BusTalk Forum Index BusTalk
A Community Discussing Buses and Bus Operations Worldwide!
 
 BusTalk MainBusTalk Main FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups BusTalk GalleriesBusTalk Galleries   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

'Big Blue Celebrates 80 Years'

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    BusTalk Forum Index -> Surface Transit - Western United States
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Mr. Linsky
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 5071
Location: BRENTWOOD, CA. - WOODMERE, N.Y.

PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 12:02 am    Post subject: 'Big Blue Celebrates 80 Years' Reply with quote

Big Blue Bus is Celebrating 80 Years of Service and Innovation

Today marks 80 years of continous service at Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines (more commonly know as 'Big Blue Bus).

In recognition of this memorable milestone, a celebration was held at the Third Street Pomenade in downtown Santa Monica replete with the appearance of a vintage GM 5300 series 'New Look' that has been preserved by the company.

The event was very festive and a good time was had by all.

The following is a brief history and some interesting facts about Big Blue as excerpted from their website;

The Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica Municipal Bus) has come a long way from its early beginnings as a collection of unemployed Model T car owners who charged five cents for a ride down Santa Monica Boulevard.

It has evolved to become one of the most efficient and well-run transportation systems in the nation, admired for its deep commitment to the environment and its continuing mission to provide convenient and low-cost transportation to get people out of their cars and onto public transit.

The Big Blue Bus has been able to grow over the years because of the incredible vision and dedication of many former city and transit leaders . They knew a long time ago that investing in a modern public transit system would be very important to the growth of Santa Monica, and they never gave up trying to improve what they could offer to the public.

When the company first started back in 1928, they were only able to take people down the main streets of Santa Monica, like Pico and Wilshire Boulevards. Now The Big Blue Bus covers almost 52 square miles of Los Angeles county with over 200 ultra modern, alternative fueled buses, which helps more than 20 million people a year get to work, school and around town."

Big Blue is especially proud that it has been able to consistently maintain low-cost fares over the years so that anyone who wanted to ride could with regular fares only 70 cents higher than they were 80 years ago.

In fact, Big Blue is also proud to announce a collaboration between the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, one of the preeminent automotive design centers in the country, and the company to help design the "next generation" of advanced buses.

An aside; as a resident of West Los Angeles I see Big Blue's buses all day long and would tell you that this company is a 'bellwether' in public transportation!

Pictured below is an example of what I mean; this photo of a Big Blue Classic could have been taken when it was brand new or the day it was being retired! - that's how they maintain their equipment.

Photo courtesy of Steve Hoskins.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The Port of Authority




Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 118
Location: Hong Kong

PostPosted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wish I knew about this... could have stopped by.

Happy 80th to Big Blue Bus... definitely one of the best transit agencies in this country.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    BusTalk Forum Index -> Surface Transit - Western United States All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group