Rock Out to Go Green: Earth Day 2008

Calling all green-minded rockers!

As most of you know, Earth Day is just around the corner. Next Tuesday, April 22, people will be celebrating healthy lifestyles and visions of the present and future. Many will choose to walk or bike instead of taking the car to run errands. Some will plant small trees or flowers in the ground. Some will be conserving energy. And some will be rocking out, Earth Day style!

But Lesley, how is music related to Earth Day?
Usually, it really isn’t. The closest I get to being one with the earth with music is when I listen to U2 (which is rare, but isn’t Bono the quintessential do-gooder?). Despite my feeble attempts of linking music to environmental activism, the clever folks at Metro are three steps ahead of me.

Metro Earth Day concert at Union Station at noon!
The Metro is hosting a free Earth Day concert by the band Canon, a “green” rock band. I haven’t personally heard of Canon, since majority of the music I listen to is mid 90’s music written by the depressed youth of Seattle. But Canon is a band I’d go see based on the simple fact that the music scene is getting heavily involved with improving the environment. From the reviews of Canon, it appears to produce sounds similar to Muse and Radiohead, and their single, “The Hourglass,” is an anthem to environmental awareness.

This reward system is yet another attempt of the public transportation system of Los Angeles to promote awareness of it’s, well, existence. Metro riders already either are entirely aware of the benefits of commuting, or don’t know the extent of their actions, yet promote a greener lifestyle by default by their commuting. But there is a large portion of Los Angeles residents who remain unfamiliar to the benefits of commuting, the many ways to do so, or the overall ease.

The concert will be held in Union Station, which, as every one of my blogs has indicated, is the mecca of public transportation. I’ve never actually driven to Union Station since it’s in the confusing part of downtown (not to imply that the rest of downtown is a piece of cake to navigate through). But perhaps this logic is shared among others who are interested in going to the event, so people will embark on a Metro ride to the station, see how easy and convenient it is, and become more frequent riders. Who knows if this will actually recruit more riders, but you’ve gotta hand it to the Metro people for trying new angles.

In my eyes, music is fantastic. Riding the Metro and other public transportation is great. Earth Day is cool. And Union Station is fabulous. I haven’t had a chance to explain my supreme approval for Union Station because I am usually too focused on where I’m going instead of appreciating where I am at the present (profound application to the philosophy of life, too, eh?). But really, Union Station is great because it’s nearly impossible to get lost, it offers restaurants and services for those who are waiting for larger train rides, and it’s a historic relic of the old transportation days of a booming metropolitan city.


Outside the fact that nearly everything is filmed in Los Angeles these days, I like to believe that Union Station is viewed in several movies because it exemplifies what one expects of a train station; brown leather seats, large clocks, great architecture, and pretty tiled floors.





Enough on Union Station, I want to know more about “green” bands!
Good, me too. Actually, there are several major bands that in one way or another help the environment.

Grist, an environmental news magazine, lists several bands that contribute concert profits and general income to support green ideas. Money is donated to organizations working on climate change, renewable energy, environmental education, local farmers, and many more.

Of such bands and musicians, my favorites are Pearl Jam, Perry Farrell (of Jane’s Addiction), Barenaked Ladies, Moby, Guster, Thom Yorke (of Radiohead).

Other bands highlighted in the article are: The Roots, Sarah Harmer, Green Day, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, KT Tunstall, Sheryl Crow, Cloud Cult and Bonnie Raitt.

In addition to all these artists who, for some of them, I wouldn’t expect, there are also several music festivals which contribute to the green scene. Such annual concerts include Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.

To read the full Grist article, go here

To learn more about the Earth Day concert, visit the Metro website

Getting to USC

Sometimes the crushing realization comes to us University of La Verne kids that our small-town school community doesn’t have all we need. Fortunately, we’re only a train ride away from one of Los Angeles’ primal academic and cultural hubs: The University of Southern California.

On more than one occasion, I’ve found that the ULV library, and the La Verne library don’t have what I need to craft a well prepared research paper, and I’ve been directed to one of USC’s libraries.

Even besides my nerd reason of travel to USC, there are other reasons why one might need to go there. Perhaps you are looking into grad school. Perhaps you want to see a play. Perhaps you want to attend a fabulous campus party. Perhaps you are attending a convention. Or perhaps you’re in the area and want to visit the on-campus Wolfgang Puck Express. There are many reasons to go, but here the problem: how to get there.

Unlike La Verne’s modest sized campus, USC is spread throughout an intimidating portion of downtown(ish) Los Angeles, which even strikes a sense of panic in yours truly. I’d be considerably more inclined to utilize all of USC’s resources if I knew exactly where I was going- on campus, as well as the route to get to, so here are some tips to making the trek less frightening and more of an adventure. Sans car style.

In this blog:
• Free shuttle to and from USC and Union Station
• Shuttle schedule and stops
• What to do if you can’t get aboard the USC shuttle at Union Station
• What to do if you’re traveling outside of the USC shuttle times

What’s the fastest, easiest way to USC?
Answer: the free USC bus shuttle at Union Station!
Here's how to get to USC using the free shuttle service, and then I'll break it down and explain step-by-step for the confused.

1) Take Metrolink to Union Station ($7.25 each way on weekdays, $5.50 weekends)
2) Board the USC shuttle outside the Union Station exit at the Patsaouras Transit Plaza
3) Exit at the JEP house (after a stop at 34th and McClintock Ave.)
4) Take USC shuttle as needed

STEP 1
Taking the Metrolink
Again, find the newared La Verne Metrolink stop at 205 Santa Fe Street in Pomona. Resort back to my second blog about all you need to know about the Metrolink.

STEP 2
Is the free USC shuttle only for USC students? Or can anyone ride it?
But here’s the deal with the USC shuttle. First of all, it’s technically for USC students/faculty. And technically, that does not mean us. But a friendly USC department of transportation lady explained that that the drivers rarely check IDs, and seemed to encourage me to take the bus anyway full knowing that I’m not a student at the school.

She pointed out that since most of us look like students anyway, the drivers rarely ask for proof. I even asked about teacher-aged bus riders, and if they would be more prone to an ID check, but she again replied that the drivers shouldn’t discriminate.

So what’s the deal with the shuttles?
The shuttle that I’m concerned with runs to the UPC (University Park Campus) – not to be confued with the HSC (Health Science Campus), which is smaller and three miles northeast of the downtown “main” campus. The shuttle runs between three total stops. Union Station, 34th St. & McClintock Ave, and your destination: the JEP House(Joint Educational Project House), which is on the Northern side of the USC campus at Trousdale and 34th Street.


Where on Earth do I find the shuttle at Union Station and where exactly is it dumping me off?
Board the USC-bound shuttle at Union Station’s bus area in the Patsaouras Transit Plaza, bus zone 4. As with the Fly Away service, you are going to exit Union Station on the end near the Red Line entrance.
Shuttle Schedule
Allegedly the shuttle runs from Union Station to USC in the mornings, and in the afternoons it runs the other way, from USC to Union Station. Why not simultaneously run the shuttle both ways, you ask. Honestly, this makes no sense to me, either. But stay tuned for alternative routes to and from USC and Union Station, to be found in the last portion of this post.

Note: this particular shuttle only runs Monday through Friday.

To USC:
On the hour, every hour starting at 7:00 a.m., then 3:25 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 3:55 p.m., 4:05 p.m.

To Union Station:
4:25 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 5:05 p.m., 5:20 p.m., 5:35 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 6:10 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:05 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

For more info, visit the USC transit web page

STEP 3
Arriving to the JEP House on the USC campus
USC’s campus is pretty hefty, so your best bet is to download a pdf map from their website. Below is an overall idea of where you’ll be getting off at USC



STEP 4
Using USC's campus shuttle
There is also a campus tram that runs at this USC campus. For an interactive tram map, click here.

There are three main shuttle routes on the UPC campus during the weekdays. Shuttles run from 7:30 a.m. till 11 p.m. or 12:00 a.m., depending on the route.
To see specific weekday routes: Route A, Route B, Route C, click here
Below those three shuttles, find the weekend shuttle which runs from 10:30 p.m. to 2:45 a.m.

Further Questions about USC’s free shuttle service?
Call the USC Transportation Services at (213) 740-3575. They are quite helpful.

But what happens if I ride the tram the one day that they’re asking for a valid USC student ID?
It’s always good to have a backup. This also is ‘Plan B’ for if you’re traveling outside of regular USC shuttle hours. At this point, you turn to the downtown-specific bus system: DASH. The DASH route you’re interested in to get to USC is Route F.

Route F runs downtown every 10 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Here is the breakdown of taking the DASH bus to get to USC, which will be dissected into explanatory paragraphs:

Getting to USC from Union Station using DASH
1) Once at Union Station, get on the Metro Red or Metro Purple line (free if you rode in on Metrolink)
2) Ride for 2 stops, exit at 7th Street/Metro Center
3) Find yourself at 7th Street and Flower, or walk to Flower from Hope.
4) Board the Route F bus (cost: $.25)
5) Exit
6) If needed, board USC campus tram

Break it down!

STEP 1
Arriving at Union Station, getting to the Metro
I list this route as a backup because you must take an extra step. Here’s what to do:
When arriving at Union Station, instead of promptly getting on a bus, you must first travel two stops on the red or purple line. Signs for the Red Line are visibly marked at Union Station. If you traveled in on the Metrolink, you don't need to purchase a subway ticket for the usual $1.25, score!) Enter the Wilshire-bound purple subway or the North Hollywood-bound red subway: either will do. Union Station is the starting point for both the red and purple line, so you don’t have to worry about boarding a train that’s going the wrong direction.

STEP 2
Exiting the Metro
Go two stops and exit at 7th Street.


STEP 3
Getting to the DASH Route F stop from the Metro exit
When exiting the train, you have the option to exit 7th street at Flower or Hope. You will want to exit onto Flower. If you accidentally exit on Hope, don’t worry! When you’re standing on the corner of Hope and 7th, take a right onto 7th, and the next intersection will be 7th and Flower, which is where you want to be when you’re getting aboard the DASH: Route F.

STEP 4
The DASH Route 7 bus info
The bus arrives at Flower and 7th every ten minutes, starting at 5 past the hour.
Here be a schedule for Route F

There are only six remaining stops on this line once you board, and depending on where you want to go to at USC, you may choose a different exit. But not all stops take you to USC, so it’s really important to choose wisely between 2 stops: Vermont at Exposition, and Jefferson at Hoover. Now, I'm still somewhat confused because the Route 7 map leads us to believe that there are more than these six stops (after boarding at 7th & Flower). Confusing? Yes, that's why I know few who actually take the bus. But a last resort is a last resort.


STEP 5
Where to exit the Route F bus onto the USC campus
It all depends on where you’re going. Remember, USC’s campus is slightly larger than La Verne’s, so if you’re pressed for time you probably want to be in the closest area to your event instead of walking through the entire campus (and running risk of getting hopelessly confused).
So here’s the breakdown of the stops on the DASH Route F line, and a list of prominent buildings near each stop.

The entire campus map is too large to put here, so go to the USC map & directions web site and download a pdf of University Park Campus Map, and from here you can look up specific buildings.

Bus Stop: Vermont at Exposition
Important buildings near this stop:
• Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College
• Seaver Science Center
• Hughes Electrical Engineering Center
• Lindhurst Galleries
• Wong Conference Center
• Loker Hydrocarbon Institute
• Andrus Gerontology Center
• Public Safety
• Denney Research Center
• Technical Theatre Laboratory

Bus Stop: Jefferson at Hoover
Important buildings near this stop:
• JEP House
• Shrine Auditorium
• Stoops Education Library
• Leavey Library
• College Academic Services
• Social Work Center
• Instructional Media Services
• Norris Cinema Theatre
• Social Sciences
• Student Union
• Commons
• Newman Recital Hall
• Annenberg School for Communication
• Everybody's Kitchen

If you need to get somewhere else on campus that isn’t around one of these two stops, resort back to the campus tram.

Things to consider about your USC trip:
• If you are taking the Metrolink into Union Station, it's important to remember the schedule so you don't become stranded in downtown LA. The last train leaves back east promptly at 7:50 p.m., and you'd better be on it.

• The USC Union Station shuttle only runs to USC in the mornings, and to Union Station in the evenings

• The USC Union Station shuttle only runs on weekdays. For weekends, resort to the Metro & Dash Route F combination

the LA Metro Subway System

The Metro is the public transportation system for Los Angeles, primarily in form of light rail and bus. While the bulk of the Metro services are not available to the La Verne area, this is the way to get around town once you’ve rode into the city on the Metrolink.

(Note: when I say “Metro” from now on, I am referring to the subway system, because honestly, I still find Los Angeles buses intimidating. Besides, many Los Angeles hotspots are accessible via subway plus light walking).

Perhaps another reason people choose not to use the Metrolink is due to the anxiety of navigating through the subway system once they reach downtown. This is a true shame because the Metro is a lot cleaner and straightforward than the unfamiliar rider would believe. The Metro is a great, inexpensive way to get around town if you need to ditch the car. And like any journey, it feels like a mini adventure. So get onboard!



Tickets
Tickets cost $1.25 per line. Unlike the wonderful New York City subways, one ticket does not allow underground transfer to multiple lines. Oh no, in LA, one $1.25 ticket is required for each train.

It has come to my attention that a metro ticket is direction specific, but there is a two hour time limit. As far as I know, this means you can exit the subway and board again within the two hour time span and continue on the same route. 

The system is lax, so it may seem as if people can take advantage of the system. For starters, there is no turnstile to pass through. There is no ticket validation system. It seems like anarchy. One wonders what the incentive is to even buy tickets in the first place due to how easy it is to enter the train. But as with the Metrolink, random ticket checks may happen at any time, resulting in a hefty fine and public embarrassment. So take a minute and buy a ticket at the machine.

Ticket Machines
Machines are present at or nearby all subway platforms. If you can work one ticket machine, you can work any:
1) Select type of ticket: one way, daily pass for Metro and bus, or Metro to Muni transfer ticket
2) Insert cash or tokens (no credit cards, at least as far as I know)
Added bonus: change for tickets if provided in form of dollar coins!!

Remember- if you rode in from the Metrolink and are thinking about purchasing a Metro ticket, don’t! Your Metrolink ticket entitles you to one free line ticket or one bus ticket.

Weekly prepaid tickets are also offered in the Metro Customer Center at Union Station, downtown Los Angeles.

Map and Train Lines
To view more information on a specific line, including parking information and the street address of each stop, click on an individual line below.
Red Line
Purple Line
Green Line
Blue Line
Gold Line

Train Schedules
Ok, another comparable downside of the LA versus NYC subway system is that ours is not in operation 24 hours a day. But to be fair, most of LA isn’t in operation 24 hours a day, either. Most trains run until 1 a.m. on the weekdays and 12 a.m. on weekends (though backwards that may seem). And besides, the Metro picks up again within the hour of 4 a.m., depending on the weekday or weekend.

When they are operating, the subways are pretty speedy. If you miss your desired subway, another will arrive within fifteen minutes (or 20 if late at night), allowing you plenty of time to get to know your fellow metro travelers on your platform.

Each line has a separate schedule of times and locations available on the train.
Schedules for each line can be looked up here, on the Metro website. Navigate to the bottom of the page, then click on the corresponding line to download a schedule for departure and arrival times for weekdays and weekends/holidays.

To read the schedule
first make sure you are looking at the right weekday (times on weekends/holidays are different than M-F days).

Then verify the direction you want to go: it should say in large letters at the top if the direction is northbound, westbound, etc.

Next, locate your departure stop at the top horizontal line. Departure times are listed vertically, beginning at the top of the page with the morning hours, leading down to the evening.

Here's a sample portion from the Gold line:

Navigating your way around
Once you get on the Metro, don't worry! It's hard to get confused. Once you approach the track, simply look at signs to tell what direction the track is going. Resorting to your Metro map, find the first and last stop on the line. Then platform or the train will say the last stop in either direction, letting you know which way it's going. As the train is approaching, it will also display the last stop of the current direction on the exterior of the first car.

Once onboard, all of the train walls display a linear map of stops for that line. Some trains are even equipped with a working light map, displaying the approaching stop. Also, outside station signs are visible from the trains, so you can identify where you are in your journey. The conductor announces each approaching stop as well, though sometimes it's difficult to understand what they're saying, so stay alert and keep an eye out for where you are in your commute. It's that easy!

Ticket Discounts
The Metro are savvy people, they know that discounts yields increased use. Thus, senior and disabled tickets are offered. But probably more relevant to La Verne, the Metro offers student discounts! Monthly unlimited passes are only $36, which in itself is les than it costs to put a tank of gas in my car. The process for a monthly student pass is relatively easy once you sort through the forms, so allow me to simplify:

1) Print out and complete the application below
Be sure to include:
- a $1 application fee in check or money order, made payable to Metro (ridiculous, I know, but someone’s gotta get paid)
- a current 1” x 1.25” full face photo stapled in the right place on the application
- a photocopy of a valid photo ID, driver’s license, school ID, or passport
- Proof of full time enrollment (at least 12 hours), such as a transcript.
2) Mail or hand deliver this bundle of goods to:
Metro Reduced Fare Office
Mail Stop 99-PL-4
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
3) Then in 20 business days or more (ugh), you’ll get your Metro ID card.

And there you have it: a basic understanding of how to get around using the subway in Los Angeles. It seems like a lot of information at first, and might possibly confuse you. But the way I see it, if you can conquer the Los Angeles freeway system in your car, you are capable of doing just about anything.