Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge?

[johnc]

OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking.

First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government.

Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus.  Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain?

Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be.

Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed.

In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in.

and ... they pass out free jamon (govt. subsidized) @ every metro station.

[DanTheMan]

In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in.

+1

On time and easy to use. I like the highspeed trains 170mph, we should get on between here and LaLa land.

Id use PT here if it was fast, efficient, cheap, and convenient. In the south Bay its not practical. In the City, id be all over it, but it sucks up there.

[bigiain]

Oh...and bicycling is pretty cool too, if you can swing it. Low cost, fairly self-sufficient, and it takes care of the exercise quota.

Goddaned mungbean-eating patchouli-oil-stinking _hippy!_

Get out there and burn some dinosaurs! Do your bit, I can't make global warning happen all by myself! Do you _want_ the planet to be overrun by bloody polar bears and penguins?

Sheeh!

big (I was gonna add "lycra-clad" in that first sentence, and now I have to bleach my inner vision...)

[desmoquattro]

Goddaned mungbean-eating patchouli-oil-stinking _hippy!_

Get out there and burn some dinosaurs! Do your bit, I can't make global warning happen all by myself! Do you _want_ the planet to be overrun by bloody polar bears and penguins?

Sheeh!

big (I was gonna add "lycra-clad" in that first sentence, and now I have to bleach my inner vision...)

Dude, I own a giant land whale truck, two pollution-spewing full-aftermarket-exhaust Ducatis, and a literbike Yamaha...and I shoot guns. My troglodyte credentials shouldn't be in question

[DanTheMan]

A work of the BB Troll

Bay Bridge troll
Where: East span of Bay Bridge, north side.

Story: When construction crews repaired the Bay Bridge after it collapsed during the Loma Prieta earthquake, a troll took up residence. He's still there, sitting on the north side of the bridge, on the upper deck, out of view of motorists.

Ironworkers repairing the span gave an artist a chunk of metal and had him create a troll. The creature has a barrel-like body and spindly arms and legs. He's leaning forward slightly, and holding what looks like a rod.

"It's there to protect the bridge from future earthquakes," said Bart Ney, a Caltrans spokesman. "That's what trolls and gargoyles do - protect bridges and buildings."

But the east span is being replaced, and the existing span will be demolished. The troll may be retired to a museum or attached to the new single-tower suspension span.

[bigiain]

I'm _so_ gonna have to use that Bay Bridge Troll as my avatar whenever I get drunk and come into Ducati MOB to cause trouble!

 

big

[desmoquattro]

^^ Awesome

Now it needs gremlin bells too...

[Michael Moore]

However, I am outraged that the 2 most expensive areas in the US don't deliver my most treasured personal liberty. The ability to drive (and park) wherever and whenever I want.

But surely you see the relationship between expensive places to live and poor driving/parking conditions? They both are a direct result of a place's popularity. Great city = lots of people = high prices & no parking. If you go to some place that is not in demand (Detroit, Indianapolis, etc.) you'll find low prices and plenty of parking. It's just cause and effect.

[DucNrun]

OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking.

First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government.

Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus.  Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain?

Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be.

Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed.

In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in.

Politics???  Really??!!!  Can't this be the one place we come and not have to deal with politics?

[desmoquattro]

Politics???  Really??!!!  Can't this be the one place we come and not have to deal with politics?

That was more of a rant on how much easier it is to get around in Europe. Only in the US does transit become a verbotten political topic

[Spidey]

GWB was a f'n genius and if you don't agree, you're a a blame-Amurrica-first turrist who hates the troops and loves furners and illegals and teh gheys.  There, now THAT's some politics for ya.  

[TCK!]

[Spidey]

Lil Bastard is wearing exactly that same costume to day care today (minus the alien). 

[sroberts152]

Just a heads up: Bay Bridge isn't going to open this weekend and might not be ready on Monday morning for the morning commute.

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13680567

Plan accordingly.

[ducati_tim]

OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking.

First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government.

Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus.  Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain?

Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be.

Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed.

In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in.

My muni pass is good for a month of unlimited rides on buses, BART (within the city), munimetro, streetcars and cable cars. Looks like the city has the goods. It's the poor suburban dwellers that are left out