Comments on: A Carless culture: The bus, part I http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/ Urban environmental lifestyle blog in Los Angeles Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:36:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-9485 Siel Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:37:04 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-9485 I have to say I'm quite ignorant of the differences between BRT and light rail -- I s'pose cuz I rarely have the opportunity to use either of these, living in LA. Stay safe out there Rico -- and get a good backpack with the moolah saved from not driving :) I have to say I’m quite ignorant of the differences between BRT and light rail — I s’pose cuz I rarely have the opportunity to use either of these, living in LA. Stay safe out there Rico — and get a good backpack with the moolah saved from not driving :)

]]> By: Rico A http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-9384 Rico A Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:29:45 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-9384 While Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is all well and good, it's only practical in smaller cities and suburbs. For example, I've read that the BRT in Curitiba, Brazil (the place where BRT is credited to have originated), is already past capacity and there are plans (maybe already under construction) to upgrade the system to light rail. Any corridor in the city of LA, with the exception of a couple West Valley/North Valley corridors, is fit for light or heavy rail. BRT can be a great component of LA's transit system, but it is _definitely_ not the answer to our problems. Strange that I came upon this site today. As I was driving home (North Valley) from school (Downtown LA), my car suddenly jerked forward. I realized that I'm having some severe transmission problems and will be forced to take Metrolink, the Red Line, and a bus to and from school for the next few days/week(s?) I've done it before -- and it's really not that bad -- it's just that I have to carry around a LOT of equipment for school, and lugging it onto a crowded bus on Alvarado and Wilshire at rush hour is pretty hectic. Who knows, though. Maybe I'll be all right with it. It's surely a whole hell of a lot cheaper than driving. While Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is all well and good, it’s only practical in smaller cities and suburbs. For example, I’ve read that the BRT in Curitiba, Brazil (the place where BRT is credited to have originated), is already past capacity and there are plans (maybe already under construction) to upgrade the system to light rail.

Any corridor in the city of LA, with the exception of a couple West Valley/North Valley corridors, is fit for light or heavy rail. BRT can be a great component of LA’s transit system, but it is _definitely_ not the answer to our problems.

Strange that I came upon this site today. As I was driving home (North Valley) from school (Downtown LA), my car suddenly jerked forward. I realized that I’m having some severe transmission problems and will be forced to take Metrolink, the Red Line, and a bus to and from school for the next few days/week(s?)

I’ve done it before — and it’s really not that bad — it’s just that I have to carry around a LOT of equipment for school, and lugging it onto a crowded bus on Alvarado and Wilshire at rush hour is pretty hectic. Who knows, though. Maybe I’ll be all right with it. It’s surely a whole hell of a lot cheaper than driving.

]]> By: Siel http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8521 Siel Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:57:08 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8521 Johan -- The BRT looks so cool! It seems somewhat similar to our proposed <a href="http://greenlagirl.com/2006/06/29/friends-4-expo/" rel="nofollow">expo line</a>. And Declan -- Really encouraging to hear that hope may become reality not too far in the future. I just realized that none of the commenters on this post live in LA -- I think one of our major challenges here is that we have no "hub" to the city. LA's like a bunch of scattered little urban areas haphazardly connected via freeways... One of the challenges is making each urban area more likely to serve all the necessary day to day functions for its residents. Wish us luck -- Johan — The BRT looks so cool! It seems somewhat similar to our proposed expo line.

And Declan — Really encouraging to hear that hope may become reality not too far in the future.

I just realized that none of the commenters on this post live in LA — I think one of our major challenges here is that we have no “hub” to the city. LA’s like a bunch of scattered little urban areas haphazardly connected via freeways… One of the challenges is making each urban area more likely to serve all the necessary day to day functions for its residents. Wish us luck –

]]> By: Declan http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8444 Declan Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:34:45 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8444 Less than 10 years ago bus travel in Dublin was a nightmare with old run down busses, unreliable timetables, and traffic jams. It has improved alot in the last few years. First of all they bought lots of new double decker busses, single deck busses dont have the capacity for a city. Then Dublin City Council introduced Quality Bus Corridors which allow the busses to drive past all the traffic jams. Next they put more busses on many of the routes so for example I now only have to wait 15 minutes for an 11 bus when just a couple of years ago I had to wait 30 minutes. It's an on going job so some people still say the bus service is awful where they live but things are getting better. At rush hour its standing room only on the busses, assuming they arent already full by the time they get to you. Less than 10 years ago bus travel in Dublin was a nightmare with old run down busses, unreliable timetables, and traffic jams. It has improved alot in the last few years. First of all they bought lots of new double decker busses, single deck busses dont have the capacity for a city. Then Dublin City Council introduced Quality Bus Corridors which allow the busses to drive past all the traffic jams. Next they put more busses on many of the routes so for example I now only have to wait 15 minutes for an 11 bus when just a couple of years ago I had to wait 30 minutes. It’s an on going job so some people still say the bus service is awful where they live but things are getting better.

At rush hour its standing room only on the busses, assuming they arent already full by the time they get to you.

]]> By: Johan http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8441 Johan Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:00:37 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8441 there is a system called BRT - Bus Rapid Transport. more info on http://www.gobrt.org/whatis.html i think it started in brazil: - the buses got dedicated lanes - the driver had a remote control for traffic lights - the busgoers bought their tickets in advance voila, quicker and simpler for bus-goers at a fraction of the prise of a metro/underground (for the town hall). but then it requires that one already has a lot of lanes of which one can spare one in each direction. there is a system called BRT - Bus Rapid Transport. more info on http://www.gobrt.org/whatis.html

i think it started in brazil:
- the buses got dedicated lanes
- the driver had a remote control for traffic lights
- the busgoers bought their tickets in advance

voila, quicker and simpler for bus-goers at a fraction of the prise of a metro/underground (for the town hall). but then it requires that one already has a lot of lanes of which one can spare one in each direction.

]]> By: Malin (the Chocolate Lover) http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8437 Malin (the Chocolate Lover) Tue, 11 Jul 2006 13:09:13 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8437 Hallo from Europe. There's a lot of cool ways to transport people above ground. We may have to keep the normal buses for a while though :-). Since I've travelled on comunal transportation in several european cities I think the best way to make a bus ride, well, luxurious is to have buses that are well kept enough to feel new, that they are scheduled to come often, and that they come on time. Simple as that, but pretty hard in reality. Vi hörs! Hallo from Europe. There’s a lot of cool ways to transport people above ground. We may have to keep the normal buses for a while though :-). Since I’ve travelled on comunal transportation in several european cities I think the best way to make a bus ride, well, luxurious is to have buses that are well kept enough to feel new, that they are scheduled to come often, and that they come on time. Simple as that, but pretty hard in reality.

Vi hörs!

]]> By: Chris Martell http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8384 Chris Martell Mon, 10 Jul 2006 18:23:41 +0000 http://greenlagirl.com/2006/07/10/a-carless-culture-the-bus-part-i/#comment-8384 Here is a way cool, and hopeful look at, yes, driverless automated future buses, and alt-transit that is being field tested in Europe. I think the future is here, we just need to let our processing filters be adjusted a bit... http://www-rocq.inria.fr/imara/ Cheers~ Here is a way cool, and hopeful look at, yes, driverless automated future buses, and alt-transit that is being field tested in Europe. I think the future is here, we just need to let our processing filters be adjusted a bit…

http://www-rocq.inria.fr/imara/

Cheers~

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