Las Vegas...$3.00 taxi surcharge for debit cards! Rickshaw, anyone?

 



Seasoned travellers who have touched down in the desert oasis for a vacation - or a business trip - are keen to the fact the gambling mecca is a sprawling Metropolis that stretches for miles in all directions.

Subsequently, hiking around on foot - especially when the tropical paradise is suffering through a sizzling-hot heatwave soaring into the three digits - is out-of-the-question!

For starters, practical tourists may be inclined to rent an economy-size vehicle (some may go hog wild and choose to tool around in a candy-apple red Ferrari and pay through the nose for the thrill-ride) or simply flag what used-to-be a moderately-priced cab.

'Til recently, that is!

The City just granted a request by Frias Transportation to allow a surcharge in the sum of $3.00 every time a rider presents plastic to pay for their fare - which has raised the stakes - considerably.

So, budget-minded folks may now opt to spring for a day pass  on the "Deuce" ($7.00 for 24 hours) which is a bus provided by the City of Las Vegas which zips up and down the strip hourly.

Unfortunately, because the double-decker bus was poorly-designed (passengers often bump their heads when they go to-and-from their seats because of low ceilings or knock their knees because each nook is too small for the four passengers which it was crafted to accommodate) folks who don't cater to the idea of rubbing shoulders with strangers may be forced to look elsewhere.

How about a scooter?

A trendy little sucker may be rented for $49.00 a day.

Too pricey?

Rickshaw, anyone?

http://www.thetattler.biz

BART Blue Sky Festival...San Francisco celebrates smog-free skies! Vendors push environment! Free BART tix!

The promotional publicity still for Bart's "Blue Sky Festival" which kicked-off today in downtown San Francisco  on the waterfront  was straightforward and to the point.

The shot featured a relatively smog-free pristine blue sky with a few lazy fluffy clouds gently billowing here and there on the horizon.

The message was crystal clear!

Thanks to BART'S visionary efforts to enlighten motorists about alternatives to fossil fuels - the picturesque city by the bay is boasting that ridership is up on environmentally-safe public transport - and that fumes that once plagued the skyline are dissipating somewhat.

To celebrate, BART tossed an upbeat soiree that environmentally-conscious folks - and businesses - responded to in droves!

In essence, the "Blue Sky Festival" is centerpiece for the exchange of great environmental info, that runs in tandem with Earth Day which rolls around every spring.

Tourists, residents out giving their dogs a stretch, and city workers on lunch break, strolled through the plaza and munched on organically-grown strawberries, nutritious health drinks, and tasty energy-raising snacks as they mulled over environmentally safe products, and energy sources.

And, thanks to a popular local band - the Venusians - did so with a bounce in their step.

Their sound - consisting mainly of percussion, synthesizers, and strings - was somewhat reminiscent of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra (featured on YouTube) according to one observer with a keen ear.

Two Polar Bears danced around the stage to joyously celebrate a turn-around in their community.

Uh-huh!

Thanks to a new wave of environmental consciousness family members are being saved from extinction!

BART also offered up a nifty reward to curiosity-seekers who made a concerted effort to pop by and check out the booths.

Every attendee who presented a "passport" with six stamps on it (provided by the vendors present) was gifted with a free $6.00 BART pass!

But, a big buzz broke out in the crowd, when the opportunity to win a snazzy "fold up" bike presented itself.

Handy, when 'ya consider, that is the only two-wheeler that Officials on the Public Transportation system allow.

Other "green" friendly businesses participating included Bike Link / eLock, Breathe California & Greenbelt Alliance, City Car Share & ZipCar, Rock ' n Socks & Rickshaw Bagworks, Jamba Juice and Premier Organics.

If 'ya missed it, catch the Blue Sky Festival next year!

Or, at least, check out EarthShareCA.org for more details.

 http://www.thetattler.biz



San Francisco...rainy day tips! Subterranean forays a delight!

 



If you're like moi, and hate the prospect of hauling around an umbrella all day under the unpredictable skies of picturesque San Francisco, there is another novel option.

For example, along Market Street - in the subterranean tunnels that house BART - savvy world-class travellers are not only discovering the delights of an intriguing underworld that are blocks long beneath the bustling city streets above - but remaining drip-dry in the process!

The emboldened few have been caught up in the "other-worldly" nature of the phenomenon, in recent days (myself included).

Entertaining street musicians strum here for their dinner, after all, as stylish cosmopolitan commuters pass through exacting revolving turn-styles - to exciting destinations beyond with a sense of adventure in their every step.

Gosh, I think I may plunk myself down one day soon, and offer up a handful of my sketches to tourists for a song.

Ah, back to my bohemian artistic roots, at long last!

See 'ya there!

http://www.thetattler.biz



Night Skyline in San Francisco!

Tap...fraud @ Metro Line's transit carrier! Rude insulting staff ignore problem!

 

Chances are that if you held a reduced fare card (pass for Disabled passengers & Seniors) for METRO Transit in Los Angeles, there was a bit of arm-twisting to get you signed up for the new-introduced TAP card.

In fact, any individual who was on record with Metro Transit Authority with a "special-rate" monthly pass, was automatically issued a TAP card, which was summarily mailed out to their address on file.

Was that a breach of privacy?

That's only the beginning of the shocking practises that are going down at TAP in a bold-faced effort to scoop up business for the dishonest corporate entity that is contracted to provide the TAP card (which is loaded and used to gain access throughout the month to access Metro Line, busses, and so-forth-and-so-on).

Now, TAP has set up a web site to encourage commuters to log on and load their TAP cards on the Internet with a credit card, direct debit account, you name it.

There is one problem, though.

City travellers have complained to Metro line employees (at the La Brea &  Wilshire outlet) that not only were their cards billed the applicable fee - but on more than one occasion - their accounts were dinged twice for the monthly charge.

Uh-huh!

Tap is "double-dipping".

In addition to that fraudulent conduct, it should be noted that when a client inputs their account number and attempts to add credit to their Metro Line tap card, oftentimes the fee is applied to the Antelope Valley Line or some other transportation service around the Southern California area.

If the individual attempts to use their card at the turnstile on the Metro line in Los Angeles, it is rejected - at which point - they must deposit a one-way fare with a cash payment until the issue is resolved.

When one customer contacted Tap employees at the in-house phone line at the La Brea Street Metro outlet (Los Angeles) and attempted to have the credit switched from Antelope Valley to the Metro Line service - he encountered rude insulting conduct from the employees - who just didn't give a damn.

Although one individual noted that they were disabled and on a limited budget, and that they needed to the credit back right away, the incompetent impolite worker showed no compassion or understanding.

"You have to call your credit card carrier and ask for a credit back.  I can't do that for you," she barked at the astounded local resident.

A call was put in to the credit card carrier and the operator promptly informed the individual that Metro Line would have to issue the credit back since the charge was posted from their web site.

Talk about a run-a-round!

Bottom line?

TAP is a useless Metro Line Service that is actively defrauding the general public (in particular the disabled and seniors unable to fend for themselves) and promoting a business venture that is not only useless contribution to the City of Los Angeles but a fraudulent one that should be stopped in its greedy tracks.

Mr. Mayor, what do you intend to do about it?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz/

San Francisco...temporary terminal lacking ample restroom facilities!

On the heels of a post I penned on the temporary transit authority - in which I raved about its eye-catching architectural appeal - one of the dailies was quick to point out that the lack of bathroom facilities on the premises was clogging up - um - basic plumbing in the neighborhood.

For example, the reporter noted for the record, that because the “water closets” were few and far between - travelers passing through to other ports of call - were forced to seek relief elsewhere in the neighborhood astride the terminal.

Because of the way dudes are built, male animals can relieve themselves in an alley, in a leg-crossing pinch.

Not so with the ladies, unfortunately.

On the day I was strolling through the terminal downtown, it didn’t escape my eagle eye that a surly overweight gatekeeper (a security-guard) was keeping watch over the lone toilet and urinal like it was Fort Knox or something.

Even if a distressed out-of-towner held a ticket in hand, the ill-mannered terminal employee was reluctant to give up the gold key to the throne at the Transit authority.

Poor planning on the part of City Officials when you consider that tourists are often in dire need of a facility on the spur of the moment.

Travel in foreign locales, poorly-treated tap water, and impromptu sampling of gourmet delights peculiar to the region - oftentimes engender digestive upsets - that may require immediate remedy.

Some folks have weak bladders, or babies in tow that are rarely regular, also stressing the need for more adequate restroom facilities.

I trust that if Mayor Newsom - and his cronies in the planner’s office graciously answer the call to rectify a problem that has turned into a real - um - bummer - that common sense (and good taste) will prevail hereinafter.

God willing, they won’t slap together an unsightly hodge-podge of port-a-potties to alleviate the problem.

How about a contest to rustle up some ideas?

I’m flush with novel approaches that may suffice to meet the challenge pending construction and completion of the permanent terminal.
 
News at 11!

Johnny-on -spot with cultural appeal!

http://www.thetattler.biz/  

San Francisco...Transit Authority structure delights! Futuristic vision transforms city!

The ground-breaking of the spanking new Transit Authority!

 

After I sauntered into San Francisco at the tail-end of the week, I was quite delighted to stumble on the temporary Transit Authority Station downtown, which has added a spark of imagination to the main thoroughfare.

The festive white canvas canopies - artfully arranged to soar this way ‘n that like kites (which occasionally flap in the breeze) - are a joyous break from the grey monotony of the business-like atmosphere spreading for blocks in all directions.

A dollop of imagination - and practicality - has signaled that San Francisco may be forging its way into the next century with an urban sensibility that other City Governments would be wise to emulate.

The permanent structure to be erected on the site is not without merit either.

The warped futuristic structure fashioned in glass and steel - marks a new direction for the city - and is a far cry from the  sober unimaginative eras of development in the past few decades.

Congrats, Mayor Newsom!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Las Vegas...the strip's "Deuce" a poorly-designed double-decker bus!

City Officials thought they were being so hip when they drummed up the idea for the "Deuce" - a double-decker bus (etched with splashy images and eye-catching colorful designs on the exterior shell) - to whisk tourists along the glitzy strip in a bold-faced effort to reduce bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Although the fares have always been pricey ($3.00 for a two-hour stint around the desert oasis and seven bucks for a twenty-four hour pass) savvy world travellers haven't  blinked-an-eye at the expenditure.

Unfortunately, the manufacturers who designed the Deuce, must have used midgets for role models when fathoming the spacing requirements.

For example, on many occasion when I have stood to exit, I have bumped my head on the ceiling (or spied another tourist  doing the same) because the overhang is low over the seats which rest on a podium.

If an average-sized male doesn't crouch and gingerly step out of the alcove - BAM - he'll bump his noggin'.

Ouch!

Notwithstanding that glaring design flaw, another one tthat was conjured up to create a cozy four-seater nook, went totally awry.

Unless the rider is a child, or short in stature, they'll end up knocking knees with the tourist across from them (as they shift in their seat to find a position where their body space won't be invaded by undesireables).

And, the rinky-dink stairwell - crafted in plastic - is so steep and narrow that cautious passengers do a double-think before chancing what is bound to be a precarious adventure.

Lady Gaga beware!

The drivers, with all the personality of a worm leave a lot to be desired, too!

One day, I chatted up an English bloke from across the pond who was on vacation with his wife.

According to the affable gent, the Deuce was designed by an English manufacturer.

Uh-huh.

Those clever limey's found a way to stick it to the Americans!

http://www.julianayrs.com/

San Francisco...military to ride free on BART! $50,000 earmarked for project...

Bart officials announced this week that they have earmarked $50,000.00 in their budget so that military personnel on leave from Iraq and Afghanistan may go on tour about the city on the underground trains for free.

Not surprisingly, San Francisco's public transportation system is the first of its kind to take such thoughtful measures to make life a little easier for the servicemen, who fight the good fight daily in the name of Democracy and freedom.

Can other cities be far behind?

http://www.julianayrs.com

Honda...midget drivers slow traffic!

Why is it that when a vehicle on the road ahead is slowing traffic in the middle lane that it invariably ends up being an older-make Honda driven by a motorist so tiny that their head doesn't show above the head rest?

News at 11!

http://www.julianayrs.com

Cable Cars...torrential rains cause brake malfunction, near fatality with pedestrian. San Francisco!

This morning - amid wild storms slamming the Bay area - I was waiting for a Cable Car in the Financial District, when I spied a utility truck towing one of the little darlings down the street to the repair yard, I guess.

As the torrential rains persisted, I stood under a stoop to shield myself from the wintry blast that descended upon San Francisco in the wee hours of dawn this morning.

In about five minutes, a second trolley approached, and I jumped on.

The car was packed with tourists and there was a lot of excited chit-chat about the inclement weather. And, of course, bearing witness to the broken-down cable car was cause for a few to tense up a little about the possibility of a second mishap.

As we approached Powell Street - the operator suddenly pulled on the brake - but it malfunctioned, causing the car to jerk unexpectedly and lurch forward.

To our great shock, the vehicle came to an abrupt, shaky halt, within inches of striking an elderly woman crossing the street!

The exasperated driver proceeded to struggle with the gears, to get us going, but to no avail.

As one passenger noted, "Rain and wood brakes on steel track, that's the problem."

At this juncture, it was obvious the trolley was disabled, so the driver was forced to radio in for assistance.

Meanwhile, the upset passengers exited the car in a state of disarray, and sought other avenues of travel.

Ironically, it was an accident many years ago which brought about the conception of the cable system, as we've come to know it.

The driving force behind the San Francisco cable car system was attributed to a man who witnessed a horrible accident on a damp summer day in 1869.

Andrew Smith Hallidie saw the toll slippery grades caused when the then, horse-drawn streetcars, slid backwards under their heavy load. On at least one occasion, the steep slope with wet cobblestones and a heavily weighted vehicle combined to drag five horses to their deaths. The incident triggered an idea.

Hallidie and his partners not only had the know-how to do something about the problem, but the wherewithal to meet the challenge.

You see, Hallidie's father held the first patent in Great Britain for the manufacture of wire-rope.

So, as a young man, Hallidie experimented and found uses for the technology in California's Gold Country. He used the wire-rope in a design for a suspension bridge across Sacramento's American River, for instance. He also facilitated the wire-rope to pull heavy ore cars out of the underground mines on tracks.

Clearly, the technology was in place for cable car use.

So, Hallidie acted on his vision, and developed it into a full-blown cable car railway system to deal with San Francisco's fearsome hills and unpredictable weather.

Now, if only some clever person could fathom a way to overcome the difficulties with the brakes in stormy weather, before some innocent bystander gets killed.

Metro Line...fights Global Warming!

On the morning Metro Rail, I noticed a prominent ad on the train, urging commuters to fight global warming.

At long last, rapid transit is getting into the "game".

The ad, a graphic of Earth wrapped in yellow "caution" tape - normally facilitated at homicide sites by Law Enforcement - is quite eye-catching.

A human figure mops a brow and laments,

"Is it just me, or is it getting hotter around here? Maybe it’s because I see so many cars on the road."

The Metro transit blurb notes that taking the light rail is a cool way to curb "Global warming" and urges passengers to go Metro at least once a week to reduce carbon footprints.

Metro has also published a "Trip Planner" to assist commuters unfamiliar with the new mode of transportation to help find their way.

"You can make a difference one train or bus ride at a time," the ad concludes.

Now, if we could only get those stinky old vehicles off the highway before we all turn blue in the face and keel over.

Metro Rail...pink line for West Hollywood?

Metro Rail announced that the spanking-new subway extension may shift course and drift over from Wilshire Boulevard to journey along Santa Monica Boulevard out to the Beach Cities.

Old-timers may recall that a trolley-on-rails followed the same route around the turn-of-the-century.

In fact, in Beverly Hills, there are still vestiges of the old line just off the edge of the flats.

City planners must have taken a nostalgic glance at the past and opined it was the best way to go.

Although one City Official noted that West Hollywood welcomes the subway, can anyone overlook the turmoil such a project will cause in Boys Town?

I recall the mess on Vermont which lasted for an unsettling couple of years; huge trucks thundering in and out the neighborhood, a perpetual din of gathering dust, torn up pavement which caused the occasional flat tire, and a noisy barrage of jack hammers piercing the early dawn!

If there is a green light for the line, some residents have threatened to sublet their apartments and residing elsewhere until the rail is completed.

On the other hand, many are excited about the subway project; after all, it would be a boon to the west side.

Already, the bus lines on Santa Monica Boulevard (No. 4 and No. 704) are crowded to capacity.

In fact, bus drivers often zip right by pedestrians at the curb, because there's no space left on the carriers.

Double-sized buses - fashioned at the center with a sort-of accordian-style attachment to allow for cramped turns - have been trying to meet the demands of a public hungry for cheap accessible transportation.

But, some complain when they board a bus, there's rarely a seat for white folks; the metro buses appear to be packed to the rafters with Latinos - day-workers, gardeners, and maids - heading off to work in Beverly Hills and beyond.

Well, if immigrant workers are denied Driver's Licenses, and are paid a paltry minimum wage, what other option is there but public transport?

Others feeling the pinch financially due to high gas prices are taking the Metro, too.

It's a vicious cycle which requires some review.

In the meantime, West Hollywood residents wait patiently for a decision on the subway extension.

Will Metro Rail crown it the pink line?