6/19    Heard this on KNX LA radio: Overall CA automobile usage has gone
        down about 1.5% from 2007 to 2008. Los Angeles and S Cal in
        general did not notice any change.
        GEE I WONDER WHY??? FUCKING LAME TARDS
        \_ Uh, what has LA's population done in that time?
        \_ LA values personal freedom. I devote a very high % of my income
           to not have to take public transit. I'm glad it works for you.
           I hate it. Last time I was in the Bay Area I waited 30 minutes
           for a bus on San Pablo in El Cerrito and when it showed up the
           driver blew right by me without stopping even as I waved and
           ran to the curb (I was sitting in the kiosk) and the bus wasn't
           even 10% full. I guess you think this is acceptable. I don't.
           \_ I totally agree with you. Riding with people and waiting
              together is COMMUNISM. People in N Cal are closet COMMUNISTS.
              \_ Thank you for adding zero content to this thread.
           \_ I think you were passed by one of those Rapid Line buses.
              They only stop at certain intersections, about every .5 i think.
           \_ I think you were passed by one of those Rapid Line buses.  They\
             only stop at certain intersections, about every .5 i think.
              only have stops
              \_ Maybe, although the number of the bus was the one I needed.
                 This is another problem with public transit as it exists
                 in the US: the schedules are not posted at most of the
                 stops and when they are they are often out of date. Maybe
                 wireless devices will make this less of an issue soon. I
                 took public transit (BART, AC Transit and other buses, MUNI,
                 etc.) and while it worked fine it usually (with some
                 exceptions like to Oakland Coliseum) took much longer to
                 get where I needed to go. This is true in LA, too. I can
                 take Gold Line and get there in 2 hours or I can drive
                 and be there in 20 minutes - 30 with parking.
                 \_ The answer is stunningly simple: don't live so far from
                    where you "need to go" and you won't have this problem.
           \_ I used to live near San Pablo and worked in Emeryville, getting
              on the 72 RAPID was pretty sweet.  better than a rollercoaster
              at Great America with AC Transit's new Dutch buses that throw
              old ladies everywhere, but that's another story.
           \_ Last time I was in LA, I drove a rental car from LAX to my
              aunt's house in Riverside. It took me over 3 hours to go
              70 miles. I guess you think this is acceptable. I don't.
              \_ How long would it have taken you on a bus? What about
                 Metrolink? It's not much less. Overall I can get to
                 \_ His whole point was that LA really blows because it
                    lacks *REAL* mass transit systems, defined as systems
                    that work INDEPENDENTLY of the freeway infrastructures.
                    When the bridge collapsed, people could take BART.
                    But when 101/405 collapse in the future, what redundant
                    system do you have? LA totally blows. PS. Buses are
                    not real mass transit systems, mkay?
                    \_ You do remember the BART strike back in 1997, right?
                       And the 10 freeway did collapse in LA. It was back up
                       in less than a month.
                 Riverside in less than an hour unless I am unfortunate enough
                 to go during rush hour(s). Driving is much, much faster than
                 other methods 80% of the time and probably equivalent 10%
                 of the time leaving only about 10% of the time where I'd
                 even bother with transit. And then once at your aunt's
                 what happens when you need to go somewhere? Wait another
                 45 minutes for a bus and then transfer to another one and
                 then walk 5 blocks with your bags. Are you kidding me?
                 That stuff works in Tokyo or NYC where it's really dense.
                 Doing that in Riverside would be stupid. You made the
                 right move even if it cost you 2 hours up front.
                 \_ You are right, in LA I have no choice. Apparently you
                    think that is acceptable. I don't.