What's my (Orange) Line?

As my car sat for a day and a half at Vista Ford, whose service department is intent on sucking the money -- if not the very life along with it -- out of me, I made it home and back to the Daily News via the ever-lovin' Orange Line bus.

The whole thing was quick and pretty much uneventful -- except for the lady with stroller who crossed against the light in Encino. The driver saw it coming, though, and slowed down appropriately.

Ridership was pretty good both times, and I didn't get too screwed on travel time either.

Grimy windows notwithstanding, I took in the industrial background of Van Nuys, the sod fields and National Guard and reserve bases of Lake Balboa, then the back streets of Reseda and more on my way to Warner Center. If only the bus stopped at the Daily News -- it goes right by the building, after all. A little walk won't kill me, but the 15 minutes from home to bus stop and 10 minutes from bus stop to Daily News, timewise, just might. This morning, I rode with Ilene and our Lulu to school, so I got a drop-off (and pickup last night), saving me the aformentioned 15 minutes both ways.

It looks like crews are working on the road that will extend the bus from De Soto Avenue to Canoga Avenue. Bring it to Owensmouth and Vanowen, delivering people to Westfield Topanga (it already hits the Promenade), and you've really got something.