L.A.’s mass-transit conundrums

Last week, I rode the bus from my home in the Fairfax area to an all-day meeting in Santa Monica. It was great! It only took 10 minutes longer than driving (even with a transfer wait), I had no parking or gasoline cost, and I was able to relax and not stress over traffic. I am going to take the bus now whenever I can.

My recommendation to the MTA would be to have dedicated bus lines to take the buses out of traffic. That would improve their speed and reliability and -- by also making less room for cars -- encourage more people to experience and enjoy public transit. London, Paris, so many great cities of the world have great public transit systems. Why not Los Angeles too?

GLEN JANKEN

Los Angeles

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On the same day (Aug. 13) I read on the front page about motorists not expected to change their commuting habits despite high gas prices, I open the editorial section to find out more people are using public transportation. Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing!

VICTOR SHEN

Glendale

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Call me crazy, but after a business trip to San Francisco last week, I am convinced that California has the best plan for dwindling, finite petroleum resources -- higher prices. Other states, such as Texas, have such liberal refiner rules that gas prices have been artificially low for generations. This has created an exaggerated sense of entitlement to cheap gas.

Thus there is little incentive to go hybrid, little incentive not to pick up that Expedition (at employee pricing!), and little incentive to ride a bike or walk to the strip mall for a gallon of milk and a breakfast taco.

CHARLES F. WITT

Austin, Texas