Category Archives: Transit
Berkeley introduces parking boots for repeat offenders
Parking ticket repeat offenders could be in for a rude surprise after October 18, the date the Berkeley Police Department is introducing the “smart boot”, a wheel-clamping device they say will enable a cheaper, more efficient parking enforcement system, and, ultimately, be more customer friendly for the city’s scofflaws.
The immobilizing boots will replace the current habit of impounding cars whose owners have failed to pay five or more parking tickets which are 30 days old, or older. The City decided to adopt the system in February. Berkeley is only the second city in California to introduce smart boots. Oakland introduced them in November 2009, and they are in use in dozens of cities nationally.
The “smart” part comes in because the boot can be removed by the car’s owner, once they have paid a $140 fine, plus the outstanding money due on the tickets. A call to a 24-hour phone hotline, operated by Paylock, and a credit card payment can, said BPD Lt. Diane Delaney at the smart boot media launch, have a motorist on his or her way in five minutes. … Continue reading »
A trolley trip in Berkeley in 1906
Check out this three-minute video of a streetcar making its way north on Oxford and east on Hearst shot in 1906. The streets are rudimentary, (in fact Hearst east of Euclid is still a hill, not a street,) there’s not a lot of housing, (except you can see the chancellor’s white house in the segment showing Hearst) and people don’t seem to be in a hurry.
The best part of the video comes towards the end, when the conductors get in a dust-up with a passenger who won’t clear the tracks. A woman in a white cotton lawn dress even gets involved in the fracas.
Warning: the video takes a few minutes to load, but it’s worth it
Hat tip: Steven Donaldson.
Historical north Berkeley corner is renovated
Update, 04.10.11: Commenting on this story, several readers have mentioned Ninepatch, a store which served the community for 36 years in this building. Pam Zelnik, daughter of the store’s founder, sent in a photo of the shop, which you can find at the foot of the piece.
Update, 4:40pm: Because this story provoked a lively discussion about the architectural renovation under way for this building, we are publishing some additional photographs of the building in its pre-remodeling state, as well as some more renderings from the architect of what the finished result will be like. They can be found at the foot of the story…
The building at the corner of El Dorado Avenue and Sutter Street, near the entrance to the Northbrae Tunnel, has been through myriad incarnations. And now it is undergoing an overdue renovation with a new purpose in mind.
Berkeley architect David Trachtenberg is working with Kaufman Construction, another Berkeley business, to transform the neglected structure into a 7,900 sq ft office building with two retail spaces on the first floor. The $3.2 million re-build will create offices to house Tom Sawyer Software which is moving its headquarters to Berkeley from Oakland. There is no news yet on who will occupy the stores.
The Freedom Buses, with student designs, ready to roll
An AC Transit bus wrapped in artwork commemorating the civil rights movement, created by Berkeley High School Arts and Humanities Academy students, will go on display on March 25 to the public.
The bus is part of the Freedom Bus Project, a joint effort by the Alameda County Office of Education and AC Transit, in conjunction with West Contra Costa Unified School District and Art IS Education. The project honors the 55th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ historic bus ride in Montgomery, Alabama. Project co-chair and AC Transit Board Director, Joel Young, said: “There is a gap in education when it comes to teaching civil rights, and our goal is to bridge that gap by integrating civil rights and the arts.” … Continue reading »
A motorist who ran a red light at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Dwight Way this morning struck a school bus with four students inside.
None of the students on Bus 25 were injured and were delivered safely to Oxford Elementary School in time for class, according to Mark Coplan, a spokesman for the Berkeley Unified School District.
The accident happened at 7:30 am, said Coplan. The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene and are investigating, he said.
Berkeley dangerous city for cyclists and pedestrians
Berkeley is considered the most dangerous city of its size for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the city’s health department which, along with its police force, has received funds worth a total of $434,000 to address road safety.
The health department ranked Berkeley number 1 out of 55 similarly sized cities for bicyclists and pedestrians injured and killed, according to a report in the Oakland Tribune. Last year, three pedestrians were killed by cars, and … Continue reading »
60,000 commuters to get free BART tickets today
In a move to get more people on BART during the holiday season, BART will be handing out 120,000 free tickets this morning at six stations.
From 6 am to 9 am patrons at the Downtown Berkeley station, Oakland 12th Street, Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell and Civic Center stations can grab tickets.
BART will give away two tickets to 60,000 commuters. The tickets are good for one-way trips on the next three weekends.
“The free tickets … Continue reading »
Bus catches fire in downtown Berkeley, no-one hurt
Assistant Fire Chief Rod Foster said the Fire Department received a call about a bus being on fire at about 12.30. Two engines and a ladder truck were sent to the scene. “The engine and back … Continue reading »
Can Berkeley have its own bus system?
The news for Berkeley bus riders has been relentlessly bad in recent years, as AC Transit has steadily cut routes and services in order to trim its deficit. A systemwide 7% reduction in services goes into effect on October 31. North Berkeley resident Kris Lawson has decided to do something about it.
“I’ve been riding AC Transit buses for 30 years,” Lawson said. “They’re canceling lines, downgrading services, making buses less frequent. The last time they canceled services, … Continue reading »
Electric car bores people in Berkeley
Wired reporter Chuck Squatriglia got the use of a futuristic-looking electric car from Mitsubishi and took it out for a spin on the streets of Berkeley.
He was amazed at the reaction he got: total indifference.
It seems Berkeleyans were so busy whizzing around in their hybrid Priuses that they barely noticed the bright blue subcompact.
“Only in Berkeley could an egg-shaped car with the steering wheel on the wrong side and the words electric vehicle all over it garner … Continue reading »
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