How to survive the transit cuts: Get a folding bicycle!
Submitted by Steven on 19 April, 2009 - 8:55pm
OCTA's severe transit cuts have made traveling by bus much more unpredictable, spontaneous affairs, and since I need a bicycle to get to places the bus doesn't, I often wait at the bus stop and wonder if the next bus's bicycle racks, like this photo on line 43, will be full. I've been refused to board at least twice within a month because of this unfortunate scenario, and unfortunately, one bus can only carry two bicycles at a time (unless the bus driver generously lets you take your bicycle on board). What to do about it (besides resorting to driving)?
Solution: folding bicycle! read more→
For Orange County transit riders, doomsday comes later this year: 59 bus routes and all UC Irvine routes may be cut
Submitted by Steven on 16 April, 2009 - 11:26pm
The financial "doomsday scenario" now has a deadline: June 2010.
OCTA just posted a dedicated section of their site outlining their cuts and explaining the budget situation. They have a list of 59 routes that they say they may curtail service on or are considering for outright elimination. Let me break it down for you. I modified their system map with these cuts (click on the image to the left; 400 kb PNG file). A summary of potential cuts:
- 59 bus routes may be cut, along with...
- All 24-hour service
- All "community bus" service
- Nearly all community shuttles
- Nearly all intra- and inter-county express buses
Santa Ana, for example, will find a lot of their bus service cut, leaving behind a skeleton of local service for the transit-dependent.
It's now impossible to get to the airport:
But I think, worst of all, it's now impossible to get to and from UC Irvine. OCTA may eliminate lines 59, 79, 175, 178 (along with 213 and 473), stranding students, faculty, employees, and, well, making the UC Irvine U-pass useless.
Of course, that's my interpretation of what OCTA posted. I've pasted the summary from OCTA's page. Got any thoughts? Make sure you send your comments to them! read more→
Bus riders, students, and union leaders protest OCTA cuts
Submitted by Steven on 16 April, 2009 - 10:33pm
Serena Maria Daniels wrote in this Monday's OC Register that union leaders and students protested a cut in mass transit. My take: The ones who hold the purse-strings — namely, local government officials — should also receive this feedback from bus drivers, students, and riders.
I wish I could organize a coordinated student response; unfortunately, studying for the licensing exam through end of May is taking about 15 hours out of my day. I'll post as frequently as I can with any new news about this issue. read more→
New University: "OCTA Cuts Leave Riders Stranded"
Submitted by Steven on 7 April, 2009 - 10:28pm
UC Irvine's weekly student newspaper, The New University, published an op-ed highlighting one UC Irvine's student viewpoint on OCTA's bus service cuts. Minhquan, a 5th-year journalism student, takes the 29 and 178 from Huntington Beach to UC Irvine each day. Republished here with Minhquan's kind permission.
OCTA Cuts Leave Riders Stranded
by Minhquan Nguyen - Volume 42, Issue 23 - Apr 06 2009
When the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) posted its annual report for 2008, the figures seemed promising for the county’s central transportation agency. Despite sharp increases in the price of gasoline – or, perhaps, because of it – bus rider-ship reached an all-time high of nearly 69 million, a very decent figure for a county as car-obsessed as ours.
Yet despite the growth of riders, OCTA continues to face budgetary stresses, which are exacerbated by the Great Recession sweeping the country at the moment. It should be understood that in addition to the bus system, OCTA is responsible for the improvement of streets and highways as well as improving the service of Metrolink rails within the county. Although OCTA draws funds from fares, tolls, interest on investments and federal support, most of the money in its 2008-09 fiscal budget comes from its own reserves (28 percent), state sources (23 percent) and local sources (29 percent). The latter two sources are largely derived from a state quarter-percent sales tax and a county half-percent sales tax, which were, respectively, originally estimated to total almost $400 million out of a $1.06 billion budget. read more→
We just opened a Free Clinic in Orange County
Submitted by Steven on 7 April, 2009 - 12:13am
And it's accessible by bus (see below for the bus pass deal)!
It was a little over a month ago that my friends and I held our Grand Opening with the Chancellor of UC Irvine, along with many special guests. The UC Irvine Outreach Clinics serves the growing uninsured population in Orange County, those who can't afford basic primary care services. Our clinic has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Southern California Public Radio KPCC, and on the front page of UC Irvine's main website.
My progress in losing weight: 20 pounds gone!
I'm very happy with a personal goal I set out for myself this year: to lose weight, despite the crushing workload of med school!
Although I definitely don't have, like, big muscles, I've noticed I fit comfortably in medium-sized shirts. My clothes have gotten considerably baggier. I'm also surprised I've been able to commit at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Before 2009, I wouldn't have lifted a weight to save my life.
My body fat has been decreasing, too. I've been using different methods of estimating the body fat with different formulas, so my chart below (the screenshot of My Personal Diet on my phone) zig-zags quite a bit. But I definitely feel thinner: my clothes have gotten baggier and my belts are all too long. read more→
Fares to increase up to 5.5%, and the end of free transit transfers on Metrolink
Submitted by Steven on 3 April, 2009 - 11:37pm
More bad news for transit riders, particularly those riding Southern California's commuter rail provider Metrolink. Their website has the gory details:
"Metrolink is considering an average annual fare increase ranging from 3.5% to 5.5% in 2009 to offset anticipated increases in costs to operate commuter train service. If approved by the Board, the new fares would go into effect on July 1, 2009."
Metrolink is also ending free transfers: "Metrolink one-way and round trip tickets would no longer include the transfer privilege for connections with EZ Transit Pass or TAP-enabled operators in Los Angeles County. Customers using one-way and round trip tickets would be required to pay the regular fare to use connecting transit services." read more→
Bus cutbacks hitting students hard, while OCTA prepares to spend billions on ≥4 freeway expansions
Submitted by Steven on 25 March, 2009 - 11:27pm
This article in Tuesday's Orange County Register did a very good job at dispelling the myth that the bus is just for the "undocumented" and shows how hard OCTA's 25% cut in transit service impacts students. (read below)
I myself have had a lot harder time getting around Orange County since buses are more crowded. Line 57's less frequent scheduling has caused buses to show up late (it takes additional time for more riders to alight), along with some crazy bus bunching issues. I've had to abandon using my full-sized bicycle since the racks are almost always full. Now, I wouldn't have a problem with less service if Orange County weren't also studying a $3.8-billion tunnel to lengthen the 57 freeway under the Santa Ana River. Oh, and the 91 freeway expansion. And the proposal to double-decker the 55 freeway through Newport Blvd. And the freeway expansion along the 405-22 junction. The imbalance in transportation makes me pissed beyond belief. read more→
Steep bus service cuts and layoffs: 25% of all service to be cut in Orange County
Submitted by Steven on 25 March, 2009 - 10:46pm
This past Monday, OCTA officially voted to axe 25% of its bus service and lay off 400 bus drivers, supervisors, and maintenance personnel to cope with the zeroed State Transit Assistance funds and loss in local revenue to support the transit system.
Riders will endure longer waits at bus stops for more crowded buses, as OCTA is turning down service frequencies. My take: this is much more preferable to axing whole bus lines (San Diego's approach). Since Orange County is such a sprawling suburban area, there are unfortunately no "redundant" bus lines to cut. read more→
