Big Blue Bus
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![]() Big Blue Bus at UCLA Hilgard Terminal | |
Founded | 1928 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Santa Monica, California |
Locale | Santa Monica, Westwood, and Venice, California |
Service area | United States |
Service type | Transit Bus |
Routes | 19[1] |
Fleet | 196 |
Daily ridership | 71,133 (Weekday, 2012; 34,433 (Saturday, 2012); 23,726 (Sunday, 2012)[2] |
Fuel type | LNG, CNG |
Operator | City of Santa Monica, California |
Chief executive | Edward F. King |
Website | www |
The Santa Monica Big Blue Bus is a municipal bus operator in the Westside region of Los Angeles County, that provides local and bus rapid transit service in Santa Monica and adjacent neighborhoods of Los Angeles (including LAX). Express service is also provided to Downtown Los Angeles and Union Station.
History
In 1928, the City of Santa Monica launched its first route. Choosing a blue livery, it was called Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines. It kept its base fare at 10 cents for a long time.Template:Howlong The impetus for the creation was a fare increase on the Pacific Electric interurban trains between Santa Monica and Los Angeles. The Santa Monica bus connected with the Los Angeles Railway streetcars at Pico and Rimpau Boulevards in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles. That historic terminus point has become an important transit center in Los Angeles simply because it is the point where thousands of bus riders along Pico Boulevard must transfer to continue their trips eastward to Downtown Los Angeles or westward to the Westside.
The Big Blue Bus is considered one of the best bus services in the Los Angeles area. The system won the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Transportation System award in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2000 and 2011. The Big Blue Bus did not raise its regular fare above 50 cents until 2002, when it became 75 cents. In contrast, most public bus lines in California were charging fares of a dollar or more well before 2000. There was no monthly pass until August 2010[3] except for the EZ Pass, and unlike other EZ Pass agencies, Metrolink fare media are not accepted. However, allowing for the inevitability of traffic delays on weekday afternoons, the Big Blue Bus system provides frequent and convenient service to most neighborhoods in its service area. Many routes serve UCLA.
The Big Blue Bus was one of the last transit agencies using the GMC New Look buses; they were retired in 2005. Big Blue Bus received the last New Looks ever built. The last one built, #5180, was driven off the property in May 2013 after being donated to the Museum of Bus Transportation in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which preserves the bus.
For 20 years until December 1999 Santa Monica Bank ran a series of humorous ads on the back of the buses. Examples include "Old and wrinkled is beautiful. Especially in large denominations", "Go invest, young man", "Was it his eyes? His lips? His jumbo CD?" and (the final one) "After 20 years on the bus, we've reached our stop". The campaign ended as the bank was absorbed by U.S. Bank.[4]
The system was started by former Brentwood resident Ruldolph F. Brunner, who later sold the system thinking it wouldn't amount to any more than a few dollars a week.
Incidents
On November 20, 2012, a Big Blue Bus turned left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist, which resulted in the 25-year-old man's death. The accident occurred at approximately 10:33 a.m. at the triangular intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Marquez in the Pacific Palisades. Only buses are allowed to make the left turn, a maneuver that has been determined to be too dangerous for other vehicles.
On June 7, 2013, Bus 4057 of Big Blue Bus was among several vehicles fired at during a thirteen-minute killing spree that left six people dead, including the gunman, and four others wounded. Three women suffered minor injuries aboard the bus, one from shrapnel-type injuries and the other two from injuries unrelated to the gunfire.[5] Approximately two dozen people were inside the bus at the time of the shooting. The attack on Bus 4057 marked the first time a Big Blue Bus came under attack by a gunman in its 85-year service.[6]
Some popular destinations
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Santa_Monica_Big_Blue_Bus_2008-04-17.jpg/400px-Santa_Monica_Big_Blue_Bus_2008-04-17.jpg)
Big Blue Bus provides service to the following popular destinations:
- Century City
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Downtown Santa Monica, including the Third Street Promenade
- Los Angeles Convention Center
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Metro Expo Line Culver City Station
- Metro Green Line Aviation Station
- Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station
- Rimpau Transit Center
- Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
- Santa Monica College
- Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park
- UCLA
- Union Station
- Venice Beach
- Will Rogers State Beach
Routes
Big Blue Bus operates 14 local routes, 3 Rapid routes, and 1 express route in Los Angeles County.[7]
Route | Terminals | Via | Days of Operation# | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
UCLA‡ | Marina del Rey | Santa Monica Boulevard | Daily service | |
2
|
UCLA‡ | Santa Monica Civic Center |
Wilshire Boulevard | Daily service | |
3
|
Santa Monica Arizona Avenue and 5th Street |
Aviation Station | Lincoln Boulevard | Daily service |
|
Rapid 3
|
Santa Monica Arizona Avenue and 5th Street |
Aviation Station | Lincoln Boulevard | Daily service |
|
4
|
Santa Monica Civic Center |
West LA Westside Pavilion |
San Vicente Boulevard, Carlye Avenue, Sawtelle Blvd, and 4th Street | Weekday only service |
|
5
|
Santa Monica 4th Street and Arizona Avenue |
Century City during off-peak hours Select trips to Palms Expo Line Station during peak hours |
Broadway, Olympic Boulevard | Daily service | |
7
|
Santa Monica 7th Street and Olympic Boulevard |
Mid-City Pico Boulevard and Rimpau Boulevard |
Pico Boulevard | Daily service |
|
Rapid 7
|
Santa Monica 7th Street and Olympic Boulevard |
Wilshire/Western Station | Pico Boulevard | Daily
|
|
8
|
Santa Monica 7th Street and Olympic Boulevard |
UCLA‡ | Ocean Park Boulevard, National Boulevard, Westwood Boulevard | Daily service | |
9
|
Pacific Palisades Sunset Boulevard and Marquez Avenue |
Santa Monica Civic Center |
Sunset Boulevard, Chatauqua Boulevard, 4th Street | Daily service | |
Rapid 10
Freeway Express |
Santa Monica 2nd Street and Colorado Avenue |
Downtown LA Cesar E. Chavez Avenue and Vignes Street |
In Santa Monica: Santa Monica Boulevard Express Portion: Santa Monica Freeway In Downtown LA: Grand & Olive Streets |
Daily service |
|
12
|
UCLA‡ | Culver City Expo Line Station | Westwood Boulevard, Overland Avenue | Daily service |
|
Rapid 12
|
UCLA |
Culver City Expo Line Station | Westwood Boulevard, Overland Avenue | Weekdays peak periods only Northbound only in AM, bi-directional in PM |
|
14
|
Brentwood San Vicente Boulevard and Gorham Avenue |
Playa Vista Artisans Way and Centinela Avenue |
Bundy Drive, Centinela Avenue | Daily service | |
15
|
Brentwood Barrington Pl and Chayote |
West LA Bundy Expo Line Station |
Barrington Ave | Daily service |
|
16
|
Marina del Rey Lincoln Boulevard and Mindanao Way |
West LA Saltair Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard |
Walgrove Avenue/23rd Street, 20th Street | Weekdays only | |
17
|
UCLA | Culver City Culver City Expo Line Station |
Sawtelle Boulevard, Palms Boulevard | Daily service |
|
18
|
UCLA‡ (Weekdays and Saturdays) |
Venice Windward Circle |
Montana Avenue, 4th Street/Avenue | Daily service | |
Brentwood San Vicente and Bringham (Sundays and Holidays) | |||||
41
|
Santa Monica 17th Street/SMC Expo Line Station |
N/A | 14th & 20th Streets | Daily |
|
42
|
Santa Monica 17th Street/SMC Expo Line Station |
N/A | 20th and 14th Streets | Daily service |
|
43
|
Santa Monica Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue |
Santa Monica San Vicente Boulevard and 14th Street |
26th Street and San Vicente Boulevard | Weekdays only during peak hours |
|
44
|
Santa Monica College main campus 18th Street and Pico Boulevard |
Santa Monica College Bundy Campus | Ocean Park Boulevard | Weekdays only |
|
- # Sunday service is provided on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
- ‡ Weekdays trips from 7a-8p serve UCLA Transit Center / Hilgard Terminal; Weekdays trips from 8p-7a and all weekends trips serve Ackerman Terminal.[8]
Fares
Fare Type† | Adult | Student‡S | Senior(62+)/Disabled/Medicare‡ |
---|---|---|---|
Local | $1.25 | $0.50 | |
Express | $2.50 | $1.00 | |
Interagency Transfer | $0.50 | $0.25 | |
Day Pass | $4.00 | $1.50 | |
13 Ride Pass | $14.00 | $6.00 | |
Local 30 Day Pass | $50.00 | $28.00 | $24.00 |
Express 30 Day Pass | $89.00 | $40.00 | |
Rolling 7-Day Pass | $14.00 | N/A |
- † Children five years of age and under may ride free (maximum 2 children with accompanying adult).
- ‡ Proper identification must be presented to obtain the reduced Student and Senior/Disabled/Medicare fare.
- S Santa Monica College students and staff may ride free with college I.D. and valid semester sticker.[9]
- The BBB ended intra-agency transfers on January 1, 2014.
UCLA students and staff
Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and Culver CityBus participate in BruinGo program, in which UCLA students and staff can swipe their BruinCard (university I.D.) on the farebox, so that the university pays a part of the fare.[8]
Type | Fare |
---|---|
One-way (not available during summer quarter) | US$0.50 |
BruinGo! Flash Pass | US$33.00 per quarter |
Fleet
Current
Order Year | Manufacturer | Image | Model | Length (ft.) |
Fleet Series (Quantity) |
Powertrain (Engine/Transmission) |
Fuel Propulsion | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | NABI | ![]() |
40-LFW | 40 | 4001-4037 (37) As of December 2015 [4001,4008, 4013,4015, 4017,4021, 4022,4024, 4028,4029, 4030,4031, 4033,4036] (14) |
|
LNG |
| |
MCI | D4500 | 45 | 5501-5504 (4) |
|
Diesel |
| |||
2004-05 | NFI | L40LF | 40 | 4038-4089 (51) |
LNG |
| |||
2006 | L40LF | 40 | 4090-4099 (10) |
LNG |
| ||||
2010/2012 | ElDorado National | ![]() |
E-Z Rider II BRT | 32 | 2900–2915 (16) |
|
Hybrid & CNG |
| |
2010/2012 | NABI | ![]() |
60-BRT | 60 | 5300-5320(21) |
|
CNG |
| |
2011 | NABI | 40-LFW | 40 | 3868-3876 (9) |
|
CNG |
| ||
2012 | Gillig | BRT | 40 | 1300(1) |
|
CNG |
|
||
2013 | Gillig | BRT | 40 | 1301-1344(44) |
|
CNG |
|
||
2014 | Gillig | BRT | 40 | 1345-1357(13) |
|
CNG |
| ||
2015 | NFI | XN60 | 60 | 1560-1566(7)[12][13] |
|
CNG |
| ||
2015 | Gillig | BRT | 40 | 1500-1510 |
|
CNG |
| ||
2016 | Gillig | ![]() |
BRT | 29 | 1600s [1600-1605 in service so far] |
|
CNG |
|
Retired
Make/ Model |
Thumbnail | Year | Numbers (Quantity Ordered) |
Engine/ Transmission |
Fuel Propulsion | Retired | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Motors Diesel Division T8H-5307A | 1982 | 5101-5122 |
|
Diesel | 1997 | Some sold to Brampton Transit Barrie Transit and STCUQ and refurbishing Companies. | |
General Motors Diesel Division T8H-5307A | 1985-1986 | 5123-5180 |
|
Diesel | 2002 2005 | some sold to Brampton Transit STCUQ and Private owners and more. 5180 remained on BBB property as a historical bus until 2013. Last order of GM New looks.
| |
MCI TC40-102A Classic |
1988-1991 | 5181-5210, 4951-4960 (40 buses) |
|
Diesel | 2005/2006 | Many are still used in secondhand service by Canadian bus operators. | |
Nova Bus TC40-102A Classic |
1995 | 4801-4821 (21 buses) |
|
Diesel | September 2011 | Last high floor buses to be Retired. | |
Thomas Built Buses SLF 230 | 2000 | 2606-2615 (10 buses) |
|
Diesel | July 2010 | Formerly used for Mini Blue service. | |
New Flyer D40LF | 1997-1998 | 3801-3867 (67 buses) |
|
Diesel | 2014 |
|
In popular culture
((Unsourced section))
Speed
The most famous Big Blue Bus is probably the one rigged with a bomb in 1994's hit movie Speed. Driving through Los Angeles at rush hour, the bus has to keep its speed over 50 mph (80 km/h) or the bomb on the bus will detonate.
The bus operator in the movie is called the Santa Monica Intercity Bus Lines, a barely fictionalized version of the Big Blue Bus's official name, the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines. Even more tellingly, the bus in the film is a General Motors "New Look" bus, introduced in 1959 but kept in prominent and active service by Santa Monica until early 2005, long after most other American cities had retired the retro-looking bus.
In another effort to differentiate the movie's bus from any real-world bus, the headsigns on the Speed bus display:
- 33 DOWNTOWN | VIA FREEWAY
However, number 33 buses are operated by Metro, not Big Blue, and run on Venice Boulevard, not the Santa Monica Freeway. The closest thing to the movie bus's routing is Santa Monica's number 10 express route.
The bus number was 2525, not within any equipment number range operated by the real company at that time.
It should also be noted that at the time the movie was released, Santa Monica's GM New Look fleet were the Canadian-built versions with wheelchair lifts; the US-built version were retired in 1990 to make room for the Classics.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
In an episode that originally aired on May 15, 2007, the ABC late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was filmed on a New Flyer L40LF model LNG bus. In this episode, titled Jimmy Kimmel Live on a Bus, Kimmel sat behind the desk, which was rigged to fit in a bus. This particular Santa Monica Big Blue Bus that was used in the episode was driven by veteran bus driver Erskins Robinson, who picked up unsuspecting passengers along his route. The celebrity guests who appeared in the Jimmy Kimmel Live on a Bus episode were Paula Abdul, Flavor Flav, and musical guest Feist.
The Doors
A Blue Bus is referred to twice in The Doors's classic 1967 song "The End", when singer Jim Morrison says "The blue bus is calling us", and "Meet me at the back of the blue bus".
Raymond Chandler
In Raymond Chandler's novel Farewell, My Lovely, first published in 1940, he writes as protagonist Philip Marlowe, describing a scene in Bay City (Chandler's version of the City of Santa Monica):
- "Outside the narrow street fumed, the sidewalks swarmed with fat stomachs. Across the street a bingo parlor was going full blast and beside it a couple of sailors with girls were coming out of a photographer’s shop where they had probably been having their photos taken riding on camels. The voice of the hot dog merchant split the dusk like an axe. A big blue bus blared down the street to the little circle where the street car used to turn on a turntable. I walked that way."
References
- ^ http://www.bigbluebus.com
- ^ "Big Blue Bus's 2012 National Transit Database Entry"
- ^ Big Blue Bus to Increase Fares as of August 29th
- ^ Bus Line's One-Liners to StopLos Angeles Times Dec. 1, 1999
- ^ June 7, 2013, 11:57 PM. "Injured victims of Santa Monica shooting". Cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2013-06-10.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "City of Santa Monica: July 7th, 2013 Shooting Incident After-Action Report"
- ^ "Routes & Schedules". Big Blue Bus. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- ^ a b "BruinGo! Transit". UCLA Transportation. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ "SMC - Any Time". Big Blue Bus. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ http://www.bigbluebus.com/aboutus/index.asp
- ^ http://www.smgov.net/departments/council/agendas/2014/20140923/s2014092303-B.htm
- ^ https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/11881800_104072526613734_312362635_n.jpg
- ^ http://www.newflyer.com/index/030315-city-of-santa-monica
- ^ http://www.smgov.net/departments/council/agendas/2014/20140610/s2014061003-C.htm
Further reading
Ayer, Bob. History of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus. Santa Monica, CA: City of Santa Monica, 1992.
External links
- Big Blue Bus homepage
- Google Map of Routes (last updated 2007)