connection to the airport

It's now possible to take BART all the way to the airport.  Here's the driverless three-car train that runs on an elevated track between the regular BART station and the airport.  Previously the trip was made by bus.  The system broke down several times in the first month but now seems to be running smoothly.  It's a quick and easy ride that drops you off in front of Terminal 1.  Pretty cool and it only cost a smidge more than a half billion dollars to build.  Yep, that's with a B.

Theme Day: bicycle

The first of each month is City Daily Photo's Theme Day.  Today's is "bicycle."  Here we see the opening of a new parklet and bike parking in front of Manifesto Bicycle shop.  Go to CDP for more takes from around the world on the theme.

wind-up bus

This life size wind-up bus was photographed behind a fence in West Oakland.  It looks like a project that needs protecting.

alternate mode of transportation

Snapped on Mandela Parkway in West Oakland.  He rode confidently and wasn't thrown off balance by the cardboard container he carried.  I'd end up on the ground with head trauma.

vintage train

This vintage train car was part of a traveling art installation/happening traveling from New York to Oakland.  I tried to take pictures of the other cars but got shooed away.  Because I left my hard hat and steel toed shoes at home, I wasn't allowed into the area.  Pity.  I was hoping to see an interior.  As for the art happening itself, it was sold out.  Snake eyes.

train to nowhere

I had no idea that there was an Amtrak repair barn in Oakland.  This isn't too far from Jack London Square.  It was amusing to see an engine driving into a building.  There was a little cognitive dissonance going on until I figured out what I was seeing.

mini wheels

I heard him coming before I saw him.  This mini-cycle sounded like a wasp on steroids.  He had revved it up and then had a little trouble stopping at the red light.  I crossed the street and then turned around to take his picture.  He just looked back at me.  I don't even know if these things are street legal but I can see why a teen would want one.  Note that his bike and helmet match.

Monday Mural: Key System Mural

This mural is located downtown at 11th and Broadway.  It was done in 2008 by Rocky Baird, a well known local muralist, who has previously been featured here and here.  It is 20 x 80 feet long and decorates the building that was once the headquarters to the Key System, an intricate system of trains, trams and buses that ran between San Francisco and the East Bay.  The system was closed by 1958 to be replaced by buses and BART.  The building was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and has been empty ever since.  The mural was sponsored by many organizations including the Oakland Heritage Association.

It remains to be seen when the building will be renovated and used again.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme's for you.  Just follow the Linky steps below.  You get to decide what constitutes a mural.  Be sure to link back to this blog and visit your fellow posters.  Looking forward to the mural finds posted this week.  I'm out of town for several days but will do my best to leave comments.

ABC Wednesday: A is for Amtrak

The Oakland Amtrak station is located at one end of Jack London Square.  From here you can catch a train to Sacramento and LA.  This side of the Amtrak train station faces the tracks.  The reflection includes the pedestrian bridge across the tracks.  California is now piloting a TGV to LA via the Central Valley.  Given the questionable financial projections for both funding and ridership, file this notion under wishful thinking.  For more "A" photos, visit ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday: R is for Rockridge

Rockridge is an upscale neighborhood in North Oakland.  The Rockridge BART (our metro) station is on College Avenue which runs all the way to the UC campus in Berkeley.  This line takes you directly to downtown San Francisco and the airport without having to change trains.  This station is in the thick of a residential neighborhood along with restaurants, coffee shops, and all kinds of retail shops.  For more "R" photos from around the world, visit ABC Wednesday.

take the green bus

Just a couple of months ago the free, green shuttle bus was introduced with no fanfare.  It runs from Jack London Square to Lake Merritt with hop on, hop off privileges.  But only Monday through Friday.  I've read this is a precursor to building a trolley that is intended to run the same route.  A trolley would be cool, but I'll believe it when I see it.

stay off the tracks

Both passenger and freight trains run down the middle of 1st Street, at the bottom of Broadway, along side of Jack London Square.   Even though they are a common sight, this is the first time I've seen a warning on a locomotive.  Four other trains came by while I was down there, but this was the only one with a message.  This may be in response to several accidents and suicides on tracks around the bay this year.  It definitely made me want to take a step back.  This is my first time linking to Mellow Yellow Monday.  Don't know about mellow, but it definitely qualifies for yellow.

Ol' 7654

Found near Shoreline Park in west Oakland.