Metro Customer Relations

Let's get personal.

I had an incident this morning involving a negligent bus operator who bypassed me - after making eye contact and almost hitting me while I was waiting for him to slow down, no less, continuing to make his way down the street. Rather unfortunately, I ended up being fifteen minutes late to work. I felt seriously burned, until I remembered that Metro has a Customer Relations line (1-800-464-2111, available from 8:00 am - 4:15 pm) for one to make known virtually anything about their commuting experience, as well as an email address (CustomerRelations@metro.net). One thing I didn't know, however, is that "for safety purposes" the representatives will not address issues while you're on a bus of any kind, at any time of day or night - no matter who the driver. Even if it's a different one than the driver you're upset with, as I was this morning. Reasonable; aggravating while in the moment, but understandable and therefore good to know.

I don't mean to come down on any operator in any avenue of customer service. I myself am one. But this experience has truly shown me the value of good customer service - even if it's as basic as not dismissing the customer. I never used to wonder why patrons would say "thank you" or "have a good day" to bus drivers while exiting at their stop, but again - this experience has cemented why it's important (if not imperative) to thank where necessary. Life and all the seemingly insignificant things in it are made seamless by all those who actually contribute - aka do their jobs - accordingly. Ourselves included.

Just some food for thought.

Soon to come: directions to upcoming events, places to go, hangout & eat soon!


Photo via Metro.net

Increased Ridership Due to Gas Prices and the Economy

Has it really been three years since the Orange Line began regular operation in the San Fernando Valley? Per Metro.net, ridership on the Metro Orange Line has increased immensely from September 2007 to September 2008.

"At 27,987 average weekday boardings for September, the San Fernando Valley’s popular Metro Orange Line reached the highest boardings since the line opened in October 2005. Average weekday boardings on the Metro Gold Line reached 25,511 in September, which is more than a 30 percent increase compared with September 2007. Metro’s subway and Blue Line both experienced a nearly 10 percent increase in boardings, and Metro Green Line boardings grew by almost 12 percent. Metro directly operated bus boardings jumped 6.3 percent during the same year-over-year period."

While this is great news, I must address an issue concerning the amount of riders in comparison to the number and frequency of local buses in Los Angeles. Often times it is expected during certain times of the day (namely, rush hour) to not find a place to sit on the bus. However, at times whole buses are so full that buses need to pass on by, leaving crowds of people to wait on a street corner for the next bus to come - which often times isn't for another 15 or 30 minutes, if you're lucky.

Metro has gotten smart, allowing later and more frequent operation of trains and subways, making it less of a concern, say, if one is out past midnight and they're in need of getting home. But what about the local buses and their regular frequency - throughout the day? Apparently the argument revolves around three key elements: ridership, population, and availability. My opinion? If there are people around, especially in population-dense areas, there is a need for transport, no matter how late or how often. Practicality just isn't met when local lines are running every 30 minutes during rush hour. If you were one of the unfortunate people told that "the bus is too full; wait for the next one" - and you have to be at work in 10 minutes - it wouldn't be so convenient, would it? Say that you are the student whose night class ends at 9:45 pm and you have to wait for the next bus that will come an hour after the 9:41 you just missed. When local lines are ending their service at 8:00 and 9:00 pm, or running every hour (especially as the weather gets colder), it's just not good customer service.

This might just be my opinion, and my opinion only - but if it is shared by more than one, it begs to be addressed to the right person.

Measure R and the Economy

Money is on the minds of the public these days. We really can't afford to shell out another cent for anyone other than ourselves. Pay the bills, pay the rent, and make it through another day. With all the money leaving our wallets - as much as we would like for it to not - the plain and simple truth is that Americans pay taxes, to whomever, for whatever. It is part of the job description.

With so many other things to think about day to day, it is easy to forget what is considered to be "the other person". A possibility that one should probably weigh is that "the other person" could be them - it's just that time has not yet revealed that.

Being "the other person" shouldn't be considered a bad thing; it would do every Angeleno a world of good to consider it a reality. With the unfortunate balance in what most are being paid in comparison with what most things are costing, cutting corners is a necessary thing - not a bad thing. Some people in large cities have sold their cars in order to take advantage of the local public transportation systems. Others have traded their SUVs for hybrids or other fuel-efficient vehicles. Still others have invested in a bicycle, taking advantage of rideshare programs available through their respective places of work, or doing the work themselves and getting on the bus (train, subway, etc.) Measure R has been proposed with the goal of improving roadways, the service of public transportation, and more importantly the extension of railways and all-in-all a better quality of life - in that perhaps Angelenos won't have to be so dependent on being behind the wheel, their baby.

Los Angeles is like every established city in the world - except for the reliable mass transportation. So you have a car. What if - with the rising cost of insurance and the dwindling yet still high prices of gasoline - you decided to not drive anymore, if not as much? What if you had to take the bus then?

Still considering the state of our economy - should Measure R cost us an extra $25.00 a year, who cares? If the end result is something that works better with the big picture - or repairing the economy and being proud of being self-sufficient - then wouldn't such a notion be worth considering?

Consider this, then. By all means.

From Metro.net
Photo via about-losangelesca.com

The End of Rideshare Week... Then What?

Today marks the end of Metro's Rideshare Week, but that doesn't mean that the good habits acquired should end for everyone who hopefully made an effort to take part in carpooling, bus-riding, vanpooling, cycling, etc. Per Metro.net:

California Rideshare Week is a statewide campaign to reduce solo driving that is causing congestion on the region’s roadways. [...]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, solo drivers accounted for 70 percent of the work commutes made within Los Angeles County in 2000. Carpooling accounted for just 15 percent, while public transit represented nearly 7 percent of work commutes. Other means, including walking and bicycling comprised the remaining 8 percent of work trips.

I must admit to being a little peeved when seeing numerous solo drivers on the road. While I understand that we all have to be somewhere, the following question seems to beg constantly: can't you go solo on a bicycle? Or on a bus, perhaps? If you're able to, why not utilize the bus two or three days a week? With the introduction of more frequent bus and railway lines running in most directions, that's not as impossible an idea as it was considered to have been about five years ago. Due to input from Angelenos - perhaps by way of suggestion boxes such as this and general observations on the state of our environment and over-population - Los Angeles has been 'gifted' six railway lines connecting various points of the city, even recently to places where hope of getting there in a reasonable time was once slim to none. As mentioned in prior articles, there has been mention of construction of an extension to the Westside/Santa Monica - which these days can easily take an hour to an hour and a half to get to. One-way. This city is booming ... and for those who say that a suggestion doesn't make a difference, they might want to revisit the issue and ponder what high demand can produce.

My personal concern would be the amount of buses traveling north to south in the San Fernando Valley, as well as to areas beyond Calabasas. If you've a concern with services in your area, or would like to give your input on anything from roads to, for example, habitually incompetent operators, behold the power of email - Customer Relations @ metro dot net is a click away from addressing an issue.

And for more information on ridesharing in your area, call 1-800-COMMUTE (Option 3), or visit http://www.commutesmart.info online.

From Metro.net

Photo via greendioxide.com

Cycling in Los Angeles

It's autumn time in the city, which hopefully will register a change in the climate, which will also (hopefully) mean more favorable weather in which to ride one's bicycle every day. As a pedestrian and regular bus-rider, it's been great seeing people riding their bikes throughout the summer months - because face it, our economy bites. A bicycle proves more than just personal style and transportation; it can simultaneously serves as a built-in gym and stress-reliever, or so I've found. This summer wasn't too great on my bicycle; to be honest, I haven't been on the ol' girl since perhaps July of this year. But two repaired inner tubes and a pair of new brake pads later, and I'm ready to get back on the bicycle, picking up on making it a regular part of my weekly commute.

The outdoors supply and maintenance store REI in Northridge is holding a Basic Bike Maintenance Class that will prove an efficient review on repair for those not new to the world of bikes - but for those nervous around the mechanics of an oily bicycle chain, this should prove to be a good investment of your time.

Normally held on Tuesday evenings - making it somewhat difficult for those whose schedules are not conducive to weeknight instructionals - this is a good opportunity to brush up on some basics or get past the one thing that keeps you from being knowledgable about your bike's anatomy. Who knows, should a fair amount of people turn up, this class schedule change could become a regular thing.

So bring your friends - the class will be this coming Saturday, Ocotber 11, at 6:30 pm - free of charge.

EDIT: After a few calls to REI, it turns out that there was a mistake on their schedule. Tonight's Bike Maintenance Class was meant to be an outdoor training class of some sort.

But apparently, the next class of this sort is on Tuesday, October 21, at 6:30 pm.

Photo via current.com

Gold Line East LA Extension Continues

"The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has finished installing twin tracks for the six-mile Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension from downtown Los Angeles to East Los Angeles. [...]

"The Metro Gold Line currently links downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena. Service will connect Union Station and East Los Angeles via Little Tokyo, the Arts District and Boyle Heights. It will feature eight new stations including two underground: Little Tokyo/Arts District, Pico Aliso, Mariachi Plaza, Soto, Indiana, Maravilla, ELA Civic Center and Atlantic.

"The Indiana and Atlantic station will have each a park & ride lot with 250 and 43 parking spaces respectively. The ridership projections for the first year are 13,800 average weekday boardings and for the year 2025 Metro projects an average of 22,983 boardings on weekdays."

I for one am thrilled for the extension of the East LA portion of Metro Gold Line. It's been a big hit from Union Station to Sierra Madre, and all the stops in between. While I've yet to stop at each individual station towards Pasadena, it's been an experience in itself to make way across Los Angeles with relative ease. I can only imagine that with the extension being so central to the more dense areas of town, care will be taken to infuse color and culture via art at the stations (a la North Hollywood, Hollywood/Vine, and Hollywood/Western stations, by way of the Metro Red Line; much like Del Mar station, also via Metro Gold Line) so as to preserve the newness of the service, and the importance it holds to all Angelenos - especially in our current economic state. Unfortunately, I believe we've all been brought down a peg due to recent times, but thank goodness for reason, and proper use of taxes. It's been long overdue. Los Angeles is making all the right steps towards catching up when it comes to getting people around.
Click here for more information on the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension (opening scheduled for June 2009).


Photo via Metro.net