LAist: LAist Interview: LACityNerd, Part I

Scott Mercer

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 23:47:02 -0800

Monorail? No. Please, God, no. Here are my reasons why not: 1) Monorail cars are too small. (Could they be made bigger? I don't know, but many monorail advocates brag about the "sleekness", i.e. smallness, of the trains.) 2) Monorail cars elevated above the street, riding around in the hot August LA sun, would be impossible to keep cool, especially when packed with people. 3) Not enough people manufacture monorail cars/parts, etc. If one of the companies go out of business, then we're stuck with a system that can't be repaired. 4) Elevated train structures going down the street are ugly and they block out the light, I don't care how "slender" they are. 5) Elevated train structures can fall down in earthquakes. Our subway came through the 1994 earthquake without a scratch. 6) We already have subway and light rail trains. Yet ANOTHER incompatible system will mean more employees, more mecahnics, more training, more parts to keep in stock, etc. 7) If a monorail breaks in between stations, people are stuck up there until a fire truck comes to rescue them. If a subway train breaks down, people can get out and walk to a nearby emergency exit if there is an emergency. 8) Monorail cars can rain metal parts on to the street (and pedestrians) below. This happened in Las Vegas. 9) Electric railroad technology has been running in service in the US since 1886. Monorail technology in the US started in the 1950's. Haven't they had enough time to work out the kinks yet? (Well after the fact, I know, but I had to post my usual objections here.)

tykejohnson

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:47:14 -0800

aside from that monorail tid-bit i agree and enjoy all that is LACN. public transit rail from the valley to the airport for sure, but none of that monorail sci-fi biz

Bernie

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 11:06:01 -0800

Even his comments on my site are better than my best posts. Keep on Truckin', Nerd!

tony

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 23:45:33 -0800

City Nerd Rules! very glad you're doing this interview Zach!!

Brian Humphrey

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 21:02:19 -0800

Thanks Zach, for allowing our beloved LA CITY NERD to reach out to the masses through LAist.com Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service, Brian Humphrey (aka LAFDnerd) Firefighter/Specialist Public Service Officer Los Angeles Fire Department LAFD Home Page: www.lafd.org LAFD News Blog: www.lafd.org/blog

Gregg Fuller

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:31:09 -0800

Valley represent! LAcitynerd makes the best point about having pride in our hometown. It may be the largest, most unruly, most sprawling Metro in the nation, but that doesn't mean from the West Valley to East LA we shouldn't be feeling the pride. And ditto on the public transit system to the airport :/