28.6.11
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17.6.11
rough
los angeles is divided in many ways, geographically, psychologically, politically. The poet Dorothy parker once said “Los Angeles is 72 suburbs in search of a city” a sentiment I've heard countless times. Jim Morrison, frontman for the doors once said "Los Angeles is a city looking for a ritual to join its fragments". This past weekend has truly proven this point from the disruption of one of the most common rituals los angeles has, sitting in traffic.
While LA is famous for its car culture, there are burgeoning cultures taking root, bike culture has exploded in the last ten years for example, the soon to be completed expo line, along with the network of metro trains being spread across the basin have enabled more and more people to develop new lives away from the automobile, but this concept remains a in the minority. The thing that supposedly ties this city together is its reliance on the automobile. Funny then, to realize, while stuck in countless hours of traffic, grimacing at people passing by wearing "I survived the big delay" t shirts", that the apocalyptic 405 closure this past weekend would show so many the city they never knew, and show countless others the city they all but forgot.
Truth is this city is not nearly as disjointed as it is popularly believed. Neighborhoods flow into one another seamlessly in places. Gliding from the ocean to downtown along venince blvd, once can see quaint bohemian bungalows, off putting housing blocks of ugly apartments. In los angeles, forgoing the car can be one of the most rewarding experiences a resident can do. That it took the closing of the busiest and arguably the most despised stretch of Highway in the state is only fitting. How many times have you heard people say they refuse to even drive on the 405, forgoing travel to the westside, or out of the westside because of this traffic obstruction
While LA is famous for its car culture, there are burgeoning cultures taking root, bike culture has exploded in the last ten years for example, the soon to be completed expo line, along with the network of metro trains being spread across the basin have enabled more and more people to develop new lives away from the automobile, but this concept remains a in the minority. The thing that supposedly ties this city together is its reliance on the automobile. Funny then, to realize, while stuck in countless hours of traffic, grimacing at people passing by wearing "I survived the big delay" t shirts", that the apocalyptic 405 closure this past weekend would show so many the city they never knew, and show countless others the city they all but forgot.
Truth is this city is not nearly as disjointed as it is popularly believed. Neighborhoods flow into one another seamlessly in places. Gliding from the ocean to downtown along venince blvd, once can see quaint bohemian bungalows, off putting housing blocks of ugly apartments. In los angeles, forgoing the car can be one of the most rewarding experiences a resident can do. That it took the closing of the busiest and arguably the most despised stretch of Highway in the state is only fitting. How many times have you heard people say they refuse to even drive on the 405, forgoing travel to the westside, or out of the westside because of this traffic obstruction
14.6.11
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