Please vote in the poll, located in the right sidebar
The poll this week is about car sharing for hire services like traditional taxicabs and new app-based services like Uber, CARmil, Lyft, etc. I have some personal thoughts but I’ll hold those for later, I don’t want to persuade anyone before the poll. The question this week is: “Next time you need to get from A to B (not in your own car), which type service would you use?” The list includes the three apps listed above, local taxicab, and unsure.
The poll, as always, is at the top of the right sidebar. Mobile users need to switch to the desktop layout to see the sidebar.
As summer approaches that means vehicle traffic in Forest Park increases, especially on the weekends. Parking is limited, traffic moves slowly, exhaust pollution increases. If only there was a better way to get to the outstanding institutions in the park!
2012: People board the Forest Park Trolley to visit the park
The press release explains the best way to navigate the park other than as a pedestrian or cyclist:
The Metro Forest Park Trolley will return to Forest Park on Saturday, May 3, giving individuals visiting Forest Park a convenient method of navigating the Park, in addition to assisting to alleviate Park congestion.
The Metro Forest Park Trolley Service (MetroBus route #3) will operate daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. from May 3 through September 28 with summer hours of 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. It will connect all Park attractions, as well as the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station. Adult Trolley fares are $2 per adult. Children 5-12, seniors and disabled passengers ride for $1. A valid Metro Reduced Fare permit is required for the Senior and Disabled discount. Kids 4 and under ride free. Two convenient Park N’ Ride options are available for visitors: the Twin Parking Lots across from the Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center and the Upper Muny Parking Lot. From these lots, visitors can hop aboard the Forest Park Trolley for a lift to their desired attraction.
The Metro #3 Forest Park Trolley is a partnership between Forest Park Forever, Bi-State Development Agency/Metro, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, Saint Louis Zoo, and the City of St. Louis.
#3 Forest Park Trolley Hours and Timing: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, May 3 through September 28. Weekday service will be every 20 minutes and every 15 minutes on weekends. Extended summer hours, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (Saturday, May 24 – Monday, September 1.) During Friday, Saturday and Sunday Trolley operating hours, the #90 Hampton MetroBus will reroute outside the Park. This will improve the on-time performance of the #90 Hampton and reduce the number of MetroBus vehicles in Forest Park. Contact Metro transit regarding the #90 Hampton schedule at 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345.
Forest Park Trolley Rider Tips: Fare is purchased on-board the Trolley, exact change required (paper or coin). Each Trolley ticket allows unlimited on & off privileges for the day the fare is purchased. Metro Day, Weekly and Monthly Passes are acceptable fares for the Forest Park Trolley. Day passes are available for purchase at Metro Ticket Machines located at all MetroLink stations. Trolley Head Signs – #3 Forest Park Trolley vehicles coming from the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink station are identified as Southbound – To Science Center. Forest Park Trolley vehicles heading toward MetroLink are identified as Northbound – To Forest Park MetroLink Station. The #3 Forest Park Trolley is fully accessible to persons with disabilities.
Information on Obtaining Senior Reduced Fare Permits Seniors (age 65 and older) and the disabled can ride MetroBus and MetroLink at a reduced rate. Qualifying individuals must complete the following: Apply in person at the MetroStore – 701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101 – or at one of Metro’s mobile registration events. MetroStore hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Show a government issued picture identification card verifying age (age 65 and older) Acceptable forms of identification include a state vehicle driver’s license, state ID, passport or alien registration card.
Additional Traffic Support for Forest Park While the #3 Forest Park Trolley will have a meaningful impact on alleviating traffic in the Park this summer, a Traffic Relief Route will again be implemented as an additional measure on especially busy days. When traffic congestion is particularly heavy at Forest Park’s popular Hampton entrance, the Park Rangers will put this Relief Route in motion. This effort is done in coordination with MoDOT as a means to reduce backups and closures on Interstate 64 at Hampton Avenue. To prevent traffic back-ups and highway closures, the Traffic Relief Route will direct drivers from Hampton on a circular path through the Park, past many available parking lots at the Upper Muny, the Visitor Center and ultimately along Government Drive and Saint Louis Zoo. After parking, visitors may then hop on the Trolley to reach their destination and navigate Forest Park.
Buying/selling vehicles is a dreaded process for me, but I just went through both. As I posted recently, I’m no longer car-free. Yesterday I registered the 2007 Honda Civic EX my fiancé and I recently purchased. The process started months ago; researching cars, auto loans, and insurance.
On Monday we sold my fiancé’s old car. We listed all the known defects, including failing emissions, in our Craigslist ad. The new owner is mechanically-inclinded so I know he’ll fix all that is wrong with it. We got our bottom line price and were honest about the car. The same cannot be said for some of the cars we saw online.
After looking at ads for months we finally applied for a loan with our credit union. We were approved but the car needed to be a 2007 or newer and have less than 100,000 miles. We’d narrowed our search to Toyota Corolla/Camry or Honda Civic/Accord. Finding one we liked for under $9,000 and less than 100,000 miles wasn’t going to be easy. There are plenty listed with manual transmissions, for example, but since my stroke I need an automatic transmission. In early April I saw a car we might like, though neither of us likes red cars.
Craigslist ad, this car sounded too good to be true
I’d focused on “by owner” listings because dealer prices are generally higher. I emailed the seller, then we spoke by phone. He suggested we meet at his office to see the car. Once I got the address I Googled it and discovered it was an auto broker. First red flag. I found a website for the broker and the car was listed in the inventory, with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A Facebook friend who works for a dealer offered to run a CarFax reports for us so I sent him the VIN.
And we saw why the price was too good to be true, the title wasn’t “clean” as advertised.
I emailed the guy and said we wouldn’t be coming to view the car after all, noting he wan’t a private seller and the title wasn’t clean. The next morning we found the Civic we ended up buying.
Later today I’m mailing a dealer complaint to the Missouri Department of Revenue. It took some time & effort to make the complaint but I don’t want someone getting tricked into buying a vehicle like this. I saw ads in Craigslist where people were honest and listed the fact the car they were selling had a salvage title, but not this guy. This car might have been rebuilt well and serve the next owner for years, or it might be a nightmare.
It was a year ago that CPI Corp shuttered all of its US portrait studios, leaving most of the downtown workforce without a job. I’ve kept an eye on the company since moving downtown, as I look up from my screen as I type this post I can see the former CPI HQ building outside my window.
In December 2008 the lot was generally full, as seen from our balconyThe view from a neighbors balcony at 4:30pm in November 2009In 2012 their surface parking east of CPI’s building, shown in the background, was still pretty full each dayTuesday April 14, 2013 @1:45pm is was nearly vacant
The lot was vacant for a while but over the last year more and more area residents began parking there, a nearby restaurant valet used the lot on weekends, etc. It got used, but nobody collected any revenue. CPI Corp had sold their building & lot prior to shutting down so I knew it had to be just a matter of time until the owner decided to collect from everyone using the parking lot.
A a couple of weeks ago St. Louis Parking began putting this flyer on cars, effective Monday April 28th they’d be charging $5/day.
An honor box was installed on the NW corner near 17th & Washington AveA sign placed in one spot along St. Charles St., few paying customers so farAnd naturally, a sign blocking the narrow sidewalk I use along the west side of 16th St.
It would’ve been easy to go around the sign, but not if someone parked in the adjacent space. Using my power wheelchair I pushed the sign into the adjacent space then I sent this pic to a few officials, and posted on Twitter & Facebook. Hopefully St. Louis Parking won’t place this sign on the sidewalk again. One response brought up a very good question:
Off topic, but isn’t there now a rule requiring pay lots to supply an attendant or have a locked fence to prevent car break-ins? Does that not invalidate honor boxes? http://www.stltoday.com/…/article_a546ebc4-a261-11e0…
To reduce car break ins, the City of St. Louis has implemented common-sense regulations for parking lots. These rules are designed to make parking lots safer and more secure.
“Our City –especially Downtown –is the hub of our region’s activity,” said Mayor Francis G. Slay. “Hundreds of thousands of people come to our City for festivals, sporting events, concerts, and other events. They should know that their car will be secure while they are having fun.”
The City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), worked together to create new public parking lot rules. The highlights are: • Parking lots shall be attended by an employee when in operation; and • Parking lot attendants shall be educated by the SLMPD; and • Parking lots shall be secured when not in operation.
The City of St. Louis Building Division will grant waivers to parking lots that have demonstrated they are safe and secure. These waivers will be reviewed periodically.
“Waivers will only be given to specific lots that historically have been safe places to leave a vehicle,” said Frank Oswald, Building Commissioner. “My staff will work with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to ensure that we are giving waivers to only those lots without problems.”
The SLMPD will coach parking lot attendants on how to spot suspicious activity, and has vowed to be available to quickly respond to parking lot calls for service.
“These attendants will act as an extra pair of eyes for the SLMPD,” said Mayor Slay. “And our hope is that their watchfulness will give the SLMPD a greater chance to catch car clouters in the act, and to make our City even safer.” The City of St. Louis has implemented new parking lot regulations to reduce break-ins per Building Commissioner’s Order #1001. The Building Division will grant waivers to parking lots that have proven to be safe and secure.
For more information or to apply for a waiver please call the Office of the Building Commissioner at (314) 622-3318.
Since this lot lacks an attendant or any fencing to restrict use to the daytime, I assume it was granted a waiver. Which is interesting because this lot, and the one at 16th & Locust, are well known spots for car break-ins and/or robberies/assaults. I’ve emailed the building commissioner asking about waivers, I haven’t heard back yet.
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