BIKE: Off-topic; I just can't resist

[Roger Baker]

On Feb 11, 2005, at 12:43 AM, Michael Bluejay wrote:

> Speaking of monorail, I just rode the Vegas monorail and I wasn't very 
> impressed.
>
> The stations on the South side are *far* from the strip, since they're 
> one long block over, and through the casinos.  I think it took me ten 
> minutes to walk to a monorail station, maybe more.  That wasn't helped 
> by the fact that the casinos advertise "Monorail Station!" outside but 
> once you get inside they do everything they can to keep you from 
> finding it.  The signage is sparse.  Wouldn't you prefer to play some 
> slot machines or blackjack, sir?
>
> I've read that the monorail goes four miles, but I think that's 
> because it's got some turns and doesn't exactly parallel the Strip.  
> In reality it covers only about 2.5 miles of the strip, if you were 
> traveling along the strip by any other method (walking, taxi, or bus), 
> which I think is the best comparison.  The trip supposedly takes 14 
> minutes from end to end.  If you add 5.5 minutes of walking time on 
> each end (probably underestimated) and another five waiting for the 
> train then that's 30 minutes.  I think it would take only about 50 
> minutes to walk the entire strip.  I suspect the bus that runs up and 
> down the strip itself 24/7 is faster.  If I have a chance I'll time 
> it.
>
> Either light rail or monorail on the strip itself would have been way 
> more convenient, but there are some big obstacles that precluded it.  
> The casinos would have objected to monorail because they don't want 
> anything to obstruct the view of their billion-dollar properties from 
> across the street, and light rail would have resulted in spectacular 
> fatalities every several days with all the crazy drivers out here as 
> well as all the clueless pedestrians who have never walked in an urban 
> environment before and constantly leap off the sidewalk without 
> looking.  In fact it's amazing more of them aren't demolished by cars.
>
> -MBJ-


Where oh where is the Roman circus of yore? Vegas!  Wretched excess at 
the peak of the global empire! Makes NYC seem tame. Got your checkbook 
ready?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0211/p12s01-almp.html