Today marks three weeks since the ACE Gold Line began running, and in that time, I’ve put the bus to reasonably good use.
I live only a short walking distance from an ACE stop, and so far I have used this new transit option numerous times to quickly shuttle me back and forth between The Strip and Downtown. While the ACE looks kind of silly, it’s more or less door-to-door service in the world’s longest limo for yours truly. Compared to the Monorail, it’s fairly cheap too, and it actually … you know … goes places.
Although a 24 hour pass for $7 probably would have saved me money over the weeks, I usually just purchase a $3 ticket that’s good for two hours since I use so many different ways to get around.
My own private car, the private cars of others, the Monorail, cabs, buses, a bicycle, my own two feet … I use every people-moving method this town has to offer, and more often than not, my mode of transit is a spontaneous choice. Because of this, I don’t like the commitment of a multi-ride pass.
For instance, yesterday, I took the ACE Bus from Rexville to the Mandalay Mile, hung out at the Excalibur and Luxor, crossed over to the MGM Grand, and came home via the Monorail because I was in a hurry.
Ironically, on the way back home, the Monorail broke down in the Convention Center station and I was forced to get off.
For the 99.9% of people who have never ridden the Vegas rail system, believe me when I tell you that there is no worse station at which to be stranded than the Convention Center on a Saturday while no actual conventions are taking place. It’s a ghost town for a quarter mile in any given direction. Fortunately, I got a ride within a few minutes, but were I a tourist paying $5 each way, I would have been pretty pissed off to be dumped in no-mans land without a refund.
Clik here to view.
Convention Center Monorail Station
Of course, the ACE is of little value on crowded weekends, but Monday through Friday, and when visitorship is fairly thin, it can work. It’s especially useful between Fashion Show Mall and the Premium Outlets.
Interestingly, the first time I ever really heard the ACE Bus was when I played this video back. When I am on mass transit, I have omnipresent earphones so that I don’t have to interact with the people around me.
One exception was made yesterday when a man and woman got on the bus with bouquets of white flowers. I hit “pause” just in time to find out that they had just gotten married, and were taking the trainbus back to their hotel. That’s either extremely cheap, or extremely cool … depending on who you ask.
In addition to doing some selective eavesdropping, I also recorded the entirety of my uneventful commute.
I thought about speeding the video up considerably, but there are probably one or two Vegas geeks out there who want the “real” experience, and let’s face it … in order to watch a ten minute video of a bus ride … you need to be a Vegas dork extraordinaire.
If you fit the above description, well, come along and take an ACE Bus ride from Rexville to the Excalibur Tram Station. The full trip actually took a total of 12 minutes, but I cut out stoplights and moments when the vehicle was stuck in traffic. That being said — about 90% of the footage is what it is. A virtual ACE ride. This is more or less what it looks like each time I get on the mean machine.
God Bless the Internet.
Now, people can ride the bus from the comfort of their own home while keeping their self-esteem intact.
What can I say, much like Jesus, I suffer for your sins.
You’re welcome.