Gafoo's Blog

On the Metro Rider LA Blog

When we look at transit not as welfare but as an infrastructure necessity, we realize that in a city as big and densely populated (with people AND cars) as Los Angeles, rail should be the primary mode. With an extensive system, rail has the potential to move people to and from their daily activities in a much more efficient, economical and comfortable way than any other mode. It is the most sustainable mode as well. Urban rail transit in New York City has offered effective mobility to the citizens of that region for well over a century and weathered the unfathomable population growth that has occurred during that time. (NYC went from 942,292 people in 1870 to 8,008,288 in 2000.) The subways are undoubtedly more crowded these days, but they move as fast as ever and still live up to their promise of getting people where they need to go. Our freeways, on the other hand, have been around for only 68 years, yet long ago failed to live up to their promise of offering a speed and efficiency advantage over surface streets.

It’s time we realized what all other great metropolises in the world know: An extensive rail system is essential for the mobility of its people.

Those of you that know me know that for the last 4 months I have been riding public transportation almost exclusively to driving my car. It started as sort of a necessity of being in a household of two working adults with conflicting schedules and 1 car. It was also slightly born out of a fear I have developed since living in LA. I am actually a little afraid to drive here. I spent all summer driving an average of 4 freeways a day and seeing at least 2 accidents on my way to and from work. It’s a little un-nerving and I probably didn’t help myself by reading about the accidents of the day on the news affiliates websites and sigalert.

Anyway, now I find the rail and, to a lesser extent, the bus system a part of my daily life. I see my car as my utility when I need it because shopping, bill paying, and just needing to get somewhere fast is where I utilize it. But, now I see the metro system as a service I can’t live without. I encourage everyone who can make public transit work for them to do it. My trip out to East LA takes 2 hours by train and bus but this is not time wasted for me. I have read so many more great books since I started riding. Since I purchased my iPod, I have listened to more music and more podcasts than I thought I had the time in the day for. Being able to relax on the train and not worry about getting into an accident or hitting gridlock traffic is worth the $1.25 fare any day.

So I hope the higher ups in the city read this article with great interest because the more rail in the city, the more freedom you are allowing it’s citizens. Maybe we can get the thousands upon thousands of cars off the freeways and get this big city REALLY moving.