Next departing train

Today, as I was heading home from work. I happened to see an addition to the usual Red Line screen. Aside from the next train to Union Station in the NoHo Station, there was a "This train departs next sign," just like the one that shows when a train is approaching.

205 Approaching

This footage was taken on my cell phone camera as my 205 was approaching for my last leg of my daily ride home in Artesia Station

MTA Blue Line by night

The other night, as I was walking home from the Compton Blue Line Station, I took a few seconds video footage of a northbound train. I don't know, but to me, there's a beautiful thing I can't describe about a train picture/video by night.

The good, the bad and the ugly, in the Valley

First of all I start of by saying I should have posted this yesterday I found myself to be too tired and lazy to do it what with the Olympics and all the night before as I saw an impressive Spanish team play the US a tete a tete game unlike the previous blow outs.

Ok. Apology taken care of I now go into depth about the unusual title to this particular post. Basically I had three different experiences with people's personalities and reactions. On my way to church as I got out of the NoHo station and was debating whether I should take Orange Line to Van Nuys or not, I saw a huge crown of people waiting for the next Metro Liner (as always) so I decided instead to take on the very much less heavy and traveled 156 (at least since the Orange Line opened). Oh, I guess I should have started by stating the fact that I took my bike with me yesterday. As I was saying I decided instead to take the 156. As it was approaching and I was getting ready to go to the front of the bus and open up the rack so I could put my bike in there I was told by the very nice, friendly and may I add extremely beautiful young lady that the rack was broken but then she proceeded to tell me to bring my bike on board. This is the first time (wait, I'm lying, when the Orange Line first opened, you could bring your bikes on board, but then again at that time buses where not equipped with racks). The good.




Next. At the end of the service I decided against riding Van Nuys and instead opted to ride Woodman down to the bike path and unto the Noho Station where subsequently I would take the subway to Wilshire and Vermont and then take the 51 home. As I was nearing Vanowen and there was a light change, I decided to take the whole lane to cover myself instead of do what most people do and hug the curb. I do this so no car will get ahead of me and try to overtake me while attempting to make a right turn. So, as I was there, sitting on my bike waiting for the light to change to green so I could continue, this car got behind me and honked. I, being a peaceful, cool person most of the time would have just ignored them but for some reason this time, I decided to turn around and made eye contact and put on my most menacing (lol) serious look and scream "yes?" as in "yes may I help you." I could not hear what they responded from inside the car due to the windows being all closed but by the look on their faces and the gestures they were making, I kind of figured they wanted me to get out of the middle of the street. At this moment however, I put my hand to my ear and yell at them, "I can't hear you." I expected them to honk again as the light changed but that did not happen, so I just rode of unto the sunset, I mean unto the bike path. The bad.


I don't know exactly what the temperature was like yesterday in the Valley but it did feel extremely hot and humid. Add to that the fact I did not have breakfast, the result was I was getting very tired, fatigued and even dizzy by the minute, so I decided to stop at the Shakey's Pizza across from the Laurel Canyon Station to take advantage of their all you can eat buffet. Upon finishing eating I was going to take the 156 instead of riding the last leg to NoHo. As the bus approached, I was told by the male driver that the rack was not working. Did he offer me to bring the bike inside? NO. So I just decided to ride. And that is the ugly.

All of this happened yesterday, in the Valley.

Daily Exodus

Everyday in the NoHo Red Line Station early in the morning as I make my way out of the entrails of the underground unto the street to continue my Daily Ride towards work, without fail, I can see an exodus of people going about their everyday routine. Sometimes it is very heavy and it leaves you in awe, of course I can imagine it's not as bad as in other major transit oriented cities around the world, but this being Los Angeles, I must admit, I am impressed. This phenomenon is fairly new to my eyes for I have been riding Metro for almost a decade and I must admit I have never seen it as packed as of late. I have a feeling the masses will eventually die down if the fuel prices were to drop back down again. Now is the time for MTA to make a sales pitch and try to make new converts to public transit before the window is closed.

Mr Bean on Bus Stop

Not a good idea!!!

I started my new job which in reality is my old job really, about two months ago. One of the first things I noticed when I rode my bike to work for the first time was the fact that they have a bike parking facility, albeit a wheel-bender, but bike parking nonetheless. So, I rode my bike to the contraption and was about to lock up my bike when I realized something and at that moment, I took out my camera phone and shot some video. So with out further ado, I give to you a lesson in bike parking.

Not a good idea to lock up your bike if the bike parking facility has the same defect as this one.
By the way, I requested for it to be bolted or secured or something. I was told that it would it be taken care of. I have been there almost two months, or perhaps two months already and it is still in the same conditioned so I officially gave up on that and I lock my bike on a better, closer, more secured and shaded spot,