Riverside County food trucks and transit

On Tuesday, June 25, The Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously asked its staff to write up a local ordinance that would permit food truck businesses to operate more freely in the marketplace. Supervisor Kevin Jeffries even organized a special festival that day in the parking lot of the downtown Riverside County Administrative Center where food trucks came; the public well attended the event. Currently, Riverside County only permits food trucks to sell their freshly cooked food only at organized events.

These trucks are certainly not the roach coaches of days past. Many of today's food trucks are in line with health codes and have evolved to offer a variety of great food on the go. Larger food establishments have even expressed interest in getting into the food truck business. Easing county restrictions would not only provide marketplace competition in Riverside County and provide additional restaurant-sector jobs, but will enhance the county's public transit system with some extra amenities.

During peak hours when a public bus transit or train station is full of people, a licensed food truck can park along the adjacent street and offer refreshments to the public. Care to grab a cup of fine coffee and a glazed old fashion doughnut during your ten minute layover at the Corona Transit Center? To be fair, regular health inspections and basic safeguards are necessary to eliminate the possibility of food poisoning and food truck waste must be disposed of properly to counter pollution. However with the greater range of food options and competition which will lower prices and enhance quality, both the marketplace and the public waiting for the bus or train stand to benefit. Transit riders can no longer be classified as a captive audience when it comes to food.

Trains to Palm Springs: All aboard the...Union Pacific?

(3/4/13) – IE Transit Talking Points Short

For decades, the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the State of California have been evaluating the feasibility of establishing an intercity Amtrak passenger rail route between Los Angeles and Indio via Orange County. The project has gained much support.

The rail right-of-way that parallels the I-10 freeway between San Bernardino and Indio is operated by the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). UPRR continues a firm opposition to any new Amtrak service on its tracks through this area.

While many private sector railroad firms including UPRR are reluctant to permit passenger intercity trains along their right-of-way’s, these Class One private railroads have considered reinstating passenger service. Public incentives both at the local and federal level should be considered to offset any losses connected with direct passenger service. In addition, liability protection provisions should be considered. Such business-friendly policies would incline private Class One railroad operators like UPRR to operate or allow passenger trains along their right-of-way corridors and finally bring forth productive intercity rail transit service into the Coachella Valley.

Friday Transportation Tips: Planning Ahead and Right Turn Etiquette

Transit: Plan Ahead before heading to the bus stop for better productivity

Before you head to the transit station or bus stop, take 5-10 minutes, plan your trip, get to know which transit routes you need to take, and note the departure and arrival times. Watch your productivity increase as you spend less time in uncertainty. There’s plenty of resources and ways to efficiently plan your trip: Go to your transit agency’s website and from there, check out the schedules and maps, use online trip planners, or if you need assistance, give the transit agency a phone call. You’ll be on your way with a prepared itinerary for your trip which will improve your productivity.

Example:

RTA Route 1 to Downtown 7:22-7:36am - $1.50

Metrolink Riverside Line to LA Union Station 8:15-9:38am - $25.00 Round Trip
[Work on term paper on train]

LA DASH to LA Fashion District (departs every 6 minutes) – xfer

Appointment 10:30am-12pm
Lunch 12pm

Metrolink Riverside Line to Riverside 1:15-2:43pm – Return
[catch up on sleep on train]

RTA Route 1 to Home 3:00-3:24pm - xfer

Driving: Right turns done right

It’s almost always frustrating when you’re proceeding along a surface street and a vehicle in front of you slows in your lane to make a right turn without moving toward the right edge of the road. This weekend, remember the wise words from the DMV California Driver Handbook on right turns. At about 100 feet before you make your turn, signal and drive close to the right side of the road; if there’s a bike lane, remember that you’re permitted to drive up to 200 feet in it before making the turn, no more. That means don’t use the bike lane as a quarter-mile passing lane to bypass traffic prior to turning. As always, watch for cyclists.

Also, unless signs or pavement markings instruct otherwise, remember to begin and complete a right turn in the far right lane. Don't swing wide into another traffic lane. Enjoy your weekend!