Conflicting Messages for Motorists out of Sacramento

Let’s get this straight:

The Governatorhas signed a bill outlawing texting or reading your wireless device while driving:

He signed legislation banning drivers from sending, writing or reading messages on electronic devices starting in January.

Two months ago, drivers were barred from talking on cell phones except with hands-free devices.

“Building on legislation already helping save lives in California,” said Schwarzenegger in a press release, “I am happy to sign this bill because it further encourages safe and responsible driving.”

The bill, SB 28 by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), imposes a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 fine for each subsequent violation.

We’re all guilty of doing this — well, I, ahem, have been known to check my email on the road. BUT, always at a red light. Does this outlaw that too? I guess it’s hard to make a distinction between driving while texting and idling while texting. And I reluctantly agree, this is a good idea, and will prevent many a fender bender.

So….

It’s mighty confusing to read that state legislators are mulling a plan that would cause bigtime freeway distractions, cause traffic jams and perhaps even accidents.

The difference: The Driving-While-Texting industry doesn’t have much sway in Sacramento. The outdoor advertising industry, on the other hand, has become BFFs with lawmakers in recent years.

In this case, outdoor advertisers have proposed new, colorful LED freeway signs. The catch? They want to use the billboards for advertising in between Amber Alerts and Caltrans messages. The skinny:

The money-making scheme, already broached to federal officials who allocate highway funds, would allow businesses to post ads on California’s 674 electronic roadside message boards.

State officials figure the cash-strapped highway fund could make millions by allowing ads when the signs are not in use for emergencies.

But some traffic safety advocates say the potential revenue is not worth the costs of tempting drivers to take their eyes off the road.

“The biggest issue with digital billboards is they are enormously distracting to motorists,” said Kevin E. Fry, a traffic safety advocate and longtime billboard opponent.

Others express concern that ads would add visual blight and change the purpose of a system meant to save children and help drivers.

The idea for the signs came from Clear Channel Outdoor, a billboard company that potentially stands to gain from the proposal.

Aha, Clear Channel. Why am I not surprised?

Everyone Gangs Up on Los Angeles

Our constantly misunderstood and stereotyped city has been suffering even more knocks — mostly unfair — as of late.

A few recent slights:

– According to the L.A. Times blog L.A. Land, Los Angeles is ranked far behind other major cities in terms of sustainability — even behind Cleveland, Omaha and Dallas:

According to the 2008 SustainLane U.S. City Rankings, which rate the nation’s 50 largest cities in terms of urban sustainability, Los Angeles is behind those cities … and 21 others as well.

The city fell three spots from last year. Why? Well, one clue come from the fact that rankings are based on factors including air quality, roadway congestion, sprawl and housing affordability.

The study blames L.A. suburbia for auto-dependence, heavy freeway congestion, and the second-worst worst air quality (behind Fresno) in the nation.

– Over at the L.A. Times blog L.A. Now, reporter Patrick McGreevy notes that the Northern California state congressional race pitting Thousand Oaks’ Tom McClintock against Charlie Brown (good grief!) is getting nasty — and L.A. is being used as a slur:

Democratic candidate Charlie Brown is running radio ads in the 4th District near Sacramento, attacking Republican contender Tom McClintock as “this guy from L.A.”

Though part of Brown’s point is that McClintock, who represents a district in SoCal, is carpetbagging, there’s a definite anti-L.A. tone in the commercials.

Chides the ad: “L.A. Tom could vote for himself if he would just move here.”

Just one problem — McClintock’s from Thousand Oaks, a quiet little city far from the mean streets of Los Angeles.

– Then there’s Forbes’ list of the nation’s most stressful metro areas. L.A. placed fourth, behind Chicago, New York and Detroit.

I suppose we’re in good company — but as L.A. Land notes, Forbes’ reasoning is a tad suspect:

Unemployment, home prices and gas prices were among the reasons given for L.A.’s placement, as well as having what Forbes called “the worst air quality in the country.” In fact, they went on to explain, “Angelenos often need to stay indoors when the smog gets really bad.” Say what? A show of hands please.

Apparently the Forbes reporter climbed through a time warp to 1965 to deliver that report.

L.A.’s Super Weeds

There’s something creepy about weeds that get so tall and thick that they start to look like trees. Witness this massive, possible 15-foot collection of weeds — can they even still be called that at this height?– in our next door neighbor’s yard. They’ve grown so tall that they’re hitting power lines and casting a shadow over our backyard.

I never noticed these massive weeds until a few years ago, when we first bought our home. Virtually overnight, these things sprouted all over our backyard. And before you knew it, they grew like, well, weeds.

These days, I see these weeds all over the city – particularly on the sides of freeways, where they grow unchecked around legitimate plants.

But what I’ve never bothered to ask is, what are these things? And what happens when they’re allowed to turn into mini-trees?

Coastal Journey, Day 6: Ojai to Los Angeles

And then it was over. Our vacation, that is. It all wound up in Ojai, where we woke up early and headed to a coffee shop down the street for a little breakfast.

We then walked around downtown Ojai, stopping at several stores and visiting the Sunday Farmers’ Market behind the town’s Spanish-style arcade of shops.

After the stop downtown, we decided to grab lunch — but in Santa Maria. That required taking the 150 east, and up.

The reward: A great view of the Ojai Valley. Just in case you didn’t realize it, this handy sign reminds you. It’s the OJAI VALLEY. Got it.

Cool, we get it.

And then… well, the Kid Formerly blah blah blah fell asleep, and we wound up just getting burgers (Maria from Tastee Freez; I held out for In N Out). A less than exciting way to end our trip. But at that point, we were just ready to head on home. We hopped on the 118 and traveled East. 

The clothes are unpacked, the photos have been downloaded and now, the blog posts have been written. Guess the trip is truly over.

The 110/5 Freeway Interchange: Now More Dangerous

(Flickr pic by Popvulture.)

There aren’t many freeway interchanges that are more nervewracking then the northbound 110 switchover to the northbound 5. It’s usually touch and go up the 110, and it’s always a gamble to decide when to merge into the far left lane. Too soon, and you’re stuck in the slow line to the 5. Wait too long, and you might miss the turn.

In the past, my strategy was simple: Continue in the middle lane until you saw the flashing lights, warning drivers to slow to 30 mph while turning onto the 5. Once I saw those lights, I knew it was time to make my way over. Kinda uncool, I know. But I wasn’t big on the alternative — creeping along the left-hand lane from downtown.

The lights, however, have stopped flashing in recent weeks. The first time, I almost missed the transition — but luckily, noticed the lack of lights just in time. Someone else isn’t going to be as lucky.

(Flickr pic by Cpomeara.)

Above, viewing the transition while facing South. What would you say is the most dangerous freeway transition in L.A.?

The 110/5 Freeway Interchange: Now More Dangerous

(Flickr pic by Popvulture.)

There aren’t many freeway interchanges that are more nervewracking then the northbound 110 switchover to the northbound 5. It’s usually touch and go up the 110, and it’s always a gamble to decide when to merge into the far left lane. Too soon, and you’re stuck in the slow line to the 5. Wait too long, and you might miss the turn.

In the past, my strategy was simple: Continue in the middle lane until you saw the flashing lights, warning drivers to slow to 30 mph while turning onto the 5. Once I saw those lights, I knew it was time to make my way over. Kinda uncool, I know. But I wasn’t big on the alternative — creeping along the left-hand lane from downtown.

The lights, however, have stopped flashing in recent weeks. The first time, I almost missed the transition — but luckily, noticed the lack of lights just in time. Someone else isn’t going to be as lucky.

(Flickr pic by Cpomeara.)

Above, viewing the transition while facing South. What would you say is the most dangerous freeway transition in L.A.?

"Hancock": Plenty To See For L.A. Fans

Variety’s Todd McCarthy was not a fan of the new Will Smith anti-superhero pic “Hancock,” which releases next week. I caught a screening last night, and yes, there are plenty of plot holes that left me scratching my head. But I’m easier to please, and I came away at least having had some fun with the pic.

Story aside, there’s something comforting and fun in seeing the interaction between Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron on screen. (It’s always great seeing Bateman in anything.) The story — a reluctant superhero who frequently does more harm than good — is also an intriguing one, although, as McCarthy notes, perhaps they didn’t take full advantage of it. I do like the movie’s nod to modern society — Bateman’s character relies on YouTube, for example, to show Hancock some video footage of his follies.

Regardless, as a fan of Los Angeles, I of course too special interest in the film’s expansive use of the city — and Hancock’s semi-destruction of some L.A. buildings and landmarks. The brand-spanking new CAA tower in Century City gets a hole torn in it, while a car is thrown on the Capitol Records building’s spike.

There are also a few interesting continuity gaps: Hancock chases some bad guys down the 105 (remember when the freeway was shut down last year for the filming?), but suddenly the buildings around him are clearly downtown — then suddenly he’s in Hollywood.

Also, Bateman is seen drinking a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee in his car at one point — nice product placement for the DD, but not sure where the character found the cup, since there’s not a DD store within 500 miles of us.

Other interesting tidbits: The climactic scene takes place at the futuristic, fictional “Mercy Hospital” — actually downtown’s CalTrans building. (That building seems to pop up in every Los Angeles shoot these days.) A big celebratory dinner is held at Cafe Pinot downtown. And fake newscasts are depicted via imaginary L.A. TV stations — all with high, UHF channel positions like 15 or 17.

Spotted on the Freeway: Amber Alert

Is this you?

Spotted on the 5 This Afternoon

Driving south on the 5, at one point we drove behind a massive flatbed truck hauling away the charred remains of a vehicle.

At least, that’s what it looked like. The pieces were so mangled and burned beyond recognition, I had to assume it was a piece of a truck involved in this weekend’s terrible 5 freeway tunnel fire.

What a mess. It now appears that Caltrans plans to re-open on Monday morning the south-bound stretch of the 5 that has been shut down all weekend (following the Friday night collision). That’s great news for commuters… but it’s still gonna be a terrible, terrible commute. Sorry, Santa Clarita folk.

I also feel your pain. Last year Maria, Evan and I spent several hours stuck near the 14 and 5 interchange, due to a brush fire. The freeway had been shut down, and there was nothing we could do but sit. And sit.

Any of you get caught up in this weekend’s mess?

Freeway, or THE Freeway?

LAist’s San Francisco sibling, SFist, last week <a href=”http://sfist.com/2007/10/02/sfist_mail_the.php
” target=”_blank”>took up the Northern vs. Southern California debate over whether to add the article “the” to freeway names. 405, or The 405?

In Los Angeles, of course, we have a habit of referring to “The 5,” or “The 101.” And that apparently drives them batty up north. One SFist comment read:

I know there are lots, tons, bunches of transplants here in the City, and we’re better off for it, I think. But once the transplants arrive, I too have those moments where I hear something that sounds like proverbial fingernails on a blackboard.

Since when is SFO shorthand for San Francisco? Dudes, that’s the airport, homies.

I hate SOMA. I’ll never say NOPA.

And whyohwhy are there soooo many dodger fans at Giants games? Whyohwhy aren’t said dodger fans being spit on?

But yes, the #1 indicator of a transplant is the “the” before the freeway number. Who does that??? It’s just so effing weird.

Poor, poor supersensitive San Francisco. Yep, that’s how Los Angeles will conquer San Francisco: First, it starts with how we refer to freeways… pretty soon, your mayor will be caught in a sex scandal… oh, wait!

Meanwhile, Blogging.la mentioned the “The” debate while asking a burning question of their own: Why do the Caltrans LED boards refer to interstates as “Routes”? They write:

I’ve only lived here for 22 years but I’ve never said “route”. It is always THE 10 or THE 405 or The Santa Monica Freeway. Is the person programming the sign from somewhere else? Have they outsourced it? If it is a matter of saving letters, RTE is the same as THE or FWY.

Thankfully, NO ONE — except for traffic reporters — refer to the freeway by their full-fledged monikers. (After all, the 10 boasts at least four — Santa Monica, San Bernardino, Rosa Parks, Christopher Columbus Transcontinental.)