Proposal to axe fareless bus service in Fareless Square
TriMet has a new proposal out for changes to Fareless Square. What are the changes?
No more fareless bus rides in Fareless Square.
Do keep in mind that TriMet will be keeping MAX and streetcar fareless in the current Fareless Square boundary.
TriMet states that this would make “more efficient bus operations.” They make several good points about this, namely:
“Many bus riders in Fareless Square get on at a stop, ride a few blocks and then get off. This slows travel time for the bus and can back up buses moving through the Mall.”
And:
“Ending free rides on buses would also remove potential conflict with bus operators, who may not always remember which riders paid or didn’t pay, as the bus approaches the Fareless Square boundary.”
TriMet also states this won’t have as much impact as you might think, namely because “More than 50% of riders in Fareless Square already have a monthly or yearly pass, so a change to the free zone is not an issue for them. We believe others will walk or bike more as a result of the change.”
TriMet is seeking public opinion on this proposal. TriMet will accept comments through July 17th at this email address: comments@trimet.org. I strongly suggest if you have any opinion whatsoever to make your opinion be heard; as we’ve seen in the most recent round of changes to bus lines being axed and times being changed, strong enough public opinion does sway how a final proposal is shaped.
You can read more about this proposal here.
What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen on the MAX, bus, streetcar or WES?
Keep Portland Weird. We’ve all heard it, we’ve all seen it. While we all may not particularly like that label (with others might), it got me thinking:
What is the weirdest thing you’ve seen on the MAX, bus, streetcar or WES?
Here, I’ll get things started. Go ahead and do please share in the comments for this post; I’m sure there will be many stories beating out my own personal ones!
The MAX
My wife seemingly sees all sorts of weird on the MAX. Me? In my hey-day of riding, I used to really only ride during the rush hours, hence I wouldn’t see much aside from crammed passangers around me. I guess I would then just have to say the homeless (?) kid that tries to sell candy bars. My older brother and I actually talked about it last weekend; to my surprise, he knew exactly who I was talking about. Why is seeing that guy selling candy bars on the MAX weird? Because shouldn’t that not be allowed…? I suppose it is, but whenever I see him, there seemingly isn’t a TriMet official around to tell him to deboard or otherwise.
The Bus
Here we go! I’ve seen some wild and wacky things while riding the bus. I’m a big fan and typically ride the 15, 20, 19 lines… which can produce some characters ever so often. Aside from the lady that takes her lapdog on the bus in a reusable Fred Meyer bag, I would have to say the weirdest thing I’ve come across when riding the bus was when two wheelchair-bound individuals were arguing over what spots they wanted in the front of the bus. Apparently they both wanted the left-hand side… and unfortunately the lady that was previously on the bus was already there. So the other wheelchair-bound individual was yelling at her and then started RAMMING into her with her chair! People on the bus were both gasping and laughing; it was really weird. The lady who had just got on then demanded to get right back off because she couldn’t have her spot… it was weird.
The Streetcar
I’ve only ridden the streetcar a handful of times and never have seen anything truly weird. Go figure.
The WES
Has anyone seen anything weird happen on the WES? It’s not like anyone rides it (obligatory Zoolander “Oh snap!” reference). But really, I’ve only had the pleasure of taking WES for the invitational preview event.
There you have it! Now, it’s your turn: have you experienced anything weird on any of TriMet’s four public transportation modes here in Portland? If so, please do share! I would love to hear about it!
Some hidden TriMet website goodies
I work on the web everyday so I’ve seen many instances of websites having old materials on their servers. As such, I thought I’d dig around TriMet’s website to see if there was anything interesting of note that was buried within the site. Interestingly enough, I found a couple of interesting things.
First, I found an Excel file that has fare prices listed from 1970 through 2006. Kind of neat to see how fare prices have gone up through the years. You can download that file here: http://www.trimet.org/temp/fares/1970_2006_fare_prices.xls
I also found an Interactive Scheduling Manual complete with some awesome little old animated graphics and the like. It also includes a pretty cool glossary of a whole slew of terms related to the transit industry. You can see this interactive scheduling manual here: http://www.trimet.org/temp/trimetscheduling/trimet.html
Some old webstats (April 2006) for us website analytics junkies can be found here (specific info includes website referrals along with traffic from search engines): http://trimet.org/webstats/hits.htm
Didn’t find much info with this but it’s up-to-date (May 21, 2009) so perhaps they refresh this content monthly? Anyway, something to look out for month-to-month: http://www.trimet.org/schedule/new/
And that’s it. Hey! I didn’t say I found incredibly interesting goodies; just ‘goodies’!
*EDIT* Yep took them down the day I posted. Booo! Perhaps I can find these files on my laptop..
Taking luggage on MAX
Memorial Day weekend is approaching and you have a plane to catch at PDX. Taking the red line MAX to the airport is extremely easy and slick. But, what do you do with all of your luggage? I’ve hit on this in the past but thought I’d bring it up again with Memorial Day weekend coming up.
TriMet doesn’t have anything official related to taking luggage on the MAX. The only mention they have is on their MAX red line page and on the TriMet TV episode 6 where they state:
“It’s easy to roll your luggage onboard, thanks to MAX’s low floors.”
So what do you do with your luggage if you’re taking the MAX to the airport? While definitely not guidelines, I do have some suggestions:
- I’m not a huge fan of people taking up seats with their feet, bags, etc… but I think luggage is a whole different beast. I would think it would be fine to place your luggage in a seat next to you. Obviously, use your discretion: if there’s someone who needs a seat, then perhaps it’s best to move your luggage and let the individual sit down.
- My favorite spot on the MAX: the pivot-points. When possible, I like to stand here if there isn’t a lot of room on the MAX: it’s out of the way, it’s kind of fun moving when the MAX turns, etc. I think it would be an appropriate place to place some of your luggage.
- I would refrain from using the space near the bike hooks: it’s too much of a high-trafficked area and, when a bicycle user tries to come on board, that could be a headache for the both of you.
I would love to hear from all of you about your thoughts on MAX and carrying luggage on board. Have an experience to share? Or perhaps a tip on where to possibly put your luggage? Let us know!
Photo credit
Riding (and driving) etiquette: texting
Usually, we’re focused on TriMet Riding Etiquette here on TriMetiquette… but with the recent trolley crash and the train crash last year both happening due to the operator text messaging, I think it’s important to focus on the issue of texting while operating.
Obviously, for us riders, texting while riding poses no problems. We can text away.
Texting if you’re operating a MAX train, street car, bus… this is a problem. And one that, if you see your driver or operating texting, you should call them out on that immediately.
So I urge us, as Portland public transportation riders, to be on the lookout and make our bus drivers and operators aware that we don’t stand for texting while on the job. If your bus driver wants to pull over, park it, and text - that’s fine. Perfect, in fact. I’m unsure if TriMet has a specific guideline or rule for employees to not text while on the job… but it’s really more of a “no duh!” kind of thing.
If you see the bus driver texting while driving, I really urge you to confront the individual about it at the next stop. Just a simple, “Hey, can you please not text while driving?” could go a long way. And who knows - it may prevent something bad from happening.
If you see a MAX operator texting, calling TriMet right away might be the best course of action. I’m not sure using the emergency radio button located in the trains to ask the operator to stop texting would be acceptable… but maybe it is.
If you’re the non-confrontational type, I would suggest getting the bus number from the front of the bus (or the MAX train color + time + stop) and calling TriMet and reporting that kind of activity. Get those details and send an email to customerservice@trimet.org or call (503)238-7433 (RIDE).
Let’s make sure one of these deadly accidents don’t happen in Portland. It starts with us being observant enough to nip any of these problems in the bud before an accident happens.
Edit: looks like Joseph Rose wrote up a piece about this same thing over at Oregon Live; it’s definitely worth a read: http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2009/05/txting_on_transit_some_trimet.html
Sunflower seeds
Someone thought spitting sunflower seeds immediately next to his / her seat was acceptable. I’m sorry - that’s just wrong.
TriMet finalizes service cuts
After several open house discussions and thousands of comments, TriMet has finalized its list of MAX and bus service cuts. Things look very similar to the original plan except for some changes to bus lines 31, 63, 89, 152 and 157 - the service cuts to these five bus lines won’t be as drastic as originally planned due to public comments about these lines serving as connections to services such as schools and jobs.
Again, here’s the run down of the proposed service cuts (with my comments in read):
Recession impacts TriMet
TriMet gets most of its revenues–55 percent–from the employer payroll tax. With the worsening economy and unemployment climbing, TriMet’s projected budget gap has grown from $13.5 million to $23.6 million for the FY10 budget. The agency has taken numerous steps to reduce costs and improve efficiency including an 8 percent across-the-board expense cut, a hiring and salary freeze, furloughs and projected staff layoffs.
TriMet is using a portion of federal stimulus funds to offset some planned agency investments, and in turn, reduce service cuts to about half of what would have been required without stimulus funds. If economic conditions worsen, additional service cuts will likely be needed. TriMet will have a better picture of actual payroll tax receipts for the first quarter of 2009 in mid-May. If additional service cuts are necessary, they would be proposed over the summer.
Service cut proposal
- The original proposal called for elimination of 12 bus lines that either had low ridership or alternative service nearby. Based on public feedback, TriMet is proposing to eliminate four lines: 41-Tacoma, 74-Lloyd District/Southeast, 86-Alderwood and 153-South End Rd Loop. (this seems reasonable; these lines are low ridership lines)
- 20 lines would have major changes to route, frequency and/or hours of operation: 1-Vermont, 15-Belmont, 18-Hillside, 19-Woodstock, 27-Market/Main, 33-Fremont, 34-River Rd, 36-South Shore, 37-Lake Grove, 55-Hamilton, 58-Canyon Rd, 59-Walker/Park Way, 60-Leahy Rd, 63-Washington Park, 70-12th Ave, 85-Swan Island, 88-Hart/198th Ave, 89-Tanasbourne, 156-Mather Road and 157-Happy Valley. A new fixed route bus line will replace the Cedar Mill Shuttle and Line 60-Leahy Rd. (as a 15-Belmont rider, this worries me a bit. But I’m assuming most of the change will be during late evening / middle of the day / weekend hours. It remains to be seen what exactly the extent is to the language: “major changes to route, frequency and / or hours of operation.”)
- 15 bus lines would have some or all weekend service discontinued: 1-Vermont, 10-Harold, 17-NW 21st Ave/St Helens Rd, 33-Fremont, 34-River Rd, 39-Lewis & Clark, 43-Taylors Ferry Rd, 47-Baseline/Evergreen, 48-Cornell, 51-Vista, 59-Walker/Park Way, 63-Washington Park, 67-Jenkins/158th Ave, 156-Mather Rd and 157-Happy Valley. (My wife is a Lewis & Clark grad; she’s expressed concern over the 39 being on this list for students who do not own an automobile or another form of transportation who wish to go downtown during the weekends.)
- The Washington Park Shuttle that currently runs from Memorial Day through September will be extended to run weekends during May and October to provide connections to Washington Park attractions.
MAX service
- The start and end of MAX Blue, Red and Yellow Line service remains the same, but frequency of early morning and late evening service primarily on weekends changes from 15 to 30 minutes. (While this is a huge bummer, I’m OK with the time of day they’re planning on cutting down the frequency. It’s really the only time that they could cut.)
- The future Green Line that will open in September 2009 will have less service than originally planned. (Maybe a lesson learned from the WES (i.e. not so spectacular ridership thus far)? I will say in terms of line placement, the Green line is much more attractive for riders than the WES).
Next steps
A first reading and hearing of the service change ordinance is scheduled for the April 22, 2009, Board of Directors meeting. No formal action will be taken at this meeting. The board is scheduled to vote on the service cut proposal at its May 27, 2009, meeting.
Get those rules front and center
My brother, Adam Bullock, had an interesting thought the other day: why doesn’t TriMet have a “rules to ride by” poster or something front and center when you get on the bus or the MAX. The bus is easy - just that “wall” behind the driver sits:
Have a nice large poster on the immediate right. The MAX might be a little tougher - maybe on the clear wall near each entrance / exit point.
Because I’m wondering: people that are eating on the MAX or bus or otherwise, do they know that they shouldn’t? Do they just not care?
In any case, why not try to get the rules more in the face of passengers?
No food for you!
We’ve all seen it on the MAX, bus and streetcar: some people sneaking some bites of their sandwich, snacking on some Mentos or otherwise. Eating happens!
Photo by iChris via Flickr
TriMet’s official stance on food + drink on their buses and trains is this:
“Eating is not allowed on TriMet vehicles, but you can bring food and drinks on board in closed containers.”
I think that’s an extremely fair stance on bringing food or drink on-board; you can bring your food on-board but you just can’t eat it.
There’s this individual who sometimes rides when I do that always brings this bread with brown sugar on it and snacks on it. It really isn’t the best kind of snacking food because inevitably the sugar really does go just about everywhere. After the individual is done eating, there’s a nice coating of sugar all over her clothes which, with some after-eating shirt-shaking, is flung from her clothes to pretty much all over.
Is it OK then for TriMet to ticket this individual? I would think not. Is it an operator’s duty to address the individual and ask him / her to stop eating and put the food back into its closed container? I don’t think that fits the job description.
It all comes down to something I’ve said numerous times before: when riding public transportation, we’re really all in it together. Maybe it’s the public transportation rider’s responsibility to read the 7 Rules for Riding TriMet and abide by them; maybe a more outspoken rider should pipe up and ask the person to stop eating.
What are your thoughts? Should eating be allowed on TriMet trains and buses?
MAX fare internal enforcement fail
As I was boarding a #20 last night after work, an individual was boarding behind me. I overheard that this individual “lost” his bus fare receipt and that he “needed to get to Gresham.”
What did the bus operator say? “Sorry, no fare, no ride”?
Nope! The bus operator said, “Well, go take the MAX - that’ll take you to Gresham. It’s over that way.”
Maybe I’m jumping to a conclusion… but was the bus operator in fact suggesting that the individual could ride the MAX without purchasing fare to get to Gresham with that statement? It seems like it to me.
The ease of fare evasion is one of the MAX’s greatest faults. It’s an ongoing problem. It’s costing TriMet many thousands (millions?) of dollars. If you have bus operators who work for your company suggesting that someone should take the MAX if they’ve “lost” their fare, you know that this is a huge problem.
