A Carless culture: The bus, part 2
A Carless culture’s a series of posts that examines how we can make de-car-ing a sexy and viable travel solution for Angelenos. [pic from the Daily Bruin]
The thing is, the bus system here’s not all bad.
Yes, a lot of it is. But I’ve been developing a fondness for Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus. And the DASH system in LA ain’t bad either.
Once you get to know particular lines — and maybe particular drivers — you might actually learn to love the bus.
As Russ says, “I was apprehensive at first, but now that I’m used to it I prefer the bus …. it beats having to fight with crazy drivers, and here in Cali, it beats having to fight for a parking spot.”
My idea’s been to pick a line, any line. My faves so far are both Big Blue Bus lines: The 7, which goes down Pico, and the 3, which conveniently goes down Lincoln to LAX :)
Need more inspiration? Check out the Bus Chick’s blog, a gal who sold her car and has been riding the bus in Seattle since April 2003.
The Bus Chick, who’s too sexy for her car, points out how sexy bus riding really is:
People who ride frequently tend to have firm glutes from all the extra walking (don’t sleep on those downtown hills). College students ride buses (try the 48, 13, or 3) and so do many of those big, strong fish-throwers at the Market. Back in the day, lucky bus riders in the Bronx rubbed elbows with Jennifer Lopez. Buses are great places to meet people (I should know–I met Adam on the 545) and, apparently, good places for couples to share quality time. And really, what’s sexier than having a driver?
The girl’s even considering embarking on a campaign to change Metro’s image” — with ideas for sloganed muscle-Ts and such.
Get a ridin’, she says. Why? Enforced exercise, time to read, reduced expenses, and contact with her community on a level that would never have been possible in “the isolated bubble of a single-occupancy vehicle.”
So — To sum up — The bus is sexy cuz:
- Bus riders have great asses.
- You too will likely develop a nicer ass if you take the bus.
- You can read on the bus, cultivating a sexy librarian persona.
- You might meet someone with a nice ass.
- You may get to sit next to a celebrity-to-be.
Pick a line that works for you, and lemme know about it –
Update, 7/24/06: Here’s “The bus, part 3.”
You didn’t know Metro had an iron pumping campaign a while back? It was cute. They showed regular people doing chinups on the bus, etc.
Comment by Lisa — July 11, 2006 @ 10:09 am
They ought to have a gym car on Metrolink — that would be great.
I’m a fine one to talk, though. While I still transitize to and around LA, I have broken down — after 25 adult years without a car — and bought a vehicle, because it’s just impossible without one out in the 909. Do I feel guilty? You bet. Do I relish being able to buy lots of groceries and get them home before the butter melts? You double-bet.
I’d ask “What’s wrong with this country?” but I think we all know the answers.
Comment by meg — July 11, 2006 @ 10:53 am
I’m actually one of those crazy people who started walking less once I got a bus pass. I used to walk 1/2 mile to take the $.25 DASH. Now I hop on the 210 right outside my door. And transfer to the 20 or 720 when it hits Wilshire. Maybe if it weren’t so awful hot this summer…. (I blame all you drivers out there for the global warming.)
Comment by erin — July 11, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
Thanks for the tips! When I go to LA next time I’ll sure use them. I prefer buses when I go abroad.
Comment by Malin (the Chocolate Lover) — July 12, 2006 @ 2:50 am
meg! What’re you doing way out there on the 909? Come back to us! :P erin — Somehow I didn’t know you’d had a blog till now — yey for Russian lit :)
I’m planning to take the bus more often, and to blog about the experience more often. It was really interesting to see how many people were fascinated by the IKEA post. Maybe if we flood the LA blogosphere with our bus stories, everyone’ll be convinced it’s the sexy thing to do –
Comment by Siel — July 12, 2006 @ 7:02 pm