MTA GETS ON BOARD ELECTRIC SCOOTER CRAZE FOR FUTURE.

Byline: - Troy Anderson

The agency that runs the largest public transit systems in the nation has seen the future of transportation - electric scooters.

At its first technology and innovation forum today, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will recommend people who travel only a few miles to work, the bus or Red Line stations to use electric scooters or even those popular Razor scooters.

``About 35 percent of Angelenos live within five miles of work,'' said Robin Blair, MTA project manager. ``Kids say Razor scooters are more convenient than getting on bikes and they can fold it up and take it into the house with them.''

The electric scooters are among the latest in 21st century transportation innovations that will be showcased at the forum.

The list includes electric and hybrid vehicles, bicycles, scooters and intelligent transportation gizmos designed to squeeze the most capacity out of Los Angeles County's traffic-clogged streets.

``The advances in technology over the last 10 years have transformed the way we get things done,'' MTA board Chairwoman Yvonne Brathwaite Burke said. ``It's clear to the MTA and its board of directors that as technology has changed the way we communicate, it is also changing the way we travel.''

The daylong conference, featuring such speakers as science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, examines how new technologies can be used in the MTA's newly released 25-year transportation plan.

Two decades ago, cutting-edge improvements were high-occupancy vehicle lanes, park and ride lots and metro rapid buses.

But the MTA's vision for tomorrow now includes freeway signs that tell drivers not only about crashes up ahead, but routes to avoid them, buses that electronically communicate with each other to optimize arrival times and bus stops equipped with poles people can hit to call 911.