Why didn't anybody tell me being a hippie sucked?
Oh yeah, Cartman on South Park did. But I did not listen. I hang my head in shame.
Living in LA without a car is like running a marathon with two broken legs, no crutches and no painkillers.
In theory, it only takes 10-15 minutes to get to school by bus. In reality, it takes well over a half-hour to get there, and over an hour to get home by the same route! The buses don't run well -- if at all! -- in this town. And they run less frequently late at night when my classes end. Further, to get to school by bus I have to go through South Central LA... you know, the ones all the pissed off rappers are always referring to? Now I see why they are so pissed. That place sucks. And the juxtaposition of the beautiful USC campus located smack-dab in the middle of the ghetto must infuriate the locals even more, which is something I am not fond of doing.
And, I tried taking the "metro" here in town as well. The Red Line stop is only a few blocks from my house, so in theory it should be a snap. Again, what would take 15 minutes by car in traffic took around 45 minutes by metro. First, the trains don't run frequently. Second, they run VERY slowly when they do run at all. Third, uh, well there is no third. I just like using three examples as a general rule, but I couldn't think of one. Sorry.
What's really interesting about the LA metro is that it is based on the honor system. There are no physical impediments to entering the train area. Sure, in theory if someone gets caught without a fare pass they could get in trouble. But such a system is very unsafe: Anybody can walk through to the train area, mug a passenger and run away without anything to stop them other than a rent-a-cop who may not even give a shit in the first place.
So, after being carless for one week, I have decided to get a car. Yes, I have already given up. It is too slow, too dangerous and flat out inconvenient to not have a car in this town.
I tried. I failed.
Cartman, please forgive me.
Oh yeah, Cartman on South Park did. But I did not listen. I hang my head in shame.
Living in LA without a car is like running a marathon with two broken legs, no crutches and no painkillers.
In theory, it only takes 10-15 minutes to get to school by bus. In reality, it takes well over a half-hour to get there, and over an hour to get home by the same route! The buses don't run well -- if at all! -- in this town. And they run less frequently late at night when my classes end. Further, to get to school by bus I have to go through South Central LA... you know, the ones all the pissed off rappers are always referring to? Now I see why they are so pissed. That place sucks. And the juxtaposition of the beautiful USC campus located smack-dab in the middle of the ghetto must infuriate the locals even more, which is something I am not fond of doing.
And, I tried taking the "metro" here in town as well. The Red Line stop is only a few blocks from my house, so in theory it should be a snap. Again, what would take 15 minutes by car in traffic took around 45 minutes by metro. First, the trains don't run frequently. Second, they run VERY slowly when they do run at all. Third, uh, well there is no third. I just like using three examples as a general rule, but I couldn't think of one. Sorry.
What's really interesting about the LA metro is that it is based on the honor system. There are no physical impediments to entering the train area. Sure, in theory if someone gets caught without a fare pass they could get in trouble. But such a system is very unsafe: Anybody can walk through to the train area, mug a passenger and run away without anything to stop them other than a rent-a-cop who may not even give a shit in the first place.
So, after being carless for one week, I have decided to get a car. Yes, I have already given up. It is too slow, too dangerous and flat out inconvenient to not have a car in this town.
I tried. I failed.
Cartman, please forgive me.
posted by David Deutsch at 7:58 AM
1 Comments:
David, I've been affecting the LA transit system. I had to do something to get your attention. It's lonely in auto-purgatory. I tried flirting with a Del Sol involved in a rollover accident, but she'll have nothing to do with me. David, you must go on without me and find another vehicle, but could you just turn on my windshield wipers one more time? Please?
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