Comments for Pooling Around

Comment on About by Miranda V.

Miranda V. — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:07:09 +0000

Dear Ms. Commuter Gal,
Your blog was recommended to me by a couple of friends, and I’m so glad to have found it! I’m actually a lifelong non-driver (which probably makes me different from the majority,if not all, of your readers), but being so does make me highly aware of transportation in a unique way. While I’m a big proponent of reliable, effective,safe & environmentally sound public transportation, I also understand & respect that private transportation is a permanent reality. I really like how you blend the cultures of both these things & present them in such an appealing voice.
The personal anecdotes you include and the historical information is especially of interest to me. I hope you’ll have even more of this in your future postings.
Count me as lifelong passenger along for your fascinating ride!

With best wishes & much appreciation,
Miranda.

Comment on Exposed in L.A. by Miranda V.

Miranda V. — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:51:39 +0000

As a San Francisco native I grew up surrounded by the general feeling of Northern California superiority (“culture”, history, aesthetics, intellect,etc)/Southern California inferiority (“cultural wasteland”, vapidity, materialism, and of course– “all that driving”!). The reality is that both sections of our great state are unique and incredible in their own ways. And, as commuting and the usage of private transportation in Northern Cal has increasingly become a daily truth for most of it’s residents, it would behoove those of us who live up here to look down there at why and how their freeways and transportation culture work.

I really enjoyed this post; it’s great to read someone who’s known the roads from both sides comment on the L.A. driving experience in such a thoughtful and eloquent way.

Your blog is terrific; please keep up the wonderful work!

Comment on Exposed in L.A. by Victoria P.

Victoria P. — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 03:14:03 +0000

I love this post! I grew up in Chicago and in terror of the Eisenhower Expressway. I was in Chicago last week to visit friends and was amazed to discover that the highways there no longer terrified me. Driving in the Bay Area has totally helped me overcome highway fears…there are many to learn to overcome here!

I too find that driving in L.A. is not the scary experience so many believe it to be. In fact, it is way more driver friendly than the Bay area too, so that is why this post really struck a harmonious chord with me.

Glad you had a great trip!

Comment on Mercury Retrograde by None

None — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 06:52:43 +0000

It’s the economy and our crazy politics that has everyone nuts. Not stars or planet alignments.

Comment on Mercury Retrograde by Victoria Poulsen

Victoria Poulsen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:32:29 +0000

I never used to believe in astrology stuff, but maybe you are right, people are acting pretty wonky.

Comment on The Lesson of the 405 by Paul Minett

Paul Minett — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:20:58 +0000

Great post. Loved the bike vs plane story. You are right, people can figure out what to do when they need to. What we need them to see now is that the power to solve traffic congestion is in their hands, every day. Just be a passenger some of the time.

Comment on About by Avego

Avego — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:34:25 +0000

Hi CG,

I follow your blog religiously! Would like to talk to you about advertising on your blog and/or other opportunities. If interested please reply to this post or you can find me on twitter @avego.

Amy

Comment on A Toll-Tale of the Blue Truck and The Black Truck by Victoria Poulsen

Victoria Poulsen — Wed, 11 May 2011 22:08:01 +0000

I love that you devoted an entire blog about this. I could not agree with you more. The owners of the black pick up truck have a serious negative attitude. I love what you said about choosing another radio station. I fail to appreciate auto tuned rap music, but hey, it’s a cheap ride for me to get work, right? Not everyone is a classic 70′s rock fan.

Comment on About by Commuter Gal

Commuter Gal — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:06:44 +0000

Hi Brooke and hello to Abogo! What a fascinating resource you are!! And the photos and descriptions of San Francisco’s neighborhoods are terrific. I noted that you mentioned under carpooling that there is some evidence that carpool lanes are actually slowing down commute traffic. A couple of UC Berkeley professors did separate studies on this and each of them came up with a different theory – one that yes, they do slow down traffic, and the other that no, they don’t. I think that commute traffic is slow because there are too many cars on the road, and an effective carpool system can help reduce that.

For nearly 30 years the Casual Carpool system meant free toll to carpoolers. Last July that changed and now all carpool vehicles pay a toll. As a result, there are fewer commuters using the carpool lane. Our transit authority people happily announced that congestion had been reduced as a result (actually by very few minutes); they were also delighted to see the toll revenue increase substantially. But the number of cars on the road? They’re still there.

Transportation agencies need to look more closely at the big picture and the years ahead. While some extra toll revenue helps their rapidly growing deficit right now, it’s not solving the real problem. We can’t just keep adding more and more lanes of cement to take care of the traffic. We need better mass transit, with more affordable rates, more conveniently located stations, better connections to local transportation. And the cars we drive need to stop relying on gas for energy.

Resources like Abogo are one way to help people become aware of the costs and consequences of the way we travel. Thank you! CG

Comment on Welcome to the Casual Carpool by Commuter Gal

Commuter Gal — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:41:32 +0000

Hi new carpooler! Well, yeah the question to pay or not to pay toll stays with us. I think it’s odd as can be that us Vallejo-based carpoolers automatically pull out $1.25 each time we get in a casual carpool ride. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to dig around for change, because I’m out of quarters. Why we don’t just offer a dollar I don’t know. Since it’s become so automatic, I doubt if it will change now, but I think it’s odd. The feeling here is that the riders should pay the toll, since the driver is providing the car and gas. If you look back through my earlier blogs on this, you will see I have some issues with this, but it’s too hard to fight the majority.

The front seat/back seat issue is determined by the first rider to approach the car. They get first dibs. And most people seem to prefer the back seat – privacy? more room?

If you’re feeling funny about how to do all this, watch the rider in front of you, and time it so that you are the 2nd passenger. That way, you can see what the first passenger does when he/she gets in the car.

In spite of all the peculiarities of the casual carpool, it remains a terrific system and free-spirited commuter gal that I am, I love that it’s run by us, the riders and not some overpaid transportation agency officials. (although they keep trying to get in our way). So get in that line next week and enjoy a great ride with your fellow carpoolers! And congratulations on the new job at SF MoMA!