Carmageddon is nigh!

[Pego]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

The ONION's "American Voices" on the subject.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nation ... end,20941/

[JRM]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

405 re-opens ahead of schedule (noon on Sunday). Traffic terrors were non-existent. In fact, the roads were a pleasure to drive because everyone stayed away. Can't every day be Carmageddon? Sigh...

PS: It ain't over 'til it's over. Carmageddon Part II comes to a freeway near you in 11 months! (to tear down the other half of the bridge).

==========================================
Early end of Carmageddon celebrated, mourned, mocked online

Minutes after Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the imminent end of the 405 Freeway closure known as "Carmageddon" Sunday, the Internet was already abuzz.

“405 is opening AS WE SPEAK. Carmageddon is DONE!” tweeted Kelly Kurens, a Southern California realtor and property manager.

Others were less than enthusiastic.

"I love having the 405 freeway closed," tweeted actor Neil Patrick Harris. "Traffic is nonexistent. Carmageddon is the best! I'm gonna Carma-get-in my car and run some errands."

Complete story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... nline.html

[dj]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

"Hitler Raves About Carmageddon"

Almost as good as E. Harry Gill!

[dj]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

Love this!!!

"The bikers arrived before the plane even took off!"

[JRM]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

Carmageddon: Bicyclists start crosstown race against JetBlue flight

LA Times -- Saturday July 16th, 2011

A pack of six bicyclists were scarfing down bananas and doughnuts Saturday morning to prepare for their Burbank to Long Beach race against JetBlue.

The plane versus pedals crosstown dash was born when a pair of bloggers dared an urban bicyclists' club to take on JetBlue after it offered $4 one-way flights from Burbank to Long Beach. The airline offered the deal for folks who want to fly over the traffic mayhem predicted during "Carmageddon," the weekend closure of 10 miles of the 405 Freeway.

Complete story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... tblue.html

[JRM]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

The Colbert Report tackles Carmageddon:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colber ... rmaggeddon

[JRM]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

In LA, an empty freeway is a curiosity, a novelty, and an opportunity! But Doomsday parties are forbidden!

================================================== =
Carmageddon: LAPD says no to parties, bike rides on 405

There's no way to plan for Carmageddon, the three-day shut down of one of the most vital stretches of freeway in Los Angeles, without having to field some unusual requests or address oddball contingencies.

Take the Facebook group that has proposed holding a block party on a Santa Monica Boulevard ramp to the 405, complete with beer and guitars.

There's also the enterprising marketers who asked CalTrans for permission to spray paint a bridge abutment with graffiti reading "The Apes Will Rise" to promote the new "Planet of the Apes" movie.

Complete story: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... -lapd.html

[marknhj]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

When coming south on I5, I do the I210-I20-I15 route.

I20?

I'm sure he meant I-10.

Where were you Mike?! The 210 runs into the 15, as does the 10 and the 60. I pick and chose between each depending on traffic. btw - I think we mentioned this a few years ago, isn't the I designation redundant in SoCal? I always use "the"...

[JRM]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

When coming south on I5, I do the I210-I20-I15 route.

I20?

I'm sure he meant I-10.

[Davidokun]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

When coming south on I5, I do the I210-I20-I15 route.

I20?

[wamego relays champ]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

I've got friends in LA who say that light rail is a decent option

How's this for a mass transit option: $4 flights on Jet Blue from Long Beach to Burbank. (About 37 miles).

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_18469794

Two thoughts:

A brilliant marketing idea for Jet Blue, it looks like it sold out in a few hours.

I can't imagine going through TSA security just to take a short flight like that.
.

[mike renfro]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

When I was driving home from Eugene, there were electronic signs warning of this as far north as Bakersfield cutoff. That was a month in advance. I imagine that in LA, a lot more. When coming south on I5, I do the I210-I20-I15 route. A bit further, but a whole lot less traffic.

[Pego]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

Hey, this LA Weekly is one cool site. Among the top headlines.
"Casey Anthony porn video..."
"Sexually active homeless guys..."

Thanks for killing the thread, Pego.

Sorry for acting like a juvenile jerk.

[26mi235]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

Yes, but for the Olympics there were no major reductions in the 'carrying' capacity of the system. As several have noted, the volume of traffic "off-peak" on that freeway is stunning.

I left for the last time n 1986, but even then I rarely drove around the basin that much but stayed close to home, commuted by bike, etc..

[wamego relays champ]

Re: Carmageddon is nigh!

For the stretch in question, my default was always Sepulveda--far less insanity than the 405.

Not this weekend. According to authorities:

"Those using Sepulveda Bl should expect extreme congestion and lengthy delays. Motorists should instead use alternate regional freeway routes to completely bypass the Sepulveda Pass."

The warnings are everywhere and have been for a few weeks. Many who lived in LA during the 1984 Olympic Games compare the hype to the gridlock expectations fanned by the media at that time, which resulted in 16 days of blissfully light traffic.
.