I decided to do my shopping at the Target in West Hollywood today instead of the closer option of Downtown L.A.. It takes about 45 minutes-1 hour to get to WeHo and two buses but I didn't mind. I could only laugh at how it all played out though.
I would say that LA MTA works smoothly about 80% of the time. Yes, it runs late and yes, lifts break down but its not all that often. Especially the lifts that flip out as ramps. Only that's exactly what broke today. I boarded the bus to take me to the first stop and the operator could get the lift to fold but he couldn't get the "beep beep beep" to stop, which meant the bus was inoperable. So after about 15 minutes, I deboarded with everybody else and boarded the second bus. Things went fairly smooth after that.
Now while this isn't exactly the first time this scenario has happened (nor do I expect it to be the last), I couldn't help but think ahead to what using NYC MTA will be like. I follow the twitter accounts of both the bus and the subway and the problems/delays are not only constant but consistent. I have been warned and read about what public transportation is like in NYC but nothing will prepare me like actually having to go through it.
I think that's what kept me from getting so bent out of shape at one little snafu that was out of my control today.
There was just something about today that felt like a glimpse of the future.
