At The Bus Stop

        There are some people that, while waiting for a San Diego bus or trolley have a very distinct, unhappy look on their faces. That heavy rainbow frown that is usually reserved for cartoon characters and Disney actors can be seen with regularity on a few public transportation commuters. I really don’t know why because riding the bus is not always torture, in fact it’s usually nice to be able to zone out or listen to music instead of having to drive.

70th Street Trolley Station

        Riding the trolley is especially pleasant. They are just all around nicer and faster than buses, coming as close to the pacific ocean as Seaport Village. There’s just no reason for these frowns, not when we live in San Diego. San Diego is a great place to live and has an award winning public transportation system. Smile travelers! Both of these pics were taken with my D5000 sitting in my lap, with the LCD flipped down, enabling me to use live view to compose the shots. I don’t use the swivel LCD that often, but when I do need it I’m glad I have it.

Great Place To Start Inline Skating Around San Diego Bay.

        My latest inline skating adventure led me to the northwest area of San Diego Bay. There is a path that runs from Market St. & N. Harbor Dr. all the way around the northern edge of the bay, past the airport and over the bridge at the western edge of Harbor Island. I took the orange line trolley to American Plaza station and then walked 1 block west on Broadway, where I popped on my skates and headed north. I was there on a Friday at lunchtime and it was pretty crowded with pedestrians from the Broadway pier until I got to Hawthorn St. At that point, the foot traffic dropped off so it was smooth sailing. The trail is concrete and parallels N. Harbor Dr. and the coast of the bay. It is wide and smooth the whole way, and as the trail curves to the west you can see planes taking off from San Diego International Airport on your right, and watch the calm, San Diego bay to your left. The path goes right past the Coast Guard base, so you can see their helicopters and hangers as well.

Inline Skate Path At San Diego Bay -- Shot with Nikon D5000

        In the spirit of making this blog more dynamic and interesting, I am learning the best ways to use my Nikon D5000 to add video to the posts. The best way is probably not to shoot video while hand-holding the D5000 and skating at the same time. That being said, the video above is a little jumpy, but it will give you a great sense of what the path is like, as well as the video capabilities of the D5000, in case you are considering purchasing one. One thing I don’t like about shooting video with the D5000 is that you have to focus manually, which is not fun when you are trying to stay upright on skates.

New Flowers For The Path

        The shot above was taken just where the trails curves to the west, between terminal two of the airport and the bay. This will make a great before and after shot, once the plants have matured and the orange safety fence is removed.
        So, yet one more skate path that is accessible on San Diego public transportation. Both the orange and blue line trolleys stop at American Plaza station and from there it’s just a one block walk to the path. To see other blog posts of mine from other San Diego skate paths, click here.

The Inside Of A Ticket Vending Machine

        I’ve always wondered what the inside of San Diego trolley ticket vending machines looked like, and now I know. I took this photo last weekend, on my way to an SDKA go-kart race and even though it is not very interesting, I’m sure a lot of San Diego commuters will appreciate it.

I Don’t Want To Ride The Trolley

        This gorilla, as photographed by me at the Wild Animal Park this weekend has a very distinct look. He has the look of a person that is about to start their commute on San Diego’s public transit system. SDMTS has a new commercial that, for some reason highlights the travel of a hot, young couple that have never been on the trolley or a bus before. People that only ride the trolley to Padres games, Chargers games and special events in downtown San Diego. Events that get extra trolley service added, to ensure that sports or Earth Day fans will feel they get their $5 worth out of a day pass. I think SDMTS should film a commercial showing people that have to use the trolley to get to and from work on a daily basis. The gorilla above, with his scowl should star in that commercial.
        Those of us that have the special event of “going to work” on the trolley or bus get less than nothing. We have experienced a 40% reduction in service, yet fair weather baseball fans get special, added shuttle service, via the trolley to PETCO Park. Chargers game on Sunday? No problem. SDMTS adds special trolley service from downtown to Qualcomm Stadium on a SINGLE trolley on game days. Do you have to commute to work on a non game day? Tough shit, non-sports fan. Going to work on weekdays is less important to SDMTS than going football or baseball games on the weekend.
        Allow me to dust off an old gem by reminding everyone of this video I shot back in September, 2009. In it you will see a public commuter have his head crushed under the knee of a trolley security guard, and then the guards turn on me for filming it. I should have worn a Chargers jersey I guess, and then I would have been given preferential treatment, instead of being treated like an average commuter.

The Trolley Operator Waves

        It’s a bright, sunny day as the San Diego trolley rails past me with the driver politely waving to me. This pic was taken just outside the 12th & Imperial transit station, and this trolley headed out to East County, all the way to Gillespie Field.

Passengers Framed By The New Trolley Wrap

        Riding the trolley is actually fun, when you’re not commuting because it goes to some neat places. It gets crowded during rush hour and sometimes late at night, heading out of downtown, but if you are a career public commuter, it’s no big deal.
        By the way, you can take the trolley home to East County after partying in The Gaslamp District for Shamrock 2010 as long as you are at the Fifth Ave. station to catch the last trolley at 12:26am. To see the SDMTS breakdown of trolley times to get home in all directions on the trolley from Shamrock 2010, click here.

Grossmont Transit Center – Where A Trolley Guard Was Shot In 2009

        This is where I transfer to take the green line to Old Town, and ultimately into downtown San Diego. Today, was a very strange day. I made it halfway to work and all the way around the San Diego trolley line.

Catching some Z’s On The Green Line

        I had my camera at the ready for most of the day today, which made it remarkably east to snap photos of fellow commuters.

Scanning My iPod

        My camera, a Nikon D5000 has an articulated LCD, so I don’t have to bring the camera to my eye to composed photos. This makes for some shots that can be composed lower than you normally would. This pic of a fellow commuter somehow ended up sharp photo despite my accidental .4 second shutter speed. The lower than normal vantage point meant I wouldn’t have to worry about his face being partially blocked by the brim of his hat.

Homeless Penthouse At 12th & Imperial

        When you are homeless, it is very hard to eek out a living, and that is why the homeless congregate in busy city centers. The densest area of people that can offer money and assistance to vagrants are in the middle of the city, so that’s where the bums go. Homeless people go where people with homes work (not live) so that’s why the downtown area of any city will have homeless, trying to improve their lot in life.

The Homeless At 12th & Imperial

        Homelessness is a very sad thing. They form their own communities and social structure, but they have nowhere to live. I don’t know what the particular plight of this group of people is, but I hope I never have to experience it myself.

A Warehouse Near 12th & Imperial Transit Station

        The textures and colors of this warehouse wall caught my eye. The ultra dark interior seems to add an air of mystery as well.

Build The Stairs

        These men are building stairs that will lead to a bridge that cost San Diego $26 million. I first wrote about this bridge in October of 2009, then again in December 2009. I captured a great sunset photo behind the bridge to nowhere in late January of 2010

The Bridge Over The Harbor Drive

        These guys are hard working people, and that is for sure. This image was taken a little over an hour after lunch, so these guys attacked their workload like ants attack everything.

Pedestrian Bridge Over Harbor Drive

        Summer of 2010 is the projected completion date for this bridge. There have been delays and cost increases, but this bridge to nowhere perseveres. This summer, guests of the Hilton Hotel will have very easy access to PETCO Park.

The San Diego Trolley Goes By

        You may recall a post of mine from the end of January that told my tale of woe while trying to reload my Compass Card at a ticket vending machine.
        This time around it went off without a hitch. It makes me very happy to say that! It was very easy and took exactly 45 seconds, so it’s a bit more time than buying a day pass, but WAY less time then buying a monthly pass at Vons.

                With all actions done by pressing buttons and tapping your card, you start by pressing any button to wake up the TVM, select the pass you want to add to your Compass Card, tap your Compass Card on the validator, pay $72 via cash or credit, tap your Compass Card again, take your receipt and go.

                Very important notes: For those that pay with cash, the TVM’s give a maximum of $5 change, dished out as Sacagawea or Presidential dollar coins. Also, paying with coins to buy a $5 day pass or $2 one way ticket is fine, but won’t work for a monthly pass because there is a 20 coin deposit limit, so that means you can’t pay with coins, Einstein. You’ll just have to find somewhere else to spend your $72 in change.

San Diego Trolley Guards

        San Diego Reader has just published a story that was started by my video, which can be viewed above. Please click this link to read the SD Reader story. The title of the story is, “We Don’t Want You Talking Pictures.” and it is written by Kathryn Snyder. It reports about my video and how the trolley guards tried to stop me from filming or taking pictures. The article goes on to say that the incident report for the evening is not available for one of two reasons: “…based on the California Public Records Act, which exempts documents from disclosure that are either: (1) records pertaining to current litigation to which the public agency is a party; or (2) records of complaints to, or investigations conducted by the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice, and any state, or local police agency.”

        These are links to posts and videos that lead up to the SD Reader story:

My original blog post can be read by clicking here.
Story featured on Carlos Miller’s “Photography Is Not A Crime” website can be read here.
The San Diego Reader Story can be read by clicking here or by clicking the photo below.
For the follow-up story on “Photography Is Not A Crime” website click here.
To visit the Illegal Photography page referenced in the San Diego Reader story, click the following link: www.theworldisraw.com/illegal-photography/

You Are Preaching To A Reflection

        I’m not taking big enough risks when I break out my camera, so my photography is not risky at all, and I can’t explain why. I suspect that I am using my secretive and unseen method of photography as an excuse to not branch out and explore other areas of photography, but even that excuse, ultimately seems like an excuse as well. The man in the photo above was either trying to show the person seated behind him something to do with God, or something to lead her into his bedroom. I’m not sure which route she chose.

In Or Out Of Focus – San Diego Bus Rides Are Eclectic.

        I don’t know what “eclectic” means, and as I refuse to Google it right now, I’m going to define it as “weird”. If you pass through 12th & Imperial trolley station during the day, trolley guards will hassle you for not tapping your Compass Card for the umpteenth time during your commute. At night, degenerates will hassle you to buy pistols, drugs, bus/trolley passes, ipods, jewelry and cigarettes. Take your pick. For me, knowing I can score a any of those things on my way home from work at 12th & Imperial makes my daily commute a little easier. On the OTHER hand, knowing that Compass Cards are a retarded rouse for trolley security guards to line the pockets of San Diego’s politicians with MORE of my money AFTER I buy a monthly pass for $72 really grinds my gears. I didn’t get that line from Family Guy. I invented it right now.

Reduced To A Cat Drinking From The Faucet

        After my gutless crusades on the bus this night, I ended up watching fleas drown and an ordinary house-cat drinking from a faucet. By next weekend life will be good.

Same Pictures – Same Story

        One of the self imposed “things” I have done since May 2009 on this blog has been to provide new, fresh photos for each post I write. This post is a clip show with photos I have already used because the subject matter is the same… San Diego and the new Compass Cards it has issued for trolley and bus passengers are a straight up scam to generate revenue for the city. Tonight, on my way home from work on the blue line trolley, I watched two trolley guards make a disabled person get off the trolley to issue him a citation. The reason? He did not have an ID that proved he was disabled, he only had a valid disabled rate Compass Card. Now, I’m not going to get into what physical/mental liabilities this man had, but anyone with eyes could see from a mile away that this guy was disabled. Anyone with ears could HEAR that he was disabled when he tried to explain to the trolley guards that he had purchased a monthly, disabled rate Compass Card. The trolley guards still wanted him to exit the trolley so they could issue him a citation, even though he said that the delay would make him late for dinner with his mother.

This Trolley Guard Compass Card Validator Does Not Feel Emotion

        Before the trolley guards made this disabled man get off the train, the female guard, that seemed to be the senior of the two guards present told the disabled man that the citation would be “on hold” for three days. All the disabled man had to do was procure something that proved he was disabled, and the citation would be nullified. So, a disabled person that, due to his liabilities rides public transportation had to to take public transportation to where ever in the Hell disabled persons have to go to prove to SDMTS that they are indeed disabled withing 72 hours, or the citation would go into effect. Today is Thursday, February 11, 2010. That means that SDMTS trolley guards told a disabled person, right in front of me that he had Friday, Saturday and Sunday to acquire documents to prove his disability or he would have to pay the citation fine come Monday. A cripple now has to take the San Diego trolley, OVER THE WEEKEND, with a prepaid Compass Card to prove he is disabled.