An Introduction to the blog "I Will Ride"

Streetsblog » Welcome to the Blogroll: I Will Ride

Welcome to the Blogroll: I Will Ride

by Damien Newton on May 14, 2009


(Editor's Note: From now on, Streetsblog is going to begin featuring blogs before they get added to our blogroll. As the the local traditional media continues to retreat in its transportation coverate, it's important for all of us to have as many "media outlets" at our disposal as possible.)

In February of this year, a new blog appeared that focused on the efforts to extend the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Over the last three months, I Will Ride has become a consistent and well-written voice for its favorite project, the San Gabriel Valley and transit expansion in general.

If the name sounds familiar, it's because the I Will Ride website used to belong to a group of college students who were promoting the Gold Line extension. It's since been turned over to the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority who have used it to promote the project. Some people have complained that the site isn't clear about who is running it, that the site purports to be "grassroots" when it's really "astroturf."

While it may not be covered in Gold Line Foothill logos, the first post at I Will Ride tells of the site being turned over from the students to the Construction Authority so it's not like they were trying to keep the site's owners a secret. Regardless of the site's sponsors, there is such a dearth of coverage of transportation issues, that we need all the writers we can get.

The main voice at I Will Ride, "Albert," has done yeoman's work, appearing at public events, twittering some long and dry meetings, and doing the research that is needed to promote the project. In truth, the entire blog's point of view can be described in one line from their twitter feed from last Saturday's meeting with Art Leahy.

The tax will begin soon and we need to make sure we get our fair share. Even though many of the cities opposed Measure R, the residents voted for it mostly for the Gold Line. The county needed those votes to pass the sales tax. We need to make sure we all get the benefit.

Personally, I've learned a lot about the politics surrounding the Foothill Extension, including why supporters refer to it as the Brain Train, from the site. Besides, can you name another transit project that would get a college mascots out to support it? Bruins for Traffic Relief, the ball is in your corner.