Here are our selections this week:
- Tat Simonian, Hollywood – Why You Ride
“1) Parking. Don’t want to deal with it. 2) I need a moment for myself before coming into the office. 3) I read more when I take public transit.” - Siam, San Fernando Valley – Why You Ride
“I take transit to help the environment and to immerse myself with urban life.” - Richard FM, San Gabriel Valley – Why You Don’t Ride
“I don’t ride because it’s inconvenient. I have direct routes, but, the timing is so sensitive and riding with Metro then switching to Foothill Transit just isn’t as effective as I would love it to be.”
Read the surveys, after the jump.
Name: Tat Simonian
Occupation: Desk Jockey
Location: Hollywood
Your Transit Routine:
How often do you take transit and for what purpose?
I ride a few times per month. Usually to meetings or to work. If I wake up one morning and decide I 100% don’t want to deal with parking, I’ll take public transit.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
I typically travel between Hollywood and downtown L.A. but also go to North Hollywood.
What lines/routes do you take?
Red Line, all the time.
How long does it typically take?
Door to door? 30 minutes to work. 45 minutes downtown.
Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I love it!
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
$50 – $100
Why do you take transit?
1) Parking. Don’t want to deal with it. 2) I need a moment for myself before coming into the office. 3) I read more when I take public transit.
Other Transportation:
Do you use any other forms of alternative transportation?
Bicycle, my two feet.
Are you car-free? If so, why? If not, why not?
Not car-free. I live where I live because it’s close to public transit. However, public transit doesn’t go everywhere I need to go…that’s a problem.
Your Perspective:
If you could make one change to improve your transit experience, what would it be?
Yes, more frequent service – LATE SERVICE, especially on the trains. I wish I can get a TAP card at the kiosks. Transfers are OK, but I don’t understand why we need to pay extra for one if we’re going in the same direction.
Given limited funds, how would you address L.A.’s transportation issues?
I would eliminate the honor system in the rails. I think the transit system will see a bump in income. I would encourage large employers to reimburse all public transportation fare, or some at least.
Do you think L.A. transit is better or worse since you started riding? What’s changed?
It’s pretty much the same.
How would you encourage Angelenos to use transit?
I would take the parking angle. You don’t need to pay for parking. Especially when you partake in L.A.’s nightlife. It can save mucho dinero.
***
Name: Siam
Occupation: Student
Location: San Fernando Valley
Your Transit Routine:
How often do you take transit and for what purpose?
I take transit for commuting based trips to school in the basin.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
I typically travel from my home in the San Fernando Valley and head into the basin to go to school over at USC.
What lines/routes do you take?
I take the Orange Line to the Red Line to get to Union Station where USC has shuttles that take me the rest of the way.
How long does it typically take?
The trip typically takes about an hour and a half which isn’t terrible since I would have to deal with rush hour traffic if I were to drive.
Briefly, how would you describe your typical transit experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I love it!
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
$100 – $300
Why do you take transit?
I take transit to help the environment and to immerse myself with urban life.
Other Transportation:
Do you use any other forms of alternative transportation?
[No answer provided.]
Are you car-free? If so, why? If not, why not?
[No answer provided.]
Your Perspective:
If you could make one change to improve your transit experience, what would it be?
I definitely want to see more dedicated BRT lines in the San Fernando Valley and the conversion of the Orange Line into LRT.
Given limited funds, how would you address L.A.’s transportation issues?
[No answer provided.]
Do you think L.A. transit is better or worse since you started riding? What’s changed?
It’s gotten better.
How would you encourage Angelenos to use transit?
[No answer provided.]
***
Name: Richard FM
Occupation: Hair Stylist
Location: San Gabriel Valley
Your Transportation Routine:
How often do you drive and for what purpose?
Mon – Fri, 10 East to West Covina. I drive to get to work and school, and I hate my drive.
Where are you typically traveling from and going to?
San Gabriel to West Covina on the 10 East during rush hour.
How many vehicles do you or your family have?
1
How long does your commute typically take?
45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.
Briefly, how would you describe your typical driving experience? Love it, deal with it, or hate it?
I hate it. There has to be a better way.
On average, what do you spend each month on transportation?
$100 – $300
Do you use any forms of alternative transportation?
I ride the bus at many different times of the month, but never to work/school. WAY too inconvenient.
Why do you drive?
I drive because it is just easier than having to wait for the 76 on Valley Blvd, then going to the El Monte Bus Station and having to find a bus that takes me to West Covina. With all the traffic on the streets and freeways, I’d have to leave earlier than I do now!
Your Perspective:
Why can’t/don’t you take transit?
I don’t ride because it’s inconvenient. I have direct routes, but, the timing is so sensitive and riding with Metro then switching to Foothill Transit just isn’t as effective as I would love it to be.
Have you tried to use transit before? What was your experience?
Yes! I actually love to “Go Metro”, but the trains are really the only way to travel. Fast, effective, reliable, and easy to get to where you are going.
What could local transit agencies do to encourage you to take transit more often?
Create more transportation hubs. I’m in between the El Monte Bus Station and the Cal-State LA Metrolink/Bus stops. I either have to drive towards L.A. to get the train or drive to El Monte. Problem with that is, by the time I’m heading home, I have to find a way back to my car.
How do you feel about buses?
I’d ride a bus if there was a route that served my needs.
How do you feel about rail?
I’d ride rail if it there was a route that served my needs.
Given limited funds, how would you address L.A.’s transportation issues?
More rail. Reading many blogs regarding L.A. County transit, the SGV doesn’t need help with transit. An elevated light rail line down the 10, 60, and 605 would help greatly!
Categories: Feedback, Why You Ride
@arrMTA: The Blue Line goes through low income neighborhoods with little car ownership. The Red Line has stops on Vermont Avenue and Westlake, again, non-choice riders. The Green Line has many transit dependent riders. Gold Line to East LA opened up new transit opportunities for more non-choice riders. How can you say Metro ignored non-choice riders when most of its stations are in low income neighborhoods? You’d rather have the non-choice riders ride in slow buses or fast trains?
To Richard FM
I would love to take trains, if MTa has all the budgets to build the rails to go everywhere in LA (I don’t mean all the residential area. Of course, in Vancouver, the buses do go through some residential areas in a fancy neighborhood)
The problem with LA’s improvement in the past 2 decades is people have to find a way back to their cars when they head to work or home. MTA is so proud of building 79 mile railroad, but it kept ignoring non choice riders who could not find the way to cars. How are people going to get out of cars if it is so inconvenient to get to rail stations.
Well, MTA is happy about its achievement. Many rail only supporters don’t really care about it.
Let’s not forget MTA thing many bus routes are duplicate
things are going to get worst with this kind of attitude