To most of us, the yellow line is that familiar central demarcation on our local road. It defines the left side from the right and, in many cases, the legal from the illegal. It follows the path devotedly, never veering to either extremes. It is our faithful guide in the snowy mountains, the isolate deserts, and the urban jungle. It is this yellow line of comfort, security, and fairness that usually enters our minds when mentioned.
To me, however, the yellow line is much more than that. The Yellow Line was my first conscious experience with public transportation. It was on that Washington Metro train from the airport that I was “awakened.” For the first time, I took notice of things that I previously simply accepted or disregarded – the crowds, the stations, the trains! It was that boarding on that train on that line that I was brought into the world of transit.
It may be then more of a coincidence that the yellow line has entered my life yet again. This time, literally across the entire nation, I find myself living near BART’s fascinating Yellow Line. Officially known as the Pittsburg/Bay Point – SFO/Millbrae line, it witnesses all: rural, suburb, urban, freeway, airport, at-grade, subway, aerial, transfers. For me, it’s my main access to the great city of San Francisco.
Ultimately, though, despite their symbolism, this blog is not titled after these yellow lines. It instead derives its name from one of the most unnoticed, but important, lines in public transit: the yellow safety line. Seen on platforms in rail stations, the yellow safety line defines where riders-to-be can safely wait for their trains. Crossing that line while a train approaches can put one at serious risk of injury or death. Only when the train comes to a complete stop and opens its doors can commuters cross it. It is a simple line that divides the world of stability from that of chance.
The purpose of this blog is to express my outlook on the transit world around me while adopting the characteristics of the yellow lines mentioned. I hope to maintain as best as I can a centrist blog that can be enjoyed and understood by not just transportation enthusiasts, but also the general populace. I hope to introduce, interest, and inspire others just as the Washington Metro did to me. Lastly, I hope to explore ideas, display my thoughts, and risk them with the critiques and opinions of the public.
A train is heard. The crowd pushes forward. Welcome to The Yellow Line.
Jordan Toy
Jordan Toy is, as of Fall 2012, a 3rd year civil engineering undergraduate at University of California, Berkeley. President of the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Engineers (Cal-ITE) and minoring in city and regional planning, he plans to integrate both transportation engineering and planning in his future career. As a San Francisco Bay Area native, Jordan wishes to improve the region’s public transportation network as a service to his community. He has collected data and surveyed for numerous transportation projects, such as SFMTA’s Better Market Street Study and its annual Citywide Bicycle Count, with the most recent being documenting parking behavior for an independent evaluation of SFpark. Working at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center (TSRC), he has expanded his interest and knowledge in bikesharing and carsharing. When not a student or “transportation-eer,” Jordan is a adventurous hiker, an avid linguist, a political enthusiast, and a low-budgeted epicurean.
The Yellow Line 