Zipcar is only interested in serving the populations living on college campuses, thus leaving a criticial loss for permanent residents who solely rely on public transportation.

LAXCarshare was started to serve the residents of Los Angeles.

I talked to Zipcar. No timeline yet, they need to wait and see how long it takes the city to actually get the spaces ready…They did say they’re coming though…

Mass transit should stand on its own merits. People shouldn’t ride it *just* because driving sucks or is too expensive. They should ride it because it’s fast, clean, safe and efficient. If it isn’t any of those things, people are still going to stick with the crappy alternatives. It’s up to the transit agencies and the riders to meet each other halfway on the safe and cleanliness part.

The guys in the back of the bus drinking Coronas and spitting sunflower seeds on the floor (I’ve seen it) are going to turn people off to riding mass transit. People like this have obviously failed in their responsibility to act like decent human beings. Metro has also failed in their responsibility to enforce the rules. Undercover officers sweeping buses and kicking these jerks off, making them wait 15-30 minutes for the next one, might change their tune.

But no, money for unmanned turnstiles that will be evaded all day, every day will do the trick.

I mean really get on the two at 2am and tell me if you would view that as an ABC Family experience.

And plus I’m just saying what I see, if you think I’m an advocate or something, well that would be like thinking that Amy Winehouse is a good role model for girls, not that I’m Amy Winehouse or I smoke crack, but I’m really not the one to look for in regards to positive happy talk. Funny, maybe, positive, well if reality is positive then maybe I am.

Get on the bus at 1am and tell me what you see Ramonchu, maybe my perspective is tainted owing to my alcohol abuse or maybe I’m crazy. Maybe the bus at 2am is a big party with flowers and candy.

Browne

Browne; I thought you WANTED people to ride buses, but it’s clear that you do not. Crackhead stories go a long way in keeping people away from buses or…no that’s all they do.

And if the bus does come, well who knows the interesting people you may meet while on the two or 60.

Here’s a link to one of my late night bus trips.

http://www.thebusbench.com/2008/02/brazilian-nites.html

Ever watch someone with all their belongings in a bag and one of those belongings is a crack pipe? And to watch the person scramble on the dirty bus floor to get that crack pipe and then yell at you because you’re watching them do this crazy thing? I don’t know where in LA you can have that kind of experience for only 1.25.

The destination is part of the fun!!!

Browne

Or, you could do what I did last weekend… take the girlfriend into the city and get off at 24th-Mission BART, pickup a Zipcar for one hour to Twin Peaks and back. Cheaper than a taxi and you don’t need to call a taxi when you’re ready to go back! I’d definitely do the same thing if they had car sharing at Hollywood/Western or Vermont/Sunset for the Griffith Observatory.

Despite my insistence on mass transit, I still *like* to drive, just not through congested LA. I love Sunday drives. I love taking off spontaneously with my girlfriend. I love road trips.

I currently own a car but only drive it when transit cannot take me where I need to go. My school and work commutes are both taken by transit. But if I want to go to say, Joshua Tree National park to see the stars, no bus or train will take me there. If I want to travel somewhere late at night, I will have to take along the car.

An established daily commute is simpler on mass transit than a spontaneous trip on mass transit in unfamiliar territory. If a infrequent or one-time trip looks to be like a pain in the ass on transit, I will take the car.

Perhaps if I had Zipcar in my neighborhood, I would ditch my car entirely.

In my view, Zipcar might entice more people to give up their own car and rely on mass transit. By having Zipcar for those what-if situations it removes the fear of being “trapped” by transit.

I hope it becomes more widespread, more affordable and more popular.

Ok, I said it. I feel better. I know many of you don’t agree, but it had to be said.

Boo!! to the regular car rental.

Browne