Mastodawn

2. MacArthur BART station has a bunch of free shuttle buses. The one I use most is the EmeryGoRound, primarily to the Amtrak station in Emeryville.

Fun fact: the Hollis route runs from 5:45am to 9:20pm on weekdays, every 15 min

EDIT: adding prices as a record. This was $0

#BikeTooter #Cycling #Amtrak

Not everyone knows this but you can ride your bike and check it in on many of the long distance trains. They check in the bicycle on bike racks at the front of the train.

Not every train or stop has this, but the major ones along the west coast do (California Zephyr, Coast Starlight). When I was going to Reno a lot (long story) I used to take my bike on BART, cycle from West Oakland to Emeryville, check it in on the train, get out in Reno and cycle away.

Of course you’ve got to figure out an easy luggage situation (something easily detached) but I only ever had a small bag with me so it was fine.

I just saw a bunch of people checking their bikes. They’re taking the train to Santa Barbara with their bikes. It’s a $20 one way add-on

Bike policy here: https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard

Bring Your Bike on Amtrak

How to bring your bicycle with you on your next Amtrak journey.

Amtrak

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Space_Force_Base

3. Coast Starlight to Los Angeles

Fun fact: This train will travel through some of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific coast, and at least one rocket launch base

EDIT: adding prices as a record. This usually costs $48-120 depending on when you book it. I got it as part of my rail pass

#Trains #Amtrak #California #CoastStarlight

Announcement: please wear shoes on the train. If you come to the cafe with no shoes, we will not serve you

There’s someone on the train with laptop and multi screen setup. You def can’t do that in a plane. In economy class.

#California #Amtrak #Trains #CoastStarlight

Somewhere in central California

I brought my own kettle and tea bags (am out of my good tea leaves or I’d have brought that too!)

The other indispensable travel accessory for me: a portable bidet. With pressure control. (Way better than using a water bottle)

I just can’t with toilet paper

Where am I going? That’s a good question.

London, actually. But I’m taking a series of trains (and later planes. Eventually)

Golden hour somewhere around Lompoc.

#LosAngeles #LAmetro #Transit

4. Union station to Downtown LA on the LA Metro D line

Fun fact: LA metro was just selling T-shirts with the slogan ‘Ride the D’. It was sold out very quickly

EDIT: adding prices as a record. This was $1.75

#Bus #Transit #LosAngeles

5. Bus no 4 from downtown LA to the fashion district

This was $1.75

Fun fact: if you take another bus or train within 2 hours on LA metro, the transfer is free. So going there and coming back can cost just $1.75

#Trains #Amtrak #Transit #LosAngeles

Adrianna Tan Mar 27

Union Station, Los Angeles. Guess where I’m going next?

Draken BlackKnight Mar 27

@skinnylatte
On a train?

Natalie Mar 27

@skinnylatte on the scissor lift!

Jes Mar 27

@skinnylatte San Diego!

Ericka Simone Mar 27

@skinnylatte love union station so much

Sir David Nielsen Mar 27

@skinnylatte I have no idea, but I know I am about to learn of all the great places to eat there.

rednikki Mar 27

@skinnylatte One of the most beautiful train stations I’ve ever been in.

Brian Tatosky Mar 27

@skinnylatte Olvera Street?

michael Mar 25

@skinnylatte buses are great! Ours has been 1$ for a long time.

Samantha Mar 25

@skinnylatte we used to live just a block from there! You are (or were) conveniently close to Sonoratown (delicious flour tortilla tacos)

@samantha yup, am a big fan. One of the first spots I tried here back in the day

Samantha Mar 25

@skinnylatte god I miss good tacos. There's not much of a Mexican population in Vancouver, and thus also a sad lack of good tacos. I wonder if tacos are the best thing about America.

jbaggs Mar 25

@skinnylatte Are they going to get Wet Leg to do the promos for the slogan?

Chuck Fry 🏳️‍🌈Mar 25

@skinnylatte Was the Coast Starlight on time? Thinking about a trip to L.A. by train at some point.

@SVChucko surprisingly the last two times I took it, it was on time.

The time before that (during the winter with lots of issues), delayed by 8h

Chuck Fry 🏳️‍🌈Mar 25

@skinnylatte We took a trip from the Bay to central Pennsylvania by train in November. Out of 8 trains, the very first (Capitol Corridor) was the better part of a hour late, but we met family in Sacramento, so the timing wasn't critical. Only one other train was more than a few minutes late. But that one, the Floridian, was almost 4 hours late for what was supposed to be a midnight departure. That was not a fun night at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station.

The California Zephyr was great in both directions.

Natalie Mar 25

@skinnylatte Going to miss those old trains 😢

Mats Holberg 🇺🇦 🇵🇸Mar 25

@skinnylatte My spiritual homeland! Hope it’s a great trip.

Nagaram Mar 25

@skinnylatte

Planes, trains, any automobiles?

@Nagaram very few (I don’t drive)

Natalie Mar 24

@skinnylatte Woah, am intrigued by this kettle, I usually just befriend the LSA for infinite hot water

Darth Osler Mar 24

@skinnylatte I like rose hip, mainly because I'm allergic to chamomile

Reilly Spitzfaden (they/them)Mar 24

@skinnylatte I did not know one could get a portable kettle like that — I may have to get one!

scott f Mar 24

@skinnylatte are the on-train electrical outlets actually powerful enough to boil water?! I may need to buy a kettle like this. No coffee or tea on my Gold Runner ride was a trial for me.

James Gallagher Mar 24

@skinnylatte That’s a nice looking kettle

Das Mar 25

@skinnylatte sweet kettle! Might have to get one to use with my aeropress for coffee

Jeff Smith Mar 25

@skinnylatte just bought one of these from AliExpress last month because US hotels don’t usually have kettles, only the mini coffee machines which make the water taste like old weak coffee. Works great! Never needed this in the rest of the “civilized” world 😁

May Likes Toronto Mar 24

@skinnylatte The exit sign looks like it belongs in the field, not on the train.

sasutina13a is-a sasutina13a Mar 24

@skinnylatte

Doors with a Jack-in-the-box arrow?

They have the oddest non-standard, or at least non-universal exit signs...

Perhaps it is just an American exceptionalism thing...

Carolyn Mar 24

@skinnylatte no, but it’s a shame that people can’t turn off anymore. It used to be a perk of travelling: no one could expect answers to emails.

scott f Mar 24

@CStamp @skinnylatte you will love the complete lack of cell reception on much of the Coast Starlight route, then! and no wifi

Carolyn Mar 24

@scott @skinnylatte There should always be placing out of reach. ;)

Natalie Mar 24

@skinnylatte you will also lose your toes between cars! that will suck for you!

Laura Carter Mar 24

@skinnylatte I took the Coast Starlight for the first time recently (between Seattle and Portland) and it was fascinating (as a Brit, and someone who has travelled on trains on six continents) how many announcements were targeted at people who might never have been on a train before: because in the US this might be the case!

@LauraC_rter I feel like the sort of people who might take the train at all in the U.S. are probably more hippie-coded than neck beard

And rich retirees

Becca 🌳🚀🛀Mar 24

@skinnylatte
When I took the Zephyr from SF to Chicago, there was a surprising amount of people who took it regularly because they thought planes sucked and it was by and large US folks on the train.
They were surprisingly normal and non adventurous - felt just like the way of travelling they prefer - even though travel was considerably slower.
@LauraC_rter

Mx. Aria Stewart Mar 24

@rlcw @skinnylatte @LauraC_rter Yes! And don't forget Amish folks. You'll always see 'em on the train in the midwest.

Mx Rey (Fuck ICE) 💜 🏳️‍⚧️Mar 24

@skinnylatte evergreen announcement

B'ad Samurai 🐐🇺🇦Mar 24

@rey @skinnylatte or Reed.. I see people barefoot in PDX bars at least once a year. Oregon things.

Empire Builder is a good one too. Although much of it is (was?) in darkness heading to Whitefish, MT.

Ike Seblon Mar 24

@badsamurai @skinnylatte
The night stretch from portland to whitefish always bums me out; Idaho's panhandle is gorgeous, but at least there's a nice sunrise in the woods coming around whitefish lake.

B'ad Samurai 🐐🇺🇦Mar 24

@ike_seblon @skinnylatte I sleep so well on or near trains. So on the plus side, when it arrives at 7am you’re ready for immediate Montana adventures.

brennen Mar 24

@skinnylatte i gotta ride this one one of these days

Luo Binghe baculum truther Mar 24

@skinnylatte You can take your bike on Canada's rail for a similar fee! It was handy for me when I was going to a small community and didn't want to rent a car.

João Tiago Rebelo (NAFO J-121)Mar 24

@skinnylatte and they speak ill of US buses. Here in (southwestern) Europe I'd love for free buses every 15 minutes between a train station and somewhere else.