April 17, 2008 9:30 pm
Did you know that back in the day if cyclists in Los Angeles dared to want to bring their bikes aboard any of the MTA’s trains (which back then consisted of the Blue Line, the Green Line and a Red Line that only ran between Union Station and the Wiltern Theater), the MTA wanted to know all aaaaaaaaall about them by insisting that a signed and completed invasion of privacy application be submitted in order to obtain an official “Cycle Express” (whatever that means) permit that featured the cyclist’s name and address and photograph, documentation of which they were then obligated to maintain possession of despite its inconvenient un-wallet sized dimensions of 3.5″ x 4″.
And the kicker? If so demanded, permit holders were required to present the permit — not just to fare inspectors or law enforcement personal but “any Metropolitan Transit Authority employee” when mass-transiting with their two wheelers.
If that’s not ridiculous enough, the permits were issued with expiration dates, necessitating a stupid renewal process.
How do I know all this? Because I was the recipient and holder of MTA Cyclist Permit No. 3046, which expired 11 years ago last September (click thumbnails of the front and back to enlargify):
It’s no wonder this insulting, discriminatory and invasive program was canceled, but it’s absolutely amazing that it was ever implemented.
UPDATED (04.18): I also found my Metrolink Bike Permit, which didn’t expire (there’s an expiration date line on the front but it was left blank), and its rules on the back were a little more well-thought out (i.e. permits must be presented only to fare inspectors upon request — not just any old employee like the MTA permit):
April 18th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Hey Will. How you doing sir. I remember the way it used to work for the bikes on the bus/trains. I also sign up for the program. Well, not exactly signed up. I just filled out the form but never actually turned it in. Oh, and by the way, if I remember correctly waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back then, amongst the first lines (bus) that let you carry your bike on board was the 130. I know because I used to go to El Camino College back then and as you know the school is near Artesia Blvd.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Hey there Rogedog. The earliest bus I can remember having racks was back in 2000 on the 181 line (I think; it’s been renumbered to the 154) that ran between the Burbank Metrolink station near the media center and Tarzana, but back then it was hit or miss as to whether an arriving bus had one installed. Times have changed, eh?
In other permit new, I also found my Metrolink Bike Permit, which I’m gonna post. It was a little less egregious.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
My earliest memories of seeing bike racks in the bus goes actualy well beyond that… somewhere in the mid 90’s. I felt it was too much of a hassle the whole process to get a permit.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
At the time I got those permits I was enduring a big commute that involved me biking seven miles from Encino to Northridge to pick-up the downtown-bound Metrolink train from Ventura County. Once downtown I’d lock my bike up in a locker there at Union Station and get on the Red Line to Wilshire/Western.
It’s funny, but back then (and this was before the Red Line went to NoHo obviously) I didn’t even consider biking all the way in and back. Nowadays there’s no way I’d spend all that money going so far out of the way to ride the rails. I’d be pedaling across the valley and up over Cahuenga Pass without a second thought.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
If I were only that in shape, lol. I remember back in the day I would ride my bike from Inglewood to Santa Monica, Redondo Beach, Venice. Hopefully I will once again but I have to do it in a steady pace.