Although Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus has STILL not put its info on Google Transit to make trip planning easier for riders, the city’s made life easier for drivers by providing realtime parking info via a Google Map mapplet. (via LAist)
What is the holdup, BBB? I’ll try to find out more about why our award winning bus system‘s way behind the OCTA, Burbank Bus, and Metrolink on this issue. But the Big Blue Bus has more pressing news right now –
Ridership’s up but state funding is down, says the Big Blue Bus, which wants to change up its schedules “to best allocate our limited resources and improve timeliness on select routes.” You can read the full details of the proposal on Big Blue Bus’ website, but here are the highlights:
>> Line 3 would get an extra trip each day, while lines 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 would lose a few trips.
>> The Tide Ride may lose a whole bunch of trips — or get eliminated altogether.
>> The Sunset Ride would run half as frequently.
>> The new Beach Ride to the Annenberg Community Beach House at 415 Pacific Coast Highway would run Fri – Sun. between May and October.
I remain pretty much unaffected by these changes since I stick to the 1, 2, and 10, which perhaps shows that the trips being cut are indeed not that popular — though I’m still sad to see state funding for public transportation going down at the same time that ridership’s going up. Learn more about the proposed changes and put in your two cents at the Big Blue Bus community meetings:
>> Mon., Dec. 8, 6 pm – 8 pm, Fairview Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica.
>> Tue., Dec. 9, 10 am – noon, Ken Edwards Center, Room 104, 1527 4th St., Santa Monica.
>> Tue., Dec. 9, 6 pm – 8 pm, Westside Pavilion Community Room B, 3rd f., 10800 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.
>> Sat., Dec. 13 10 am – noon, Santa Monica Main Library, Multi-Purpose Room, 2nd fl., 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.
Can’t make it to the meeting? Then send your thoughts to Dan Dawson, Customer Relations Manager, at Dan.Dawson@smgov.net or 1660 7th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401.
Update, 1/21/09: Metro should get on the Google Transit train already.
Yeah where is BBB on Google?
I’m sad to see funding down, but I think it does make sense to put the most resources at the most popular routes. Personally since I bike anywhere remotely local, I only use the 10 and 3 to get to downtown or to LAX. I also depended on the 3 really heavily when I lived near LAX, as did a lot of people at my college (Otis), so I’d love to see the 3 extended even later than they are proposing, and a little earlier too for morning flights.
The 10 is such an awesome bus, although rather niche, I’d hate to see it’s service reduced. Until we get the subway it’s the fastest way to connect to the rest of the train network. I don’t know about other 10 express users, but I’d be willing to pay a slightly higher fare if it meant continued service level. I much rather cruise the 10 with no in between stops then sit on the 720 chugging in Wilshire traffic, and bouncing on epic pot holes.
Comment by Gary Kavanagh — November 17, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
The only rides being cut on the 10 are early and late on Sunday — and I’ve never used the 10 at those times. That said, I do wish the BBB would work with the Disney Concert Hall, Music Center, and other venues in downtown so that the bus is an option for people going to a concert in the evenings –
Comment by Siel — November 17, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
Based on what I’m seeing initially, the realignments seem sensible.
Does anyone really use the Tide Ride? It’s duplicated by so much other service.
Comment by Aaron — November 17, 2008 @ 11:34 pm
They do seem pretty sensible — and I’ve never used the Tide Ride — though I do have mixed feelings about some buses only coming once an hour. Clearly there’s a need for those lines since they’re not getting eliminated altogether, yet at once an hour, who’s going to be able to use them at any practical level?
Comment by Siel — November 18, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
People have urged Big Blue Bus many times to extend night service on Line 10 for shows, but ridership really falls off after rush hour.
Considering there is so much demand, though, Big Blue Bus should run one of its monthly excursions to the downtown fine arts venues. It could sell the tickets and the bus ride.
Comment by Wad — November 18, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
Hey Wad — I didn’t mean so much having buses run constantly until that time, but providing shuttle rides much like the Hollywood Bowl does to special events. Do you think that idea might work?
I definitely agree that the Downtown Art Walk might be one of the best events to start this shuttle program with –
Comment by Siel — November 19, 2008 @ 8:17 pm