A Multi-Modal Independence Day

July 5, 2012 1 Comment

To celebrate America’s independence, there are a few things that come to mind in Los Angeles… the beach, bike rides, fireworks, barbecues, friends, and music. I experienced all of them yesterday, while also celebrating my independence from another thing… the personal automobile.

I didn’t necessarily set out to specifically spend the day without a car, but it was actually the easier and better way to get to most of my destinations for the day, which ranged from Downtown to the beach, with roughly 19 miles in between them. By the end of the day, I had traveled a total of nearly 50 miles by heavy-rail subway, light-rail, bike, bus, and foot. I exercised on bike, had tacos and margaritas by the ocean, grilled chicken, corn, and beer on a Downtown rooftop, and watched fireworks from a lawn in the shadow of the Coliseum.

Exposition Park hosted an hour-long fireworks show, easily accessible from the Metro Expo Line.

Read on for more detail of the fantastic Independence Day celebration and how it’s possible to experience an incredible range of Los Angeles without getting in a car.

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TAP Cards: How to make them truly smart

March 5, 2012 9 Comments

As Metro begins moving toward a locked-turnstile system on its rail lines, TAP cards are going to be even more important. It’s going to be in Metro’s best interest to convince users to make the switch from paper tickets to TAP, and it’s going to be in the users’ best interests to do so. Still, there are a few things that can make TAP cards even better. They call them “smart,” but right now there’s not a lot smart about the cards, so here’s how I think the system can be improved: Make them automatically convert to 1-day, 7-day, and 20-day passes when the card’s use hits a certain price threshold.

My tap card says "Smart. Simple. Secure." But is it really all of those things?

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The AmeriGrove on 8th – A Call to Rick Caruso

January 20, 2012 2 Comments

I spend a lot of time walking around Downtown. Every day I take at least two trips and often more between the Financial District and L.A. LIVE, from 7th Street to Olympic, usually on Figueroa or Flower and sometimes by Hope. (No, it’s not a coincidence that those are the three streets with subway portals at the 7th Street / Metro Center Station.)

Every day, I pass what I consider to be the biggest expanse of wasted space in Downtown Los Angeles: The parking lot between Figueroa, Flower, 7th, and 8th. Seriously, at least the (future home of the) Metropolis Development (which is currently a huge parking lot) isn’t sucking energy from the center of Downtown and is and more-or-less hidden over by the freeway. And Pershing Square at least has some places to sit (and an ice rink, movie screen, or concert stage depending on the time of year.) This parking lot is just an expanse of wasted space. The same amount of cars could fit in a structure one-fifth of the size, or a couple underground levels… and I’ve got an idea for what can go on top.

The current parking lot bounded by 8th, Figueroa, and Flower Streets.

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Lessons from Seattle part 3: Retail Development

January 9, 2012 1 Comment

Completing my series based on a trip I took to Seattle a few months ago, I conclude with retail development. (Previous posts looked at Airport Transit and Local Transit in Downtown Seattle.)

Because my time in Seattle was brief, I undoubtedly missed the vast majority that the city had to offer in terms of retail. I’m going to focus on a specific development, Pacific Place, with a few side notes as well.

I first noticed Pacific Place when I was eating dinner across the street one night. I was sitting on the patio and looked across the street, astounded that there was retail above the first floor on nearly every building. It was amazing because I am so used to retail being a ground floor aspect of buildings, with housing or offices above. What I didn’t know was that the “many” buildings I was looking at we’re actually one and that it was Pacific Place.

The shopping mall was designed to look like a number of buildings that had been built over time, and the major shops on the outer edge all had street facing entrances (as well as interior entrances). They acted almost like independent buildings from the street side, each with their own style as well.

From across the street, Pacific Place appears as multiple buildings, with retail and restaurants on all floors.

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