Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 216 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Enviro Eco Nature    H3'ed 10/3/22

Done With Public Transportation In Los Angeles

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   No comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Carl Petersen
Become a Fan
  (6 fans)
"You cannot understand a city without using its public transportation system."
- Erol Ozan

Subway
Subway
(Image by hape662)
  Details   DMCA
Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, my family had become converts to the Los Angeles transit system, particularly the Red Line connecting the San Fernando Valley to Downtown. In addition to helping us do our part to relieve congestion and reduce our carbon footprint, the convenience and reliability of the subway encouraged us to explore areas of the city that we had not before. One of the last activities we participated in before being locked away in quarantine was the Bernie Sanders rally at the Convention Center which we traveled to using the train.

When we were finally released from the safety of our cocoons to venture out into the world again we naturally resumed our place as customers of Los Angeles Metro. On a Saturday afternoon in May, we headed to the North Hollywood Metro Center for a trip to the Wiltern Theater to see the band Nightwish.

What we found was drastically different than what we remembered. While it was not unusual for the elevators to smell like pot and urine, these smells permeated the entire station this time. The train that we boarded was filthy. It was also mostly empty.

While the ride to the concert was uneventful, the trip back was a nightmare. The elevator that we needed to lower my wife and her wheelchair into the station was blocked by a person who was shouting obscenities and breaking the glass. We tried calling the police but were told that this was not an emergency situation. We waited for a break in the man's tirade and managed to get into the elevator, never feeling completely safe.

We boarded the train and made the trip to the station where we needed to make the transfer for our trip back to our car. The information sign indicated that it would be just a few minutes until the next train arrived. Then the time increased and then became even longer. After an indecipherable announcement, it just disappeared. We huddled together with a couple of fellow concertgoers waiting for our train to appear.

The platform we stood on was a scene out of an apocalyptic film. There were groups of people openly doing drugs. It was a well-used market with people showing up on skateboards and bicycles to exchange money for product with various shady characters. There was not a police officer in sight.

When we arrived back in North Hollywood we tried to board the elevator but a man was sleeping in it and would not move so that we could get in. We were finally able to find a policeman to help. Unfortunately, the elevator was not functioning and we had to call the "public servant" back. Turns out that closing time had passed and the elevator had been shut down. As he tried to get in touch with operations to turn it back on, additional homeless people were loaded into the elevator as they were rousted from the station. One became confrontational when my wife asked him to put out his cigarette.

After this experience, we decided that it would be safer to take our car for future outings. However, last Friday I decided that it would be a good time to give the subway another try. I had tickets to see Rammstein at the Los Angeles Coliseum and since my wife was not joining me I could see if things had improved without jeopardizing her safety.

As soon as I arrived at the station in North Hollywood I could tell that the system was still struggling to reach the ridership levels it had before the shutdown. At 2:30 on a Friday afternoon, I should have been struggling to find a parking spot but the lot was half empty.

As soon as I opened my car door the smell of pot was immediately noticeable. Was it any wonder that people were avoiding this transit center that used to be bustling with activity?

The train I rode was half empty, but there were no available seats. People were laying down across the seats or otherwise taking up extra seats. I held on to a pole and had an otherwise uneventful trip downtown.

After the show, my sister dropped me off at Union Station so that I could return home. As I made my way towards the platform at just after midnight other people passed me wearing Rammstein tour shirts so my guess is that the trains from the Coliseum were still arriving. As I purchased my ticket I could hear the train pull in so I scanned my pass at the turnstile and hurried to the train.

As I entered the train I was immediately confronted by a police officer who informed me that I had to leave. The last train had already left for the night.

"There are no more trains," I asked incredulously.

"Nope," he said with no hint of responsibility for customer service. So much for "To Protect and to Serve." As a resident of Los Angeles, I was easily able to make other arrangements to make my way home, but what if I was a tourist unfamiliar with how to get around? That interaction would have reflected poorly on our city.


(Image by LAPD)   Details   DMCA
Luckily, I was traveling alone on my Friday night trip so I did not have the additional logistical problems of dealing with my wife's wheelchair. It was simple for me to call an Uber to rescue me, but I am sure that would have been more difficult if something larger than a passenger car was needed.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Interesting 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Carl Petersen Social Media Pages: Facebook Page       Twitter Page       Linked In Page       Instagram Page

Carl Petersen is a parent, an advocate for students with special education needs, an elected member of the Northridge East Neighborhood Council, a member of the LAUSD's CAC, and was a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race. During the campaign, the Network for Public Education (NPE) Action endorsed him, and Dr. Diane Ravitch called him a " (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Make it a Headline When Trump Actually Tells the Truth

California Senate Candidate Alison Hartson on Education

Three Headlines That Got Buried Last Week

Bright Shiny Objects: Trump's Real Art is Diverting Attention

If Money Continues to Talk, We're Screwed

Finding Hope in Florida

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend