take public transportation

I was conducting another transit experiment – figuring out how long it takes to get to the Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens via public transit (with a little folding bike assist). This turned out surprisingly speedy and not too effortful – just about an hour. Mix in cheerful conversation with busriders and I was feeling pretty happy with the results when I arrived 45 min before opening time at the gates of the Huntington.

Turns out it was too early for them to let me through, so I went riding down the street to grab a morning beverage. Parked and locked the bike out back of a coffee/smoothie joint, sipped my bev and read the paper for no more than 15 min and returned to the parking lot to discover… my bike lock snipped clean through and no bike to be seen.

argh.

Found that the Huntington is a good place to go recover (at least partially) from your recent bike theft. At least I could experience both a satisfying array of cacti and a Gutenberg Bible

(The friends I was meeting up with gave me a ride home.)

took the bus to the Hammer Museum to see the Francis Alÿs. there are a number of folks I have to recommend it to speedily. he’s interested in all kinds of things I like to think about – the mythology of development; rehearsal, repetition, practice, performance. ritual, elusive/potent traces of actions. it was a quick 20 min ride and no more than a 5 min wait on both ends. wondered about the lack of Spanish language on the non-stop video given the demographics of riders.

special bonus: walking up the street and remember how much i love to see the tar seeping through people’s lawns – signs of organic matter from a long long time ago (giant sloth bits?).

(this week DC and NY) reminds me of how public transit CAN be an integral part of everyday. I guess it’s a reason to be a transit activist – and to think long term. Cause gosh knows our public transport has a ways to go before being consistently useful and accessible here in LA.

At the same time – it makes a huge difference when there’s a public transit-going majority! Walking in NY is joyful or at least natural, in LA it feels lonesome, or weirdly recreational. Which came first – sprawly urban design? or social norms (car is king)? regardless – walkers just have to step out boldly here.

And I do have to also deal with my unwillingness to either move to be closer to work (or someplace nearer to the train) or to change jobs to be closer to home…

to get my hair cut.

yes it’s slower. and more tiring I think. but I spent the money I would’ve spent on parking on lunch instead. it does feel better to eat the $ than to park it.

plus it was kind of nice to see all the kids going to school on the bus – especially in the midst of these crazy fires – everyday life continues, but it’s not just about shopping (or – in my case – grooming!) it’s also students carrying textbooks, hopefully learning.

tomorrow. on these increasingly frequent days of public emergency, I’m thinking public transit is the way to go. From the train I can learn what people are thinking about the fires and not be isolated in my car adding to general congestion. Hopefully I won’t end up trapped in a burning bus.

The heat and wind means I don’t think I’ll be cross commuting with my bike. Just good old bussing.

and the bus was not cheap. but I did get some unexpected catch up time with a couple of colleagues.

may mean that public transportation is the only option tomorrow. It’s sad that it takes an immediate sort of disaster to spark action sometimes.