Post by sirrocko711 on Dec 21, 2010 0:45:54 GMT -8
"Right sizing the rapid bus network" popped up a lot on the recent December schedule changes, and looking at the proposed changes for the Expo Line, more cuts to the Rapid lines seem in the works.
Where do you think the Rapid system needs to be altered? Is it spread thin?
My couple thoughts:
- 733: Needs MORE, at least on weekends when it turns into a 720-@-rush-hour style sardine can. Cuts to the other rapid lines should be reallocated to boost the 733's weekend frequency from every 20ish min to 10-15ish.
And though it's wishful thinking, if there's any way they could get those Orange Line 3-bike racks onto here, that'd be amazing. I've never had problems using my bike on the Metro until I started commuting on Venice. :-o Especially on weekends, the bike racks are full often enough that I leave home one bus early because it's so likely I'll have to let the first one pass.
...I LOVE this line though, griping aside. It's super reliable & at some points (btwn Fairfax and Crenshaw especially) feels like a non-stop express.
- 704: The proposal to truncate it at Alvarado seems awkward, it's not like downtown is that much farther, but it does usually run pretty empty beyond there. Still, there is a good argument in having a connection for connection's sake and Union Station is a major one.
- Discontinuing the 711, 714, & 715: Having tried to use the 714 before and knowing these other two have similar (in)frequencies, this is a good call. I don't really see the point in a half-hourly rapid bus, by the time the rapid shows up, the local could've gotten you most of the way there. Wound up boarding a 14 in Dtown and at no point from there to the Grove did a 714 pass us, and that was during peak hours when 714 was running the most often. Granted that was one incident, but still.
- 757: Proposal is to cancel it and boost the 207. As I said in the Expo board, this is probably for the best. While Western is a major North-South corridor and one of the busiest buses in the system, the narrow conditions on Western don't make for strong time savings vs. the 207. The difference between them is noticeable but ultimately negligible, unless you're traveling from way down near the Green Line.
- 780: Was just on it tonight and it was respectably packed straight through to the Crackton area. It's service south of HWood has been cut twice in a row, no? I guess the issue here is time savings over the 217? It's a shame, the 217 down Fairfax can be a pretty brutal ride at times.
- 761: Gonna group this one under "needs moar!" Used it twice, both times to get to the Getty. Both times it took forever to show up, and was a SARDINE CAN by the time it did. That said, I only used it twice.... not much to go off of.
Where do you think the Rapid system needs to be altered? Is it spread thin?
My couple thoughts:
- 733: Needs MORE, at least on weekends when it turns into a 720-@-rush-hour style sardine can. Cuts to the other rapid lines should be reallocated to boost the 733's weekend frequency from every 20ish min to 10-15ish.
And though it's wishful thinking, if there's any way they could get those Orange Line 3-bike racks onto here, that'd be amazing. I've never had problems using my bike on the Metro until I started commuting on Venice. :-o Especially on weekends, the bike racks are full often enough that I leave home one bus early because it's so likely I'll have to let the first one pass.
...I LOVE this line though, griping aside. It's super reliable & at some points (btwn Fairfax and Crenshaw especially) feels like a non-stop express.
- 704: The proposal to truncate it at Alvarado seems awkward, it's not like downtown is that much farther, but it does usually run pretty empty beyond there. Still, there is a good argument in having a connection for connection's sake and Union Station is a major one.
- Discontinuing the 711, 714, & 715: Having tried to use the 714 before and knowing these other two have similar (in)frequencies, this is a good call. I don't really see the point in a half-hourly rapid bus, by the time the rapid shows up, the local could've gotten you most of the way there. Wound up boarding a 14 in Dtown and at no point from there to the Grove did a 714 pass us, and that was during peak hours when 714 was running the most often. Granted that was one incident, but still.
- 757: Proposal is to cancel it and boost the 207. As I said in the Expo board, this is probably for the best. While Western is a major North-South corridor and one of the busiest buses in the system, the narrow conditions on Western don't make for strong time savings vs. the 207. The difference between them is noticeable but ultimately negligible, unless you're traveling from way down near the Green Line.
- 780: Was just on it tonight and it was respectably packed straight through to the Crackton area. It's service south of HWood has been cut twice in a row, no? I guess the issue here is time savings over the 217? It's a shame, the 217 down Fairfax can be a pretty brutal ride at times.
- 761: Gonna group this one under "needs moar!" Used it twice, both times to get to the Getty. Both times it took forever to show up, and was a SARDINE CAN by the time it did. That said, I only used it twice.... not much to go off of.
