER[/b] to take public transit and like it. I don't have to waste money for insurance, gas, etc. I can multitask. Loads of things. I judt hate that people automatically assume I'm lazy just becauase I don't want to drive.

You should tell them to thank you for not being another "idiot who can cut you off!"

OMG, in another thread I've mentioned that I do take the Commuter Express bus to DTLA 2-3 x a week....i was hesitant at first to use the system fearing that time-wise i'd be worst off than driving my SUV--losing my sense of time management, etc,etc. But once i've tried it a few times it became a habit. I've managed my time quite well based on the bus schedule. This "driving vs. public transit" debate is nothing more than breaking old habits and making new ones....nothing to fear at all.

OMG, in another thread I've mentioned that I do take the Commuter Express bus to DTLA 2-3 x a week....i was hesitant at first to use the system fearing that time-wise i'd be worst off than driving my SUV--losing my sense of time management, etc,etc. But once i've tried it a few times it became a habit. I've managed my time quite well based on the bus schedule. This "driving vs. public transit" debate is nothing more than breaking old habits and making new ones....nothing to fear at all.

That's great!
If you just randomly show up at a bus stop to wait for a bus, it can get frustrating. But once you take time to know the bus schedules, it becomes a breeze.

.... ah ha!

well, ferney, elsong...many angelenos are so used to the so-called "freedom" that having a car provides--we can go to any place at anytime we wish (yeah right) and some would even prefer to be stuck in traffic on the 405 in the comfort and privacy of their cars than waiting, sitting or standing in a bus or train next to some stranger saying/doing strange things. Conducting your life based on some "bus/train schedule" may indeed be peculiar to us in LA but it can work if you want to make it work....

I'm willing to bet you can just download the bus schedule onto your PDA. That's what I do in Boston.

I'm willing to bet you can just download the bus schedule onto your PDA. That's what I do in Boston.

I don't know if that's possible yet, unless your PDA can read PDFs.
Metrolink schedules are PDA-downloadable, though.

Once all buses are GPS-equipped (The Orange Line buses and some Rapid Buses are), it will be possible to track the next bus with a cellphone (a more common device than PDAs).

well, ferney, elsong...many angelenos are so used to the so-called "freedom" that having a car provides--we can go to any place at anytime we wish (yeah right) and some would even prefer to be stuck in traffic on the 405 in the comfort and privacy of their cars than waiting, sitting or standing in a bus or train next to some stranger saying/doing strange things. Conducting your life based on some "bus/train schedule" may indeed be peculiar to us in LA but it can work if you want to make it work....

Gee, I never thought someone staring at a blank wall while riding pub trans was anything strange but the person staring at the wall being stared at by someone who would normally be stuck in traffic in the comfort and privacy of their car on the 405, now that would be strange.

I don't know if that's possible yet, unless your PDA can read PDFs.
Metrolink schedules are PDA-downloadable, though.

Once all buses are GPS-equipped (The Orange Line buses and some Rapid Buses are), it will be possible to track the next bus with a cellphone (a more common device than PDAs).

GPS huh? Pretty cool.

the problem is where i am, waiting for the avta bus is frikkin anoying. Worse than SCTA busses. Metro bus is pretty good about keeping to schedule though, big props to that one.