king county metro changes 2011

 While I'm very relieved that King County Metro won't be cutting 17% of their routes, I am deeply disappointed that the city is moving backwards with regard to public transit, rather than forward. We're trying to cut traffic and create a green, sustainable city and cut carbon emissions... by cutting public transit? We show our humanity and altruism... by cutting out our downtown free-ride zone? 

I realize the country is really struggling economically. But what I don't understand is that--rather than cutting some of our war spending--we, the middle-class and the poor, have to suffer to try to make up for stupid decisions by the rich in this country.  This is a perfect example. 

Metro's statement:

Council supermajority agrees to vote for $20 charge to avert Metro service cuts

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced this morning that a supermajority of seven County Council members have agreed to support the proposed $20 congestion reduction charge to help fund Metro for two years.

They are supporting the charge in combination with additional actions to increase the transit system’s efficiency.

Approval of their agreed-upon legislative package would avert a 17 percent cut of Metro bus service. The Council is scheduled to take action next Monday, Aug. 15.

Read the County Executive’s news release»

The agreement announced today would do the following:

• Develop a new transit incentive program that will offer bus tickets to people when they renew their car tabs.
  People can either use the tickets to try transit or donate the ticket value to a pool that human service agencies will use to provide mobility for people in need.

• Phase out the downtown Seattle Ride Free Area (RFA) in October 2012. The City of Seattle pays Metro $400,000 a year to support the RFA, but that covers only about 18 percent of Metro’s $2.2 million annual cost to operate the RFA. Phasing out the RFA will increase fare revenue for Metro. Other advantages:
  - The transit system will be simpler—riders will always pay when they board.
  - Passengers heading away from downtown will get off the bus at any door, making deboarding easier and faster.
  - Metro expects a decrease in the number of people who board downtown and don’t pay when they reach their destination.

• Increase the pool of funds that provides discounted bus tickets to human service and homeless programs.
  Metro sells human service agencies deeply discounted tickets worth nearly $2 million annually. Metro will either increase the current ticket allocation or further reduce the discount, while giving the public the option of donating their transit incentive tickets. Metro will seek the advice of human service agencies on how to best help those in need. This enhanced program will assist those who have relied on free service downtown--and give them the ability to travel outside of downtown with the tickets.

• Move ahead with "right-sizing" transit service, consistent with the aim of Metro’s strategic plan to build a more productive, cost-effective transit system. In communities where Metro’s fixed-route buses serve few riders, Metro will deploy lower-cost, more efficient Dial-a-Ride Transit (DART), community access transportation services, and vanpools. Metro will reach out to community organizations and local residents to help shape “right-size” transportation strategies.

• Consider routes that carry more riders due to the effects of highway tolling as candidates for added services.
  This is consistent with principles to enhance Metro’s productivity developed by the Regional Transit Task Force and adopted in Metro's strategic plan.

While the temporary congestion reduction charge is in effect, the County would continue working with state and regional leaders on a long-term funding solution for transit. 

For updates and background information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/metro/future

introducing tuesday

It's Tuesday, yes. But the Tuesday I am introducing is Tuesday Weld, the common box turtle. He--yes, "he"; his sex was unknown at the time he was dubbed thus and I rather think he doesn't mind!--was found meandering along a road in Los Angeles by a dear family friend, Pedro. Pedro has the magic touch with both plants and animals. He is, simply, the Green Man. He can make anything grow, and makes a living as a gardener. But with animals, they simply find him. In his Garden-of-Eden-In-Los-Angeles yard, there lives a tribe of dogs (too many breeds for me to keep straight!), cats, doves and various other birds, and whatever other animals have found their way to him recently. I think troubled and lost animals have some sort of gossip chain, a Lost Gazette, which his scent, address and route to work is published--"for those in need".

Sleeping with his head on his hand!

Tuesday was one of those Lost Souls, wandering along a major street in Los Angeles (one of the highest known causes of death for box turtles, along with heavy collection of wild turtles for selling as pets). Box turtles are semi-aquatic--we can only surmise he was an escaped pet, because I don't think he was a native. Box turtles aren't great wanderers. He may have eventually found Burbank lake... within a couple years. But the Green Man wasn't willing to bet. And hence our family inherited the cutest little personality ever to reside in a reptile.

Tuesday Weld-see the resemblance?

Today I was clearing out of a box, and was unpleasantly surprised by a little house spider, scurrying around on the article of clothes I was holding. Pheugh! Without a thought I flipped it off--and watched the spider go sailing into Tuesday's cage. ARGH. And with its spider-sense, damn it, went scuttling straight for Tuesday, and disappeared under/in (??!!) his shell. Nooooaahhooooo!!

Tuesday didn't so much as blink. (Cute, eh? ;D) Of course, he would ideally be living outside with plenty of spiders, and turtles are known for consuming a few insects. And slugs. But that's not the point.

Sorry, Tuesday! Itadakimasu!

hematoma is the ick...

My tangle with the truck broke no bones, and my Dr.'s comment was "Wow, you're a tough one, aren't you? Get hit by a truck and get up and go home." Of course, I didn't just stroll there, and I've been regretting my instinctive desire to head for home and privacy ever since.

Though the insurance of the driver of the truck has accepted all liability and I am covered 100% for medical, I have been turned away from 5 medical establishments in the week following the accident, many of them well-respected and hospital affiliated, who "weren't set up for third party billing" and expected me to pay out of pocket for my medical expenses, and then try to collect from the car insurance. As if I'm stupid enough to put myself in that position! I actually had to limp out of two of them, after setting up appointments, because even though I advised them it was a motor vehicle accident and was paying through car insurance, they didn't see fit to advise me before-hand that they wouldn't accept payment (100% coverage!) through 'third party insurance.'

I'm sorry, how is car insurance coverage more third party than health insurance? This is the best medical coverage out there? This is ideal? It took me a week to get seen by a Dr. after being thrown to the ground by a truck. I was weeping with sheer frustration outside building of the second doctor's office I was turned away from until the office security came over to assure me 'everything would get better, whatever it was'--maybe he thought I'd been advised I had cancer or something, rather than being overcome with sheer frustrated rage.

Our doctor offices and hospital affiliations are so small, or understaffed, or cannot afford to go through all the red tape to bill for my coverage? This is Seattle, for gawd's sake, not some backwater place with few healthcare options. What this really is, is bullshit. Healthcare reform now, please, thx.

bad truck

Was sent flying about 5-6 feet before doing the tumbleweed act by a (may I say it) huge truck whose driver didn't see me crossing the crosswalk last night during rush hour.

This was downtown Seattle, absolutely packed with pedestrians--one way streets and paranoia abound. The driver was new to the city, unfortunately for me. The painful end of my short flight saw me sprawled on the sidewalk--my original destination, success! At least I was jogging and was knocked violently away from the vehicle, rather than going over it or under it.

Also, I managed not to hit my head at all, just my upper thigh (bumper) and shoulder (grill? lights? Ask someone else, it's a blur.) So though it's nice not to be in a coma or anything, I sort of regretted being conscious for the humiliation of being physically held down to the ground--"No! Don't move, miss!"--by pedestrians, then EMTs and police once they hit the scene, and all in front of my co-workers who got off just in time to witness my undignified take-down.

I am Jill's effusive tear-ducts.

My life didn't flash before my eyes or anything, not even while I was waiting to hit ground. It was just a confused jumble of flashes--streetposts at odd angles, bits of leafy greens and sky, sidewalk--but no flashbacks. I take this to mean I have no regrets. :)