Here’s a “Pick-up Line” that’ll get you somewhere.
The West Hollywood City Council threw its support beyond an official city “Pick-Up Line” at Monday night’s meeting, and no, it’s not the kind that’ll score you that guy or girl totally out of your league, but it will get you safely down Santa Monica Boulevard on a Friday night.
Soon WeHo’ans will be riding the newly named party bus “The Pick-Up Line,” which offers revelers a free ride down Santa Monica Boulevard on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. The bus will make 15-minute runs from Doheny Drive to Fairfax Avenue with a detour to the West Hollywood Public Library parking deck on San Vicente Boulevard.
With the City Council’s unanimous vote to approve a $71,000 agreement with American GTS, the six-month pilot program is expected to start on July 26.
In addition to approving the agreement, the council OK’d a branding proposal from Symblaze, Inc. to dub the shuttle “The Pickup Line.” The name won out over the alternative suggestions “The Shot” — which was recommended by city staff members — and “The WHIP.”
In fact, it was Councilmember John D’Amico who came up with the name, slightly altering the company’s suggestion of “The Pick Up.”
The bus will also offer a photo-booth, which the council members praised for its social-media potential.
“Maybe we can invite the 200 couples (who got married recently in WeHo) to come out and ride ‘The Pick-up Line’ to teach us how it’s done,” said Councilmember John Heilman.
The bus service, which will be offered at no cost to riders, will cost the city $110 per operating hour. The city is allocating $71,000 from the general fund to pay for the service.
GTS initially plans to use its “All-American Classic Trolleys,” which seat 34 riders, one wheelchair rider and 10 standing riders. The council members, concerned the buses may be too big, could later opt for smaller buses depending on the ridership numbers.
After issuing a request for proposals last month, the city received bids from four companies: Date Bus, American GTS, SMS Transportation Services and ABM Parking Services. According to the staff report, city staff recommended contracting with American GTS in part because the company has offered shuttle service for the City of Glendale, area high schools and other groups. The fact that the vehicles will be used exclusively for the City of West Hollywood during the pilot program was also mentioned as a factor.
UPDATE: Get a first look at the Pick Up, to launch Aug. 17.
Mikey – that is the entire point isn’t it. We have this gem of green in the midst of an area socially neglected and overbuilt by narrow minded city government. But I would rather have this beautiful park untouched than all the drunk shuttles in the city. Yet I am troubled deeply that instead of seeing the City of West Hollywood as an embracing city for everyone – it will become – at least from Doheny to La Cienega – another Las Vegas – attracting hard drinkers and tourists yearning to see how the Gay actually live (probably to confirm… Read more »
Where to begin…where is the logic in the party shuttle not picking up people on the East side who are the ones who have to travel the furthest to get to the bars and restaurants? So, the East siders and visitors drive to Fairfax and hop on the shuttle…where do they leave their cars? They will, what? be driving past the shuttle through the traffic to the parking structure, to catch the shuttle to go back to Tender Greens?? If the city wants people to park in the structures at the library then the shuttle should just go to the… Read more »
The east side of West Hollywood is not depressing, overbuilt or
under beautified…….It also has the most beautiful park in West
Hollywood.
I hope that in future they will extend this to Hollywood and Highland. Maybe I don’t spend enough time in West Hollywood, but I don’t see the value of such a short bus line. The biggest concentration of bars are all a very easy walking distance from each other and from lots of residents. And even for someone riding end-to-end, if you have to wait 15 minutes for the bus, and then ride for another 15-20 minutes, then you could walk that distance just as fast. If this connected to Hollywood and Highland, then suddenly everyone who lives anywhere on… Read more »
I agree with Chloe. Once again the East Side is not recognized as a part of West Hollywood. So Marco, you don’t think with all of the building going on, mostly near or on La Brea, bringing over a 1000 new residents, would support the bars and restaurants on the West Side? 15 extra minutes to go from fairfax to La Brea? Really? Maybe walking, which i guess we will be doing if we want a ride on this bus. It’s nice the city council keeps approving all of these ridiculously large projects between Fairfax and La Brea, but still… Read more »
“The bus will also offer a photo-booth, which the council members praised for its social-media potential.”
hmmm, really? a photo booth with “social-media potential”?
I’m all for this kind of thing but I had no idea it was that hard to get people to park in the library structure.
THIS ROCKS. Potentially preventing accidents, DUI’s and clearing up some of the cars on the BLVD during those hours is simply good government. This is yet another way to welcome people to spend their time in our city supporting our businesses.
Chloe, the hub of bars and restaurants in Weho is between Doheny and Fairfax and to extend the shuttle past Fairfax to La Brea would probably mean doubling the cost and or increasing the wait and return time from 15 to 30 mins. I think the Council is well aware of Weho’s borders and this is a good start and a nice perk for those like myself who spend money supporting our local bars and restaurants. I am thrilled and hope to be one of the first on board to christen The PUL!
So am I to assume those who get off at Fairfax will simply be left to stagger their way home to the depressing, overlooked, over built, under beautified East Side. Indeed the City of West Hollywood does start at Doheny on the West, but as recently as – oh say – today – it still ended at La Brea.
I just love this and hope it works out. The city buses are truly disgusting, filthy and unsanitary. “The Pick Up Line” will help support businesses along SMB and provide safer and fun transportation for Wehoans and visitors that patronize our bars and restaurants. I’m single and go out nightly and the Metro Line buses are just awful and never on schedule in the evenings. Wow, a service at no cost to our residents… so cheers to Lucas John and thank you City Council for making it happen it.
lol It says down SMB from Fairfax to Doheny every 15 minutes between 8pm – 3pm. What more do you want?