Photo by Anouralus via Flickr
Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.
A month into all-door boarding, Muni reports faster lines (S.F.StreetsBlog)
As pointed out by our astute former colleague Carter Rubin, this story from San Francisco has meaning to the Southland. As transit agencies try out systems to keep buses moving faster, offer more service and keep fares low, San Francisco Muni is experimenting with all-door boarding and finding that it seems to be speeding up the passenger boarding process, at least on a couple of lines. Worth noting is that the bulk of the cost of running a bus line is paying the driver so anything that speeds up buses also can save the agency money — and, of course, time for commuters. But will fare evasion be effected?
L.A. ports cut emissions half or more since 2005 (Green Car Reports)
The cuts are the result of a multi-pronged Clean Air Action Plan that survived several court battles. According to the Journal of Commerce, the program imposes new requirements on shippers, freight haulers and the port’s own operations. It appears to be working big time.
Public transit moving smoothly at Olympics (Treehugger)
Before the Olympics started there was anticipatory hysteria over whether the aging subway system could handle all the tourists to the Olympic sites, as well as commuters to work. So far the system has performed magnificently, albeit with a few glitches.
Hottest neighborhoods in Los Angeles (Fix and Flip)
One of the best things about Culver City, the story says, is that it’s becoming, and will surely be, a major hub for public transportation in Los Angeles. The Expo Line opened its Culver City station in June and already boardings are more than 16,000 on weekdays.
Categories: Transportation News
I rode the Muni bus when I was there. Lots of people get on at the back doors at the busiest stops. I dont know how the system works in SF, but here in LA, I see many people who get on the bus who dont TAP or pay cash. They show a card or a paper day/one way pass or a transfer paper ticket from another agency. It is hard to tell who is fare evading, especially at the rail lines. I only see a few people TAP especially on subway lines. It is hard to fare evade most bus lines in LA, because most of the time you enter through the front door only.
I dont mind paying the $2 TAP card, because there is a cost associated with making the cards, having the machines and maintaining them. If they were free, some people will get a new card every time they board the subway or train. I wish there was a way to get a refund deposit on the card like in Singapore where you pay $1 Singapore or something like that, add you money, and when you exit, get you get your unused money and your $1 card deposit back.
I ride the 720 rapid about once a week. During that time, I almost always see a group of 8-10 people taking advantage of the crowds and sneaking in through the back door when no one’s looking. That’s about $15 dollars lost, and I’m assuming that kind of fare evasion doesn’t happen only on Saturday mornings, so I would have to say that back door tap readers are ineffective especially on very busy lines.
Maybe Metro should install tap card readers at the back bus doors to speed up boardings. Foothill Transit’s Silver Streak has implemented all-doors boardings from day one.
One reason why SF MUNI is able to do this is because they have a no funds expiring contactless card that everyone is willing to get which speeds up boarding.
In sharp contrast, what we have is the “lose all your money you have left in your TAP card every three years and fork over another 2 dollars for a new one” BS that makes it less attractive for anyone to get a TAP card and instead, still rely on the slower pay by wrinkly old bills and coins to get on board.
If Metro wants something similar to MUNI, they need to get serious about fixing TAP first. Metro is not going to convince people to switch to TAP if it’s not as attractive as paying cash. Cash don’t expire. Cash doesn’t need a $2 fee every three years.
Convenience has to come with equal benefits. SF’s Clipper Card offers both while TAP doesn’t.