Category Archives: Technology

Answers to your questions about TAP

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Photo by Fred Camino.

We recently asked readers to send us your questions about TAP, the electronic fare cards used by Metro and several other transit agencies in Los Angeles County. We received several dozen inquiries, which we boiled down to the questions below.

The answers were written by Fred and I, based on information conveyed to us by the Metro officials who run the TAP program that is overseen by Matt Raymond, Metro’s Chief Communication Officer.

Before we get started, a little perspective.

TAP currently records more than 15 million transactions per month. About two million TAP cards have been issued to transit riders in Los Angeles County in the past two year and Metro sells over $6 million of fares on TAP each month. Metro officials consider it a reliable system in “full revenue production.”

The TAP system is also clearly a work-in-progress. Your questions are a testament to that. For one, Metro is hopeful that more transit agencies will adopt the cards, a precursor to having a seamless transit system across sprawling Los Angeles County. There are some issues involving technology that still also must be resolved and some policy decisions to be made about the type of products available on TAP cards and when gates at some Metro rail stations will be locked.

Now, your questions:

Why isn’t there a cash purse available?

A cash purse is available on TAP with several transit agencies in L.A. County — Culver City, Montebello, Norwalk, Foothill, Santa Clarita and Antelope Valley. Each allows customers to put random amounts of cash on their cards, but this can only be done at their local agency stores. It’s still a limited operation because it’s a pilot program to see if the cash purse works. So far, Metro officials say it has been successful and there has been widespread interest in this feature.

The new Nokia TAP validator that fare inspectors will be using to ensure that customers tapped their TAP cards.

Now it’s up to Metro and other agencies to decide when or if they want to begin the cash purse feature. This would permit the loading of cash onto the TAP card at Metro Customer Service Centers, retail stores that sell TAP cards, ticket machines at Metro Rail stations (and the Orange Line busway) and the taptogo.net website.

On the financial front, one key step that must be taken is to secure agreements that define when money loaded on the TAP card by customers actually reaches the transit agencies that accepted your TAP fares.

Another issue is how does Metro best check that riders using a cash purse with TAP actually paid their fare? When a customer has a paper ticket, a fare inspector can check the ticket for the correct date and time. A TAP card has no visual clue and that has led to concerns that with a cash purse, some people can abuse the system by carrying around empty TAP cards or not tapping their cards even though there’s value on them.

Why is that a problem? At this time, only some of Metro’s fare inspectors have handheld validators that can be used to check that a customer actually tapped their TAP card before riding. This is about to change, as Metro is phasing in a new type of validator that is actually a Nokia cellular device. These new validators use 3G technology (the same tech that makes surfing the web possible on smart phones) that is faster, smaller and more economical than the current non-cellular devices that are bulky, heavy and expensive.

Soon all fare inspectors will be carrying these new devices.

Which leads to the next question…

When will the fare gates be activated and why are they there if they aren’t going to be activated?

As many of you are surely aware, the gates that have been installed at some Metro rail stations have not yet been locked. But the TAP reader on them works and customers with TAP cards are required to TAP their cards before going through. Continue reading →

Metro receives grant to study electric car charging stations

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The Chevy Volt. Photo by Chevrolet.

This is sort of a back-to-the-future type post, with the emphasis on “back.”

Attentive Source readers will recall the 1990s when electric car charging stations started popping up around California, the hope being that the state was on the verge of an electric car revolution. For a number of reasons — car manufacturers resisted because of concerns over manufacturing batteries and the state rescinded its own electric car mandates, to name two — it never happened.

The next charge looks to involve plug-in hybrid cars that can run on electricity but also have an internal combustion engine to help extend a vehicle’s range. The much talked about Chevy Volt is one of those type of cars and is supposed to go on sale later this year, according to the Chevrolet website. Other manufacturers such as Toyota have also said they are working on plug-in hybrids.

In that vein, the following news nugget is interesting — Metro has received a grant to study putting charging stations at transit stops. The expectation is clearly that plug-in hybrids will find a market and that some of those drivers will be using their vehicles to reach transit. Here’s the announcement, via Metro’s communications department:

METRO AWARDED $415,000 ENERGY GRANT TO TEAM WITH ELECTRIC CAR DRIVERS

Metro has received a $415,000 energy grant from the California Energy Commission to explore ways for making it easier for drivers of electric cars to charge their vehicles at Metro facilities with the expectation that these commuters would take Metro to work while their car batteries recharge. Continue reading →

Motion asks for daily and weekly EZ passes and true regional trip planner

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Click above to see a larger image.

The Board of Directors of Metro meet on Thursday and they will be considering this interesting motion by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that asks the agency to develop a daily and weekly EZ Pass and develop a regional trip planner.

The motion is in response to a recent string of columns by the Los Angeles Times’ David Lazarus, who has opined that more needs to be done to make it easier for people to take mass transit in the Los Angeles area.

The EZ pass allows transit users to travel across buses and trains run by most agencies in Los Angeles County (here’s the list). It currently costs $70 for a monthly pass but is not available as a weekly or daily pass — both of which would benefit occasional transit users who need to use more than one transit system to get where they’re going. Nor is the EZ Pass available for purchase on TAP cards.

An amendment was also introduced by Supervisor Mike Antonovich to have the agency look at distance and time-based fares. Metro currently charges fares based on how many individual lines a rider uses — it’s $1.25 per line or $5 for a day pass. Other transit systems allow unlimited travel on different lines for a set period of time — although the base fare is usually higher than Metro’s.

In fact, we raised that very subject in our recent fare structure poll. If you haven’t taken it, your vote would be appreciated. It’s a good chance to let the Board of Directors and Metro staffers know where you stand on the fare structure issue, particularly since they’re going to be discussing that issue soon.

Villaraigosa’s motion also calls for a website that also works on cell phones to better help transit users get around Los Angeles County, with schedules from all the county’s transit agencies.

Surprisingly, there’s nothing really like that already in existence. The closest thing to it is Google Transit, although even that is limited by not having schedules for many of the smaller municipal bus operators in the county. There is also a go511 website in its beta stage that should be able to plan transit trips around the region, but it doesn’t have a mobile version and I couldn’t even get it to provide information this morning on a simple bus trip on the Pasadena city system.

10 essential bikes as transportation blogs

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EcoVelo: pretty and informative.

EcoVelo: pretty and informative.

As Bike Week comes to a close we present a list of 10 great blogs that cover bikes as the fantastic form of transportation that they are.

Sure bikes are fun and make for a great workout – but they also happen to be an easy and eco-friendly way to get from point A to point B. Kids know this, but adults seem to forget and think the only way to get around is in a gas-guzzling motor vehicle. This list of blogs proves that grown-ups can ride to work and play without shame, and maybe even with a little bit of style.

Note: a few local bike blogs  (SoapBox LA, BikingInLA and LA County Bicycle Coalition Blog) have been left off this list because they already appear on our 10 essential Los Angeles transportation blogs list.

  • EvoVelo – http://www.ecovelo.info/
    A beautiful blog that sets out to show that a bike centered lifestyle is not only good for the environment, but brings joy to the soul. With multiple postings each day – featuring gorgeous photographs and well written articles on bike culture, lifestyle, technology and fashion – this blog is a must follow.
  • Commute by Bike – http://commutebybike.com/
    In our car-centered society getting to work by bicycle can be a bit revolutionary – and a bit intimidating for many folk. This blog offers tips, anecdotes and reviews of bikes and gear that make the whole bike commuting thing seem a little less crazy. Frequent posting makes Commute by Bike an essential bookmark.
  • Bike Commuters – http://www.bikecommuters.com/
    Another bike commuting blog, this one offers news, reviews and how-to’s on getting to work using pedal power. Check out their commuter tools that offer bike laws for every state, a gas savings calculator and and MPG calculator for those who combine a car commute with bike commute.
  • Cyclelicious – http://www.cyclelicio.us/
    In addition to having a pretty great name, Cyclelicious has a non-stop posting schedule on everything and anything to do with bike culture. The blog covers nationwide bike events and new stories relating to bikes as transport. One cool regular feature are posts that spotlight famous folk who use bikes to get around.
  • Let’s Go Ride a Bike Blog – http://letsgorideabike.com/blog/
    Like so many things, there’s a feeling in society the bikes are a guy thing. Well this blog is all about getting more people – especially women – on bikes. It’s a great looking and super readable blog with articles that will appeal to any bicyclist but there’s plenty of posts that shine that light on issues women might face when it comes to getting around on a bike (see: Wardrobe Malfunction: Stapling My Skirt).
  • Bikeside LA – http://www.bikesidela.org/
    Local and outspoken – Bikeside LA is a blog that tackles policy issues that affect the bikes as transportation lifestyle in Los Angeles. Posts cover local bike news, advocacy issues and local agencies and officials who may be standing in the way of L.A.’s bike culture.
  • Gary Rides Bikes – http://garyridesbikes.blogspot.com/
    Another local blog covering the progress and setbacks in L.A.’s journey to becoming a bicycle friendly place to live and ride. Posts are meaty and thought provoking – and often accompanied with great pictures. Opinion on local politics affecting bike culture represents the bulk of postings.
  • Bike Portland – http://bikeportland.org/
    Portland, Oregon is often praised for its bike friendly land use policies and booming bike culture. In fact, 8% of commuters bike to work – the largest percentage of bike commuters in the U.S. Bike Portland has daily postings on what’s going on in that bike utopia to the north and can serve as a great inspiration as we try to up our paltry 1% bike commute mode share here in L.A.
  • Copenhagenize – http://www.copenhagenize.com/
    Portland may be pretty impressive with its 8% mode share of bike commuters – but it’s nothing compared to Copenhagen’s 55%! To truly be inspired, we have to look to Copenhagen and Copenhagenize lets us do just that. The blog’s daily postings show just how great things are in Copenhagen and progress being made around the globe.
  • The Guardian Cycling – http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/cycling
    The Guardian is one of London’s most read newspapers and its website is popular worldwide – and it has an entire section devoted to cycling. The site offers a great look into London’s bike scene and makes me wistful for similar coverage from the L.A. Times.

Reminder: share your favorite bike blogs with us

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We’re working on coming up with a list of essential “bikes-as-transportation” blogs to celebrate Bike Week and to round off our collection of essential blogs lists. In the past we’ve made lists for essential Los Angeles transportation blogs, essential transportation blogs that aren’t specific to L.A. and essential transit agency blogs.

This time we’re turning to our bike savvy readers to help us build the newest list. We’ve already received some great suggestions, but the mailbox is still open. The post is going up tomorrow, so go ahead and shoot us an email with your favorite cycling websites to thesource@metro.net or leave a comment on Facebook.

Help us choose 10 essential bikes-as-transportation blogs

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I <3 My Bike

To close out Bike Week I’d like to round up the 10 best bikes-as-transportation blogs out there. I say bikes-as-transportation because largely bikes are seen as tools for recreation and fitness (and sometimes as nothing more than children’s playthings) not as serious tools for mobility – for that the glory goes to cars, planes and in a distant third public transit. I think one of the goals of bike week is to change this perception and show that bikes are a fun, healthy and eco-friendly way to get around.

But here’s the thing, although I do bike for transportation, I confess I don’t really follow the bike blogs religiously. This is why I’m asking Source readers who are likely far more bike culture aware than I am to help us build this list of must read blogs.

To help kick things off, here’s a few I’ve found that seem great:

I’d like to know what cyclists think of these blogs, and if there’s any other great ones out there. Remember: the key is bikes-as-transport. To share your suggestions email us at thesource@metro.net or leave a comment on Facebook.

In the past we’ve included local bike blogs from  the Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition and Biking in L.A. on our 10 essential Los Angeles transportation blogs list.

Here’s a roundup of our other “essential” lists:

Thinking outside the card: blog comes up with fanciful TAP alternatives

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Tap to walk.

Tap to walk. Image by Jung Gatoona, Plus Metro.

I’ve come to trust local transit blog Plus Metro for posts that offer wildly creative solutions to everyday problems riders face on Metro – and the blog’s most recent entry is no exception. As we here at The Source comb through the over three dozen emails we received as a result of our call for TAP questions last week, Plus Metro has come up with four suggestions on how to rethink the physical act of tapping a TAP card.

Why? Because, as the blog notes, sometimes pulling a TAP card out from a wallet stuffed in a pocket or purse is simply not convenient – especially if you’re carrying a load of groceries as any good transit oriented citizen must do from time to time.

Here are Plus Metro’s ideas, and make sure to read the full post for more insight

  • Foot TAP – just walk right over the sensor.
  • Bracelet TAP – can fares also be fashion?
  • Wireless TAP – why bother tapping at all?
  • Cellphone/Keychain TAP – Asian transit systems can do it, why can’t we?

Some of these ideas aren’t really so far fetched. Hong Kong’s Octopus Card has been around since 1997 (actually it was the first contactless card smart card system in the world) and beyond the standard cards – which by the way, come in a wide variety of colors and graphical designs – Octopus offers key chains, watches and even tiny plush dolls that can all be used as valid fare media.

Transit TV art contest voting ends today

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Transit TV Art Contest

If you ride Metro buses regularly you might have know that Transit TV asked riders to create a painting of their own interpretation of the Transit TV logo for the chance to win $500. No matter how you feel about the Transit TV service, you’ve got to admit that’s a pretty good contest.

Transit TV received over 40 entries and hey, some of them are really good! You can check them out here and vote for your favorite. By registering to vote with your email you will be given 10 points which you can divide among the entries.

Voting ends today (sorry for the late notice), so go check out the entries and help make an artistic Metro rider $500 richer!

Flickr shines the spotlight on images of public transit in L.A.

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The popular photo sharing site Flickr runs a daily blog that highlights some of the coolest and most timely photos being uploaded to Flickr. Well today the unlikely bedfellows “public transit” and “L.A.” were the subject of Flickr’s daily update in a post entitled, “Public Transit? in LA?.” Public Transit? in LA? Flickr Blog post.The first photo featured also happens to be a photo composite by yours truly, if I may toot my own horn.

Here’s what the post had to say:

Public Transportation in LA might sound like a contradiction, but for over 25 years LA has been building a system which looks like it is coming into its own. See images of the public transit lifestyle of Angelinos in the MetroRiderLA group. Also, the Metro Library and Archive’s Photostream has fascinating images of the historic and emerging transit lines of Los Angeles.

According to Alexa.com, Flickr ranks 31st worldwide and 21st in the United States in terms of web traffic – which means today’s blog post is going to introduce a lot of people to L.A.’s burgeoning public transit system.

So to anyone who’s ever uploaded a photo of L.A.’s public transit system to Flickr, congrats, you’ve help change the world’s perspective of Los Angeles.

Metro Library launches new blog

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Primary Resources: The Metro Transportation Library BlogMetro has launched another blog to satiate your hunger for transportation related reading. Primary Resources is what the Metro Library is calling their newest online venture – a blog that taps into the library’s vast collection of resources to provide images, videos and documents along with insightful commentary from Metro’s librarians.

Why launch Primary Resources now? The answer is found in the introductory post:

Metro is embarking on an ambitious plan for many new Measure R-funded transit and highway projects, several of which are being planned and executed at the same time.

Transit and transportation advocacy is growing thanks to social networking and other communication tools. Resources can be disseminated, consumed, and redistributed more easily than ever before.

We are actively collecting and digitizing not only Metro’s publications and reports, but also harvesting and preserving important documents and other digital assets in the field of transportation that compliment our collections

The emphasis on Measure R projects can already be seen in one of the first posts which links to a 19-page PDF document from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation entitled “The Construction Impact Of Metro’s Measure R Transportation Projects 2009-2038″.

Clearly, Primary Resources is not just going to be a collection of old-timey images and dusty publications – although there will be plenty of that as well. Check out this post featuring an incredible image of the Gold Line’s early predecessor, a Los Angeles Railway car rolling past the Southwest Museum in 1914.

The Metro Library is no stranger to blogging and social media – they’ve run the Los Angeles Transportation Headlines since 2006 (The Source rather shamelessly harvests our favorite headlines from them everyday) and have a presence on almost every social networking site there is. Check out the full list after the jump, and make sure you bookmark Primary Resources. Continue reading →