L.A. to Inglewood, in Ten Hours, 44 Minutes

Andrew Hoeveler wanted to take public transportation from downtown L.A. to Inglewood. Shouldn't be too bad, right? Perhaps an hour or so, heading south and west?

So he plugged it into Google Map's public transit feature. That's where something went horribly, horribly wrong. "Either public transit in LA REALLY sucks worse than it should, or Google map's public transit feature does. Check out this detour I would have to take to get from downtown LA to Inglewood... via ANAHEIM? This CAN'T be right."

Above, here's the map it came up with. Google Maps said the total trip would take 10 hours, 44 minutes by public transit -- and cost $10.50.

In comparison, the site said the trip would take 16 minutes -- and cost $6.23 -- via car. (Not sure why the car ride would even be hat expensive.)

Andrew writes on his Facebook page: "I think Google needs some attention in this matter, since I'm all for public transit, but they aren't helping the cause here...!"

Carpool Lanes Take Their Toll

The LA Times' Bottleneck Blog notes that toll lanes are one step closer to reality in Los Angeles County:

The California Transportation Commission just unanimously approved the plan in Los Angeles County to convert the carpool lanes on parts of the 10, 110 and possibly the 210 freeways to toll lanes.

The plan now goes to the state Legislature. What do you think? Would you pay extra for the opportunity to use the toll lanes?

Ponch Reminds You: Drop That Cell Phone

With the California hands-free cell phone rule taking effect on July 1, time's running out to figure out how to keep gabbing away in your car. (Remind me to avoid you on the road, btw.)

Erik Estrada to the rescue. He'll be at the Petersen Automotive Museum this Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as LG passes out free Bluetooth headsets.

The big question: Are you going to see Ponch and scoring a free headset in the process, or going for the free headset but catching a bonus glimpse of Erik Estrada? It's quite the winning combination.

CHP to You: Drop Your Phone!

If you hit the freeways this weekend (despite that $4.40/gallon gas), you probably encountered this message from the CHP. Guess they can't say they didn't warn us.

Daylight Saving Blues?

I definitely appreciate it when there's more sun in the evening, and actually don't mind Daylight Saving Time for most of its run (although I'm not nearly as big of a fan as the Militant Angeleno).

But man, how tough has it been this week to wake up in the morning? Trying to open my blurry eyes and make coffee in the pitch black of 6 a.m. has been extra painful. And because I usually don't leave the office until after 7:30 p.m., the extra daylight has been lost on me.

Eventually the sun will start staying out until after 8 p.m. and I'll actually drive home in some light. Then my cheers will rival the Militant.

Anyone else having a hard time adjusting to this earlier DST?

Sig-Alert: Carpool Lanes to Go Toll?

(Pic by Ken Hively/Los Angeles Times)

Oh yeah, this is going to go over well with drivers. As the Los Angeles Times writes, the MTA and Caltrans are considering turning the currently free carpool lanes on Los Angeles County freeways into toll lanes. Whaaa?

From the paper:

The idea is part of plans by the MTA and Caltrans to implement "congestion pricing" in L.A.: charging a toll to use certain roads in return for faster speed. The toll prices would rise during rush hour.

The concept quickly gained steam in November after the U.S. Department of Transportation said it would give out more grants to fund such projects.

L.A. missed out in the last round of grants issued in August because local officials did not seriously consider such a congestion pricing plan in the county's last federal application.

"We're just too congested to turn our backs on that kind of opportunity," said Carol Inge, chief planning officer for the MTA. The cost of the toll lane conversion could be about $100 million, Inge said.

Officials said the plan would not only add revenue to shore up the region's crumbling roads, but help manage traffic congestion on the converted carpool lanes. As the tolls rise during peak hours, penny-pinching commuters may opt to use the regular lanes, freeing up space in the toll lanes.

Those who pay the higher toll win the prize of a shorter commute.

So much for the free carpool usage among properly registered Hybrid drivers as well.

What Do You Do With Your 72 Annual Hours in Rush Hour Traffic?

(Flickr pic by Cara.)

News item: Los Angeles metropolitan area led the nation in traffic jams in 2005, with rush-hour drivers spending an extra 72 hours a year on average stuck in traffic, according to a study released on Tuesday. (Reuters)

That's 72 hours less that Angelenos get to spend in their overpriced L.A. homes. What do you do in all that time on the road? I usually spend it making calls or listening to morning drive radio. And you?