Musings on LA - OT

"Jeanne Hedge" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 20:53:54 GMT, "Magic Mood Jeep©"
wrote:

Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a
week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she
actually lived on Holloway at the time). I strolled up & down several
times
that week, always crossing at a light (few & far between at that point),
and
one time decided to cross over & head back to her place in between those
rare lights. There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at
the
bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to
cross. A gentleman joined me in the wait (though we didn't speak), and
after a couple of minutes, ALL FOUR LANES (2 lanes in either direction)
OF
TRAFFIC ****STOPPED**** to let ****2**** people cross the street!!!!! I
was
flabbergasted/stunned/shocked!!!! Here in Bloomington (with the Indiana
University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light
or
stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!!

My grandparents lived in Lakewood (LA County). IIRC, they said it was
a state law that you have to stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk,
whether or not there's a stop sign or traffic signal there.



Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha

http://www.jhedge.com

State law and one that is enforced here in Northern California. Not to
mention common decency.

Jo

Jeanne Hedge had some very interesting things to say
about Musings on LA - OT:

Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a
week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she
actually lived on Holloway at the time). I strolled up & down several times
that week, always crossing at a light (few & far between at that point), and
one time decided to cross over & head back to her place in between those
rare lights. There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at the
bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to
cross. A gentleman joined me in the wait (though we didn't speak), and
after a couple of minutes, ALL FOUR LANES (2 lanes in either direction) OF
TRAFFIC ****STOPPED**** to let ****2**** people cross the street!!!!! I was
flabbergasted/stunned/shocked!!!! Here in Bloomington (with the Indiana
University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or
stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!!
My grandparents lived in Lakewood (LA County). IIRC, they said it was
a state law that you have to stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk,
whether or not there's a stop sign or traffic signal there.

It is, not that most drivers anywhere in California pay attention. [LA
drivers are the *worst* in the state, IMO. They consider the laws of
*physics* to be non-binding and purely advisory.]

--
"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing
(or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL

Bev wrote:


I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus. From memory, we
caught a bus that said Sunset Boulevard on the front. Then our troubles
began. The bus driver hated us on sight. We didn't have the right
change and he slapped his hand on a box by his seat and snarled at us.
We couldn't understand what he said and desperately shuffled through
handfuls of alien coins trying to please him.

He may very well have been Russian or something - I don't know whether
there's a law that they cannot insist upon people who serve the public
being able to speak English, or whether the jobs pay so little that no
one fluent in English and able to do something else wants them.

I guess we looked a bit
odd. We hadn't learned to dress like the locals
(something a traveller should always do when he/she goes away)
I think I was wearing a sun-frock, unheard of in those days in LA and
John a sports jacket. We also spoke with a funny accent and people
sometimes had trouble understanding us (and we them).

The bus seemed to be travelling all day, people got on and off every two
minutes and we slowly began to realise the length of Sunset
Boulevarde. What seemed like hours later we thought we might be in
downtown LA so got off. Big mistake. We didn't have a clue where we
were and badly wanted to use a toilet.

There's something to be said for the old-fashioned French ****oire! You
can understand why I hesitate to use public transportation in countries
where I KNOW I don't speak the language! In Vienna, I once got off of
the Unterbahn ten blocks before the stop I should have, because I saw
the name of the street where my hotel was located. It was December, and
I was facing light, blowing snow all the way.


We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where.
Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public
toilets.

Well, we do, but only in public buildings, parks and shopping malls (and
restaurants, of course). I think there's some sort of law, though -
most stores usually have a lavatory customers may use, but you have to
ask. And that's not true everywhere in the world. I went into a big
music store in Vienna, and they had no facilities for the public. I
thought of a restaurant, but it was lunch time, two days before
Christmas, and every place I tried had long. long lines before you could
even get in the door. I finally found a cab, made it to my hotel with
my back teeth floating, and vowed never to tour a foreign city again
without knowing where I could "go" if needed.


When we left LA we got a taxi to the International airport.
A downy-faced youth appeared in a car that looked as if it had been used
in the Demolition Derby. He would never have got a Warrant of Fitness
in New Zealand. He put our cases in the boot (trunk in the US) and I
noticed that there was no handle on the boot. "I hope you can get that
open again" I murmured uneasily. He patted me on the shoulder
soothingly.

At the airport the boot wouldn't open even with the bit of wire he kept
for a key. Half an hour passed, three quarters of an hour, we were
getting nervous, were we going to miss the plane. Finally he kicked
the thing in frustration and presto!!

One thing we have in L.A. (and New York - probably in other cities, too)
are airport "shuttles" whio pick you up at your door and deliver you to
your terminal. (And the same from the airport to wherever you are
staying.) They're more expensive than buses, but certainly not as
expensive as a taxi, and you're less likely to get some inept
"independent" as you apparently did with your taxi.

This will be our fourth trip to the US. Except for the surly bus
driver people there were unfailingly polite and nice to us when we
stumbled around wanting advice and directions. We will be in LA on the
28th, 29th, 30th and 31st of August and staying in Burbank with my
cousin. Later I will post her addy and phone number if anyone wants to
get in touch with us, or visit.

I'll mark my calendar! I may be going to Paris (to hear my favorite
singer at Opera Bastille) in mid-September, but the end of August should
be fairly clear for me. (And as I said, Burbank is practically
next-door to where I live.)

Kreisleriana wrote:

On Thu, 01 Apr 2004 08:11:37 +1200, Bev yodeled:

We got on another bus and travelled on, we knew not where.
Got off again and finally decided that Americans did not have public
toilets. We finally found a bar - whew!!! We got a taxi back to Santa
Monica.

It's true-- Americans DON'T have public toilets. It's a major
weakness in American urban planning. But in LA, they don't expect
anyone to ever get out of their cars.

Except at a gas station - and they DO have lavatories for the use of
their customers!


Theresa
alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/

Single-mindedness is all very well in cows or baboons; in an animal
claiming to belong to the same species as Shakespeare it is simply disgraceful.
(Aldous Huxley)

Yoj wrote:


Actually, it's hard to look out of place in Los Angeles, no matter what
you wear. Remember, it's very close to Hollywood. ;-)

My suggestion is to wear something comfortable. In August, that almost
definitely means something cool. It's true, we don't see many
sundresses here, but many people wear shorts (including quite a few who
shouldn't G), and jeans, slacks, and light dresses are all
commonplace.

I think they are showing "sundresses" this year - at least I've seen
them in some of the catalogs I get. Certainly there are "tank" tops with
just a little strap over the shoulder, and people wear them with skirts,
as well as trousers or shorts.


I wear jeans most of the time, and slacks almost always to dress up.
Some women always wear dresses.

I still have a few dresses in my closet, but I, too, find I wear
trousers, mostly - maybe flowing palazzo pants with a dressy top, if I
want to seem really formal.


BTW, if you're leaving or going to the airport, a shuttle is much
cheaper than a taxi. It may take a little longer to get you there,
which could be important, but if you aren't in a hurry, it can save you
some money.

Yes, and (assuming you book the night before) most of them guarantee to
get you there on time - although you may have to leave a bit earlier
than you might, otherwise.

"Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote:

Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a
week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she
actually lived on Holloway at the time). I strolled up & down several times
that week, always crossing at a light (few & far between at that point), and
one time decided to cross over & head back to her place in between those
rare lights. There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at the
bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to
cross. A gentleman joined me in the wait (though we didn't speak), and
after a couple of minutes, ALL FOUR LANES (2 lanes in either direction) OF
TRAFFIC ****STOPPED**** to let ****2**** people cross the street!!!!! I was
flabbergasted/stunned/shocked!!!! Here in Bloomington (with the Indiana
University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or
stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!!

Well actually, California law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians,
once they step into the cross-walk - if there's a cop around, you can
get a ticket if you don't. (But people have grown ruder since I moved
here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists
will stop!)

"Magic Mood Jeep©" wrote
Back in 1997 I spent a week with my brother in Sacramento, CA, and then a
week with a friend in LA. My friend lived 1 block south of Sunset (she
actually lived on Holloway at the time). I strolled up & down several
times
that week, always crossing at a light (few & far between at that point),
and
one time decided to cross over & head back to her place in between those
rare lights. There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at
the
bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to
cross. A gentleman joined me in the wait (though we didn't speak), and
after a couple of minutes, ALL FOUR LANES (2 lanes in either direction) OF
TRAFFIC ****STOPPED**** to let ****2**** people cross the street!!!!! I
was
flabbergasted/stunned/shocked!!!! Here in Bloomington (with the Indiana
University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or
stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!!

That's one of the things I love about visiting Central Europe - a pedestrian
only has to glance towards the street for all the traffic to stop to let you
cross. Not so here in Finland, I'm sorry to say.

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

"Magic Mood Jeep" wrote:

There was a cross walk there (I might add that this was at the
bottom of a huge hill), so I decided to wait for a break in traffic to
cross. A gentleman joined me in the wait (though we didn't speak), and
after a couple of minutes, ALL FOUR LANES (2 lanes in either direction) OF
TRAFFIC ****STOPPED**** to let ****2**** people cross the street!!!!! I was
flabbergasted/stunned/shocked!!!! Here in Bloomington (with the Indiana
University campus nearby) even if you cross at a cross-walk, stop light or
stop sign or not, you're risking it!!!!

I think people on the west coast obey traffic laws a little better, and
I have no idea why. This includes pedestrians. I'm from Boston, where
nobody ever obeys a traffic law. The first time I went to Seattle, I too
was flabbergasted, at the way people *actually waited* for the walk light
before crossing, even when there was no traffic on the road. The way that
San Francisco drivers behave at 4-way stop signs amazed me at first -
each person taking their turn, around the interesection, like a little
dance. In Massachusetts, a 4-way stop is often the hub of a 4-way
DEADLOCK, because everyone tries to get into the intersection at the same
time. I'm not sure I could successfully drive in Boston anymore, I've
gone soft from local drivers who actually obey the rules.

Joyce (OK, I admit it, I've broken a traffic law or two in my life. )

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in

Well actually, California law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians,
once they step into the cross-walk - if there's a cop around, you can
get a ticket if you don't. (But people have grown ruder since I moved
here in the 1950's - it's no longer safe to simply ASSUME the motorists
will stop!)

Oh, that's the law around here too, but no-one ever stops. (

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki

I have never forgotten our trip to downtown LA by bus

I live in LA. Sad to say, that sounds about normal. Don't ever take public
transportation here if you're on vacation. You'll spend the entire time in the
bus. Try to fly into Burbank if you can. It's not as congested as LAX. Burbank
will be hot in August.