U-PASS system

A rideshare program established to help ease parking overcrowding at Cal State Long Beach may continue operation next year.

According to a Daily Forty-Niner article by Robert Grimmick, CSULB officials and representatives from Long Beach Transit are negotiating a new contract to renew the U-PASS program.

The program allows students, staff and faculty members to ride Long Beach Transit buses for free. Also, the current contract for the U-PASS expires in May.

Parking and Transportation Services Rideshare Coordinator Elissa Thomas — who is involved in negotiating a new deal at The Beach — said she expected to renew the partnership.

Now, U-PASS may be free for students, staff and faculty, but the program has its costs.

Mark Rudometkin, interim general manager of Parking and Transportation Services (PTS), told the Daily Forty-Niner that the off-campus shuttle service will not be in operation after this semester.

Rudometkin also told the Forty-Niner that have two services follow the same route couldn't be justified under the current budget.

In addition, Thomas told the Forty-Niner that next year's U-PASS system is expected to cost approximately $1,200 per weekday during the fall and spring semesters, and $250 for summer weekdays.

Sources:

Daily Forty-Niner

U-PASS hybrid buses

The Long Beach Transit unveiled 25 new hybrid buses in their fleet today, continuing a push in California to "go green."

According to a press release, the new buses — which stand out because of their red-gold design and "rideHybrid" logo — will have a decreased amount of emission and will push the total number of LBT buses to 87.

Also, LBT said the additions were paid for largely with federal stimulus money

The added buses are said to be quieter compared to other 40-foot buses that are in the LBT fleet.

"Long Beach Transit is the first in the nation to introduce these new modern style buses into service. These buses offer our customers and our community, public transportation with a beautiful design of which they can be proud," Larry Jackson, president and CEO of LBT, said in the press release.

Sources:

Long Beach Transit

Photo (courtesy of Robert Grimmick and www.daily49er.com): A new gas-electric hybrid bus in downtown Long Beach.

Kaliedoscope

Kaliedoscope 2009 has been a popular event for years at Cal State Long Beach.

But the fact that the event has free admission and parking probably helped lure people to the festival.

"It's great [the free admission and parking] because I knew I didn't have to waste my money on something like that," Long Beach local Sean Esswein said.

According to a Daily Forty-Niner article by Tiffany Rider, Kaliedoscope is an open event used to celebrate academic pursuits, organizations and diversity on campus.

Also, the event — which was created by former CSULB president Stephen Horn in 1985 — is used to publicize the university's presence within the Long Beach community.

People in attendance seemed to enjoy the festivities, and some admitted that the free admission and parking helped them enjoy it that much more.

"It's a lot of fun coming here and spending the day with your family," Cayla Jackson said. "And of course, anything free is always a bonus."

Sources:

Daily Forty-Niner

Photo near top of page (taken by Daniel Ramirez): People enjoying the Kaliedoscope 2009 festivities at Cal State Long Beach.

Photo near bottom of page (taken by Daniel Ramirez): A sign indicating where Kaleidoscope parking is offered. Parking was free for the event.

Long Beach Cyclists

Learning bike safety is becoming "the most important it's been in a long time" for riders at Cal State Long Beach.

Or at least that is what Long Beach Cyclists member Dominic Dougherty thinks after an arguable increase in bike riders at CSULB.

According to an Long Beach Cyclists Advocacy and Community (LBCAC) blog, the Long Beach Cyclists promote cycling as a sustainable transportation option. They do this through community, advocacy and education.

Long Beach Cyclists has been around since the late 1990s, and according to LBCAC member Dominic Doughtery, the organization was instrumental in drafting the current Bicycle Master Plan for Long Beach.

"We go over everything you need to know about [bike safety] and using it as a vehicle," LBCAC member Travis Bos said. "Vehicular cycling on campus is increasing and understanding the mantra of how to be on the road, communicate with drivers and being safe [is important]. It's eyeopening once it's defined what is expected of [bikers] on the road."

People looking to learn more about the organization can attend one of their three-hour monthly traffic skills meetings that take place the third Wednesday of each month. The meeting place is at the Pyramid Annex.

Also, there is an "activity" meeting, which is when members put their traffic-skills knowledge into practice by going out on the road and using the knowledge they've learned. This happens the third Saturday of each month.

Next meeting for traffic skills meeting: May 20 (Wednesday)
Next "activity" meeting: May 23 (Saturday)

Sources:

Long Beach Cyclists
Long Beach Cyclists blog
LBCAC members Travis Bos and Dominic Doughtery
Photo (courtesy of http://masterscycling.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/bicycle-crash.jpg): A person who crashed his bike.

Marilei Denila

Marelei Denila is waiting until this Thursday to find out if she won the run-off election for ASI treasurer at Cal State Long Beach.

But she already has several things she wants to implement if she is elected, including a plan that could affect bicycle riders.

According to a Daily Forty-Niner article written by Denila, out of one focus she has if she is elected treasurer is advocate a Campus Bike Campaign.

"I realize our campus-bike community is rapidly growing, especially noticing the overwhelmingly amount of bikes being chained everywhere on campus," Denali said.

Her plans for the campaign involve working on a bike rental program, creating bike paths on campus to alleviate traffic, and putting more bike racks on campus.

"Now with the new [parking] structures, the UPASS, and increasing bike community, parking is no longer a big issue," Denali said. "I think if the campus is more bike friendly, more students will be on campus, more environmental and health conscious, and shed some off some of its commuter label."

Also, she plans on working with outside agencies to complete her plans.

"The city of Long Beach has the project [Campus Bilke Campaign] currently in place so we can look into working with them and see what we can get done," Denali said.

The ASI treasurer candidate feels that people often have the perception that ASI Treasurers strictly deal with students' money and nothing else. But she feels like she needs to do more, which is a reason for her focus on the bike campaign.

"I feel like it is the Treasurer’s duty to also find new programs or outlets for ASI to benefit many students," she said.

Sources:

Daily Forty-Niner

Marelei Denali

Cal State Long Beach shuttle service

Many students at Cal State Long Beach will admit that parking used to be a major problem on campus. But opening Parking Structure 3 eased the problem.

Now, however, a major problem that has surfaced is campus shuttle overcrowding.

"I take the shuttles everyday near parking structure 3, and usually they're packed full," CSULB junior Marrissa Carne said. "I can't remember a time when they weren't."

The CSULB shuttle service has routes throughout campus and is a major source of transportation for many students.

According to Mark Rudometkin, interim general manager for Parking and Transportation Services (PTS), the cause for the overcrowding is result of Parking Structure 3 opening on the east side of campus.

There have been plans implemented to correct the problem such as eliminating the amount of stops the shuttles take. But PTS is searching for a better way to reduce the overcrowding.

Sources:

Parking and Transportation Services

PTS Interim General Manager Mark Rudometkin

Photo (taken by Daniel Ramirez): Students getting onto a shuttle near Parking Structure 3.

Ramp closure

Freeway closures in several local cities could cause some frustration for commuters leaving CSULB late at night.

According to a Cal Trans press release, the California Department of Transportation has begun a $6 million roadway repair project on the Interstate 605, 405, and state Route 22.

The construction will affect the freeways in the cities of Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, Long Beach and Rossmoor.

One particular freeway closure that is near campus and is being repaired is on-ramp for northbound Interstate 605 in Los Alamitos.

The ramp — which is located off of Willow Avenue — will be closed for 10 days beginning ­­­­­April 17 and lasting until April 27. Construction will be done from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The project as a whole is designed to grind and replace existing roadway pavement, reconstruct the Katella (Los Alamitos) on-ramp, and install guardrail at various locations.

Sources:

Cal Trans Web site

Photo (taken by Daniel Ramirez): On-ramp closure at Interstate 605 off Willow Avenue.

Freeway closures

Massive freeway renovation projects could affect many commuters to Cal State Long Beach in 2010.

According to a Daily Forty-Niner article by Robert Grimmick, California state Route 22 and Interstates 405 and 605 will undergo renovation next year.

The connector from state Route 22 — also known as the Seventh Street Bridge — and the I-405 will be shut down for up to a year to construct new lanes.

Other connectors will be closed for limited times as well.

West County Connectors project manager Niall Barrett told the Daily Forty-Niner that closing the northbound I-405 and the westbound Seventh Street Bridge will mainly affect drivers coming from Orange County to Long Beach.

Cal State Long Beach Media Relations Director Rick Gloady informed Daily Forty-Niner that approximately a third of the campus commutes from Orange County.

Sources:

Daily Forty-Niner

Photo (courtesy of the Daily Forty-Niner): An aerial diagram of the freeways that will be closed.

Parking tickets in Lot 6

People who parked at Cal State University Long Beach on Sunday night are probably 'citing' a reason to be upset.

According to a Daily Forty-Niner article by Matt Brown, more than 140 students received $40 parking citations after parking in Lot 6.

The tickets were given out after an unknown person moved the barrier blocking the entrance to the lot.

According to University Police Captain Fernando Solorzano, the lot was reserved for Pow Wow parking. (Pow Wow is an event held annually celebrating American Indian tradition and culture).

CSULB junior Daniel Beck — who usually parks in Lot 6 — said it was 7:30 p.m. on Mar. 12 when he noticed the barrier to the lot was moved to the side. He went into the lot, but an officer told him that he couldn't park there.

Beck parked in a different lot and went back to talk to the the officer who turned him away from Lot 6.

The officer explained that a barrier had been moved and told Beck almost every car had been ticketed.

A parking lot sign reads that students are allowed to park in the lot Sundays after 6 p.m., which probably was reason for many people to park in the lot.

People have 21 days from the date the citation was issued to appeal it.

Sources:

Daily Forty-Niner

Metered parking spaces to become carpool slots

Students who carpool to Cal State University Long Beach campus may find it easier to find a parking space.

According to Associate Director of Parking and Access Services Mark Rudometkin, 21 new carpool-only spaces are being added on the southwest corner of Parking Lot 17 near Student Health Services.

"I'm really happy about this," junior Ian McCready said. "It's about time. [Carpool] parking can get pretty crowded sometimes."

These spaces, originally zoned for metered parking, were converted via collaboration between CSULB university administration, Associated Students Inc., and the Parking and Access Services.

According to Rudometkin, any revenue lost from the removing the meters is minute, and that the increased carpool opportunities will exceed any revenue loss.

CSULB, with the 21 new spaces, has 289 total carpool-only spaces, according to Rudometkin.

For students, the option of parking in carpool spaces can be had in Lot 17 and Parking Structure 2. Staff and faculty members have more lots to choose from though, having the option to use lot 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 9.

Students have to purchase a general parking permit and then apply for a carpool passes. But there are only 1,000 passes issued each semester.

"I wish they would change that quota," freshman Mary Abdelshehid, who wasn't able to get a carpool parking permit, said. "But I guess it is hard because of the limited spaces. Hopefully they can find a way though."

If a student arrives on campus solely for a night class, it would probably be wise if they didn't purchase a carpool pass because anyone can park in carpool spaces after 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Students should keep on the look out for more potential carpool spaces because Rudometkin and his staff are looking to add.

Sources:

Photo: flickr.com/photos/garyseven/2906627450/

Parking and Transportation Services

Bike paths at Long Beach State

Given the poor economic situation in California, it's understandable that students and faculty try to save gas by riding a bicycle to Cal State Long Beach.

Biking to CSULB, however, can be dangerous due to inattentive drivers and the lack of bicycle lanes. But a new development could reduce that danger.

According to a Daily Forty-Niner article by Megan Clancy, Physical Planning Director Susan Brown is partnering with Long Beach State University Police and Parking and Transportation Services on developing bike paths on campus.

Brown will be working with Fehr and Peers Transportation Consultants — specifically the bicycle and pedestrian planning division — to develop these paths.

Students who ride their bikes to campus seem encouraged by this idea and are hopeful it will happen.

"I'm definitely in favor of bike lanes," said CSULB senior Jacob Baumer. "I have been to other schools like [University of California, Santa Barbara] and [University of California, San Diego] and I think [the bike lanes] have worked really well in controlling traffic."

Baumer also notes that the lanes would be beneficial to him personally.

"They would finally give bikers their own designated path to move around school instead of someone always being in my way."

Even students who commute to campus in their cars seem to be excited about this.

"It would be great," CSULB junior Bailey Walker said. "Maybe parking will free up even more because locals will bike to campus instead of driving."

Sources:

Daily Forty-Niner

Purpose of this Blog

Purpose Statement:

The main purpose of this blog is to report about commuter life Cal State Long Beach students.

Throughout this process (in a separate section labeled "my opinion"), I may also include issues that I have encountered with the commuting process.

Content of the Blog:

It will cover items such as: commuter time, the parking situation (i.e. average time to find a parking space; do students/faculty use alternative methods to get to campus because of parking?).

Also, this blog will report on any issues involving the parking structure(s), student dissatisfaction about parking tickets they have received, and any other relatable commuter issues students have experienced.

Sources:
Image (courtesy of a public image domain): Long Beach State Pyramid

Daily Forty-Niner