First, a few words of caution: this is something that is very much in the development stage. But it appears that Metro is going to move ahead and seriously begin exploring a way to provide cell phone service to subway passengers now that some security concerns have been addressed.
Now that their concerns over someone terrorizing the subway via cell phone have been resolved, this may finally happen.
Maybe the Blackberry addicts will take the subway more often.
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #1 on Jan 3, 2010, 11:55am »
I am not looking forward to hearing a lot of people chatting on phones, but data service sure would be nice to have, for texting and email and such. I just got back from D.C., and while none of the lines I rode had cell service, about half of the stations I passed through did, which was helpful.
Joined: Oct 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 2,110 Location: Cal Heights, Long Beach, CA
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #5 on Jan 9, 2010, 7:36pm »
I just saw a commercial for BlackBerry that used the L.A. subway. Not sure which line/station. The guy was using his BlackBerry on his way into the station, as well as on the platform. Kind of odd, given that our subway doesn't currently support phone service.
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #8 on Jun 30, 2011, 1:15pm »
Rather then full blown cell service, I would rather Metro invest in Wi-Fi network at stations and for each train (including light rail). This way, you can get email or Facebook updates without having to hear an 1-sided conversation that your fellow passenger is having with his Bluetooth ear piece.
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 861 Location: Los Angeles
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #9 on Aug 21, 2011, 3:57pm »
Not sure if cell service would have made any difference in catching the suspect in the murder over the weekend, although I am thinking probably not as I am sure the train operator called the Sherrif. Overall, this is a terrible statement for our security, which isn't a surprise. I mean we can't seem to keep people from hawking items and littering on the Blue Line.
People on the radio were saying how dangerous it is down on the subway. Not exactly a great advertisement for our rail system. To think we could have a murder and police not even show up for quite a while. People may think they can get away with anything even with video surveillance. Overall, a very bad weekend for Metrorail.
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 1,597 Location: Carson
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #10 on Aug 21, 2011, 7:53pm »
I've noticed in the past that when there were incidents on the blue line that the LASD response time is unacceptably long. Transitfan and I were discussing this on another forum and his idea was that a joint LAPD/LASD police contract might be the way to go. I don't think that cell phones would have helped in this instance. The fact that there was no one there to meet this guy for over 5 minutes even after the operator stopped his train and then restarted is unacceptable.
I've noticed in the past that when there were incidents on the blue line that the LASD response time is unacceptably long. Transitfan and I were discussing this on another forum and his idea was that a joint LAPD/LASD police contract might be the way to go. I don't think that cell phones would have helped in this instance. The fact that there was no one there to meet this guy for over 5 minutes even after the operator stopped his train and then restarted is unacceptable.
Yes, the 5 minutes is unacceptable; but think about it like this. The train operator probably has no idea of the details of the stabbing, but hears there's a commotion and the passengers in the last car are probably alerting the operator that there was a stabber. Now, do you leave the subway train in the middle of a tunnel with an apparent madman with a knife (remember, there is fear at this point, and not rationale so people could still be scared) or do you get the train to the nearest station and let the passengers out? If you keep the train underground in between stops then the knifer could go ballistic and imagine the driver's conscious at that point?
This is all catch-22. It's nice to look in hindsight "x should have happened...or y should have happened...". But in the moment, you are overcome with fear and thinking "oh my god, I have a stabber on my train...get out!".
Police are usually at Hollywood/Highland station, but to expect them to be at Hollywood/Western within minutes is unreasonable...just sheerly due to road congestion and probably no use of a train at the time. Police are always "damned if you do, damned if you don't"
By the way........anybody catch that 5 people died on LA's freeways over the weekend and one lady was shot in the middle of gunfire/road rage?
I've noticed in the past that when there were incidents on the blue line that the LASD response time is unacceptably long. Transitfan and I were discussing this on another forum and his idea was that a joint LAPD/LASD police contract might be the way to go. I don't think that cell phones would have helped in this instance. The fact that there was no one there to meet this guy for over 5 minutes even after the operator stopped his train and then restarted is unacceptable.
Yes, the 5 minutes is unacceptable; but think about it like this. The train operator probably has no idea of the details of the stabbing, but hears there's a commotion and the passengers in the last car are probably alerting the operator that there was a stabber. Now, do you leave the subway train in the middle of a tunnel with an apparent madman with a knife (remember, there is fear at this point, and not rationale so people could still be scared) or do you get the train to the nearest station and let the passengers out? If you keep the train underground in between stops then the knifer could go ballistic and imagine the driver's conscious at that point?
This is all catch-22. It's nice to look in hindsight "x should have happened...or y should have happened...". But in the moment, you are overcome with fear and thinking "oh my god, I have a stabber on my train...get out!".
Police are usually at Hollywood/Highland station, but to expect them to be at Hollywood/Western within minutes is unreasonable...just sheerly due to road congestion and probably no use of a train at the time. Police are always "damned if you do, damned if you don't"
By the way........anybody catch that 5 people died on LA's freeways over the weekend and one lady was shot in the middle of gunfire/road rage?
From what I read, someone in the car hit the emergency brake and then the operator got out and gave aid to the victim and then went back and got the train to the next station (Vine). It didn't seem the train operator did anything wrong.
The problem is that no one was waiting in the next station as far as police. If a homicide happened above ground, LAPD would have had multiple units there in a few minutes in that section of Hollywood. People were waiting over 5 minutes after the train got into the station at Vine for police to show up and some gave up and just left before they arrived. That is simply not unacceptable for an urban metro system.
There is too much risk here for that. The things I am seeing with our security are not good from the lapse with the mercury spill at Pershing Square Station to the homeless camping in the station at Vine to now this. Maybe the Sherrif needs to be replaced or at a minimum better coordination with LAPD in case of emergencies like this.
Just as I said, the train conductor wanted to get passengers safely to the nearest station in case a madman (keep in mind, at the moment, you are living in fear) was going to murder more innocent people. Then think of the PR nightmare for Metro.
I never heard of a written account that the train conductor actually left his/her cab to check on the victim and re-start the train....
Just as I said, the train conductor wanted to get passengers safely to the nearest station in case a madman (keep in mind, at the moment, you are living in fear) was going to murder more innocent people. Then think of the PR nightmare for Metro.
I never heard of a written account that the train conductor actually left his/her cab to check on the victim and re-start the train....
Here is the article saying where the conductor stopped the train and came to the aid of the passenger and then restarted the train.
Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I did read somewhere about the brake, but since that would be impossible, it was either the story that got that wrong or I wasn't reading closely. Nevertheless, the point whether someone got on the microphone or pulled a brake isn't important.
All I am saying is that I don't have the greatest confidence in the Sheriff's response and having to rely on the W's security cameras to catch this guy. I don't think the conductor did anything wrong as I stated before, and I don't think he should have just kept the doors closed until the police arrived, which could have been a really long time. I just think it took the police a little long to get there in such a main part of the city where there are quite a few cops.
You and I know the trains are quite safe and a safer way to travel than by auto. However, there is a segment of the population that thinks the trains are not safe (this usually is in reference to the Blue and sometimes Green Lines). This isn't good for ridership and overall acceptance as the way to travel in the city, and we need to avoid these type of incidents in the future to as much as possible.
I think a lot of people think there is quite a bit of security there with cameras and so forth. Even the guy who stabbed the victim thought he was going to get caught. This is a big deterrent to crime on our trains. The fact that he got away and still is running around is not good at all, and a signal to some that there really isn't that big of a deterrent there after all.
Rather than drive, ride! Ride Metro Rail, Metro bus, bicycle, vanpool, carpool, motorcycle!
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 399 Location: Near Metro Rapid 761 "station"
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #16 on Aug 22, 2011, 8:41pm »
Since I ride the Red Line pretty much everyday for work, I can tell you that this incident, despite being the first for the Red Line, didn't cause any drop in ridership on today's commute. The incident was all over the mainstream local media for about two days, but it dropped out of the headlines.
I'm not sure if our trains have emergency brakes, but opening the door with the emergency release will cause an electronic interlock to prevent the train from moving even if the operator moves the lever (although there should be an indicator light signalling the door ajar); this is why when some dimwit leaves the ball down (in the Red Line) the operator implores over the PA to close the door.
Our subway cars don't have emergency brakes afaik. They have intercoms to call the train operator.
Pulling the "red ball" above the car doors will trigger emergency braking.
Thank you. I didn't realize that. Do the doors also open as the train stops because I always thought that was the emergency door release like on the blue line. I don't recall that it even says that pulling that will stop the train. After the train stops can the operator restart it?
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #19 on Aug 24, 2011, 5:46pm »
Well, the guy has already been caught. As much as people like to hound on the LASD...keep in mind, they found this guy in 5 guys compared to 3 months of the Bryan Stow case with the LAPD in the Dodger Stadium area. So, just like Antonio said in the press conference today "...we cannot prevent every random act of voilence..". Cops get blamed for everything and anywhere.
Well, the guy has already been caught. As much as people like to hound on the LASD...keep in mind, they found this guy in 5 guys compared to 3 months of the Bryan Stow case with the LAPD in the Dodger Stadium area. So, just like Antonio said in the press conference today "...we cannot prevent every random act of voilence..". Cops get blamed for everything and anywhere.
True, cops do get blamed for just about everything. However, there does seem to be a real lack of enforcement of rules on metro and I wonder if we would be better with a dedicated force. I know I am not the only one who feels this is the case.
This was a lot easier case to solve than the Stow incident. Here, there were numerous witnesses in a well lit rail car at very close proximity with cc security cameras in the cars and stations. The Dodgers are being sued for having a dimly lit lot and their security cameras have to cover a much wider area. Also, they had pushed out the LAPD in favor of their in house security, which was pretty lax.
Joined: Mar 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 861 Location: Los Angeles
Re: Cell Phone Service May Be Coming to Red Line « Reply #21 on Aug 29, 2011, 8:07pm »
Looks like the LA Times is on a campaign to scare people about riding public transit. Honestly, I've never seen the mayhem these people seem to describe. Sure a guy panhandling here and there or someone who hasn't showered in a couple of months. However, I don't ride like I used to and I've only been on the Green and Blue Lines a few times.
Looks like the LA Times is on a campaign to scare people about riding public transit. Honestly, I've never seen the mayhem these people seem to describe. Sure a guy panhandling here and there or someone who hasn't showered in a couple of months. However, I don't ride like I used to and I've only been on the Green and Blue Lines a few times.
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