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| - from soundtransit.org |
Monday, May 30, 2011
Seattle is Traversatile!
Friday, May 27, 2011
BICYCLING/SUBWAY/LIGHT-RAIL: Burbank to Long Beach
MODES: Biking, Subway, Light-Rail
Last week, I went down to the Long Beach bike path along the ocean, my usual way: I took the train from the San Fernando Valley, using the underground Red Line, and changing in DT L.A. at 7th/Fig. for the Blue Line...except for one little problem: Expo Line light rail construction shuts down the Blue Line between its terminus at 7th St., and Washington St. station in a light-industrial area south of DT.
Having experienced this before, I had a choice: I could put my bike on the shuttle bus to Washington Sta., or bike south about 2 miles through DT to Washington, thence to hop on the Blue Line light-rail to DT Long Beach. I chose the latter, as I have done in the past - it's not the prettiest stretch of road, but it's flat, and -for L.A. - lightly trafficked on a weekend. It lengthened a usually 90 minute trip to almost two hours, but having left around 9:00 A.M., I was in Long Beach before 11:00. The good news is I spent zero on gasoline. Consider that I traveled more than 60 miles round-trip for $6.
The ride on the Long Beach Pedestrian Bikepath, streets through Naples, and Seal Beach, was rather short. Typically, I try to make it to Huntington Pier, and back - almost 40 miles round-trip. This time, I rode to Seal Beach, and back - barely 15 miles around-trip. Next time...
Notes: technically you are supposed to ride with your bike in designated areas on the trains; most people ignore this. However, the designated areas are easier to ride. On Red Line trains, the baggage/wheelchair symbol offers a car with fewer seats and more floor-space. On Blue Line trains, the center of the each car is articulated, and provides a rather shallow alcove for you and your bike.
Last week, I went down to the Long Beach bike path along the ocean, my usual way: I took the train from the San Fernando Valley, using the underground Red Line, and changing in DT L.A. at 7th/Fig. for the Blue Line...except for one little problem: Expo Line light rail construction shuts down the Blue Line between its terminus at 7th St., and Washington St. station in a light-industrial area south of DT.
Having experienced this before, I had a choice: I could put my bike on the shuttle bus to Washington Sta., or bike south about 2 miles through DT to Washington, thence to hop on the Blue Line light-rail to DT Long Beach. I chose the latter, as I have done in the past - it's not the prettiest stretch of road, but it's flat, and -for L.A. - lightly trafficked on a weekend. It lengthened a usually 90 minute trip to almost two hours, but having left around 9:00 A.M., I was in Long Beach before 11:00. The good news is I spent zero on gasoline. Consider that I traveled more than 60 miles round-trip for $6.
 |
| - from City of Long Beach website |
The ride on the Long Beach Pedestrian Bikepath, streets through Naples, and Seal Beach, was rather short. Typically, I try to make it to Huntington Pier, and back - almost 40 miles round-trip. This time, I rode to Seal Beach, and back - barely 15 miles around-trip. Next time...
Notes: technically you are supposed to ride with your bike in designated areas on the trains; most people ignore this. However, the designated areas are easier to ride. On Red Line trains, the baggage/wheelchair symbol offers a car with fewer seats and more floor-space. On Blue Line trains, the center of the each car is articulated, and provides a rather shallow alcove for you and your bike.
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