Take the 5 to the 101 and exit Alameda. Sounds like a simple task, but Los Angeles and its freeways no longer serve the purpose for which they were designed. It’s a rare treat to go the speed limit on the freeways these days, especially at 3:00pm on a Monday. Perhaps Veterans Day would shorten my trip, wishful thinking. I had to pick up my sister at Union Station. She was returning home from San Francisco on a bus. Excruciating trip I thought, but you can’t beat $60 round trip.
From Downey to Union Station should take 15 minutes. I left with time for traffic, but I knew the way home was the mission. There was a clear sky and the road wasn’t bad either, except for the cadavers. I got around them and made it to the station with time to spare. Twenty-seven years in L.A and I had never been to Union Station. Why would I? I own a car and fly everywhere else. Well, it only recently occurred to me that I am an idiot. As much as I love driving, cars suck.
A few weeks ago, the thought entered my head that I should never drive my car again. I drove that day, and everyday since, but never before did I even consider abandoning my vehicle. I could do it. I could walk, ride a bike, take the bus or metro to anywhere in L.A, and all it would take is a little more time. I wouldn’t have to pay for insurance, car maintenance, or gas. But fuck it. It’s too hard.
Cut to a few weeks later and the thought is back. Check this place out. I could get anywhere from this spot. Local that is. I can’t get to Vegas. But if my car was stolen, I could get home in less than an hour. And I knew the way home would take almost that, if not more. Wish my sister would hurry so I could beat the traffic.
Phone call, it’s her. “Where are you?”
“I’m in front of the joint, where are you?” She’s in front too, on the other side. It’s a four minute walk that I just made but it’s cool. I enjoyed my little tour of Union Station. There should be more like it. More stations that lessen the amount of cars on the road. I’m not talking about the environment and how we are destroying it by using cars, we are in a way, but what I’m talking about what is practical. Why do we need 2000 pounds of steel for every one person? Seems excessive. And dangerous. Public transportation needs to be revisited on a massive scale in L.A. What’s the problem? Oh yeah, it’s too hard.
“How was the bus ride? Worth it?”
Well, let’s see. It took 6 hours. She had a bathroom, AC, and a row to herself. She didn’t like the movies they had. Casper. What the hell are they thinking? Wait, movies? On a bus? It couldn’t have been that bad. You can watch movies on anything. You can make public transportation as comfortable as your car and then some. But it’s too hard.
Like I said, it had never occurred to me before. I can probably say the same for most of the millions in L.A. It should at least occur to people. Even if only for a day. Because the more it occurs to me, the less crazy it sounds. And the words, “it’s too hard” sounds like my imaginary 10 year old nephew when he can’t solve a math problem. Solve it you little shit, it’s simply addition.
I got in my car and was home in 90 minutes.
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