In the far past, there were gun duels. In the recent past, there has been the bicycle vs. POV (was that not you, Mr. Campbell?). I propose a bus race to, well, not the death, but a near-terminal point. And as there is such passion in whose busway is the best way, perhaps now is the time to see whose way is best–for the time, and fortune smiling.

Whaddya say, Will?" BusTard

"Bustard, you’re on!" Will

I’m picking out my scarf right now. I am not sure where my Pink Ladies Jacket is though or maybe I’ll just be Cha Cha…

Browne

I always preferred to think of it as the sole pair of pants allocated to the family. "Sorry Bobby, your sister gets to wear the pants today. You’ll have to walk to school in your boxers."

Julia, the 439 will cost you a flat $1.25, but probably isn’t as scenic as what you’ve taken already. It pretty much works its way over Ladera Heights and then into the westside before hoping on the 10 Freeway to get to downtown.

I see lots of women on the bus, but I’m talking about women advocating for the bus or public transit in generl.

You know wasting large amounts of times, taking different busses, talking about it, having a blog dedicated to it, starting an organization… lots of guys do this, but not many women. I didn’t say there were none, but not many.

I have to disagree with your opinion that taking the bus is the same degree of safe regardless of gender. It really depends on where you live and the time you take it, because taking the bus as a woman can be unsafe, because you’re an easier target.

I have lots more stories than my friend BusTard in regards to just being harassed and bothered on the bus and trains and even if people don’t touch you, it’s annoying. It makes you feel unsafe. I have even had busdrivers try to pick me up and it gets real old.

One problem I have is I look alot younger than I am some people think I’m in high school and that opens up a whole new kind of weirdness, because you can tell they think that and it’s just creepy or the guy is really young and that’s also creepy.

If you’re an older woman taking the bus (saw an elderly woman in Little Tokyo who had gotten beaten about two weeks ago after she had walked up the street getting off the bus, I don’t think that would have happened to a man, but maybe I’m wrong) it can be unsafe, especially if you go to the bank at the same time everyday, someone can easily watch you and the economy is getting very scary, so people are looking for easy targets.

I’ve taken the bus from Long Beach to LA at 2am, for me I think it was more dangerous that if I were a guy.

But if you’re taking the bus in the morning and in the afternoon before dark, you’re right. I think it’s just as safe for man or woman to take the bus.

I think though in regards to freedom of movement though I have to think more than a guy.

My male friends can just jump on a bike by themselves at 12am if they decide they are hungry and then jump on a bus, I don’t feel confident enough to do that.

Maybe I’m just scary. I don’t know, this is all my opinion, not any hard research.

Browne

When it comes to errands, I still tend to use my car, because I’m home during the day with my baby, and she’s a little too small to ride the bus–can’t walk yet, and can get cranky quickly. But when she’s older, I can’t wait to go everywhere on the bus with her!

Will, I will try your route on future trips. My outbound route cost only $1.25 (75¢ for the BBB and an additional 50¢ for the transfer to the 720) and seemed reasonable. Would it be less on the route you mentioned? And as Browne says, sometimes I want to see stuff, be a tourist in my own town.

And Browne, I will also try the BBB #10 though I do have to go west a little ways before heading east again. No biggy. Thanks for all your positive thoughts and suggestions, especially the philosophy behind it all.

And Mr. Bustard, I think your idea is awesome! I say we all race to Clifton’s or Phillipe’s or the Original Pantry some day and loser buys dessert and coffee. In fact, we would all be winners…

Great input everyone and I look forward to so much more.

Thanks.

In the far past, there were gun duels. In the recent past, there has been the bicycle vs. POV (was that not you, Mr. Campbell?). I propose a bus race to, well, not the death, but a near-terminal point. And as there is such passion in whose busway is the best way, perhaps now is the time to see whose way is best–for the time, and fortune smiling.

Whaddya say, Will?

People will fight to the death in regards to why their way is better.

BusTard has been taking the bus for years and he’s always getting annoyed at me for doing things like taking a local when there is a rapid, but you know sometimes I want to see stuff. I’m not just riding just to get somewhere. I’m riding because I have issues and I think riding the bus is fun.

I also feel you don’t really know a neighborhood until you’ve walked the place where people in the neighborhood live and the bus forces you to do that.

I like complaining about Metro, but I like taking the bus and people watching more than I hate Metro and I have faith that one day they will get it together.

I also really believe that cars are killing the planet. I think it was Fred Camino of MetroriderLA who talked about how cars have killed more people than guns. I think that says alot.

If you care about your kids get out of your car, at least sometimes.

I’m very stoked that all of these new people are taking the bus. That’s going to be the thing that will change METRO. We have to get all kinds of people taking the bus across socio-economic, racial, and gender lines.

If you noticed most bus advocates are guys, because it’s a daunting task for a middle class woman to take the bus on a regular basis everywhere, but it can be done. I’m proof it can be done and you can go anywhere from Watts to Beverly Hills to the SFV and you’ll be perfectly fine.

You’re doing community service when you ride the bus, because there are people who have to take it, elderly and disabled people. People who don’t have a bike option or motorboard option or today I feel like getting in my car option. They have no voice, but you have the energy to have a voice to say, "this bus runs badly" or "this bus runs well" or "this is an unsafe stop."

So riding the bus helps the earth.
It saves you money.
It helps people who don’t have a voice.

This will be a great adventure for you Julia.

Browne