MAX inspectors spotted (finally!)

Oh happy day! Last night I finally had some MAX train fare inspectors on my MAX train for the first time in about… almost a year or so.

I was really happy to see them because:

• I’ve only seen them on late night trains
• I was wondered how many people actually bought fare on the ‘busy’ times (from 7:30 – 8:30 am and 5 – 6 pm)

They checked our fare (it took them awhile, but they got around to it before we hit the Gateway station) and wrote up several tickets.

Anyway, just very psyched to see some fare inspectors on and checking fares. I hope that this signals an increase in frequency of having fare inspectors on the MAX and also having them board different times of the day. Keep it up…

More 6th avenue street fair info

Here is a resource I found that goes into greater detail about the Sixth Avenue Street Fair on May 1 in downtown Portland.  Looks like a lot of fun!  I do believe I’ll be hanging out in Ground Kontrol in the evening hours…

Hope to see you all there!  I’m sure it’ll be a fun time for all

Feet on the seat: part deux

TriMetiquette reader Kevin used the contact form to get ahold of me to let me know of something that bothers him:

“I wish people wouldn’t put their feet up on the seats on the Max and buses. It’s posted not to put your feet on the seats but people ignore the signs. Sort of like how people don’t pay any attention to the “no smoking” signs. The seats frequently get very dirty because people keep putting their feet up. It’s so rude.”

Here here!  Like we discussed earlier, putting your feet up on the seat not only is just plain rude… but it dirties up the seat.  Does it look like I want to sit in the dirt & mud from your shoes?

Addressing the issue of people standing “on the spot” for MAX arrivals

Got a comment from TriMetiquette reader Porter:

“Here’s my issue I’d like discussed: those who, on the platform, insist on standing as near as possible to the point where the door on the next train will be (the “Spot”). I didn’t notice this phenomena until well after starting my daily rides in on the Blue Line, as I’m usually reading or watching something on my ipod. However, one morning I was standing on an otherwise-empty platform, and a woman walks up and stands literally less than a foot away from me! I wandered away wondering what the heck was going on, but when the train pulled up I realized what it was: I was standing right where the door was! After that I notice it every morning: the best of them congregate in the general area, but there are some who, right when the train comes into sight, get as close to the Spot as possible regardless of who is standing around.

Am I out of line to be bugged about this? I don’t mind if you are one of the first ones there and stand in the Spot, but when someone new to the scene, for lack of a better term, “cuts” in front of someone who is standing only a couple feet away from the Spot, that burns me. My feelings are exasperated due to the fact that my station is generally the last one on the Blue Line where seats are available in the morning, so I constantly see the same people pull the maneuver and take the last seat while someone who was waiting 10 minutes is left to stand.”

Excellent observation Porter! And one I’ve personally also been a little bugged by as well. See, I follow this rule – if I get to a MAX station… I observe my surroundings a little to see who is there. I think if you’re there and have been waiting, you should have a sort of “unwritten rule” of being able to board before those arriving after you do. And I know – this isn’t the case, a lot of people don’t think this way. It’s just my line of thinking.

Thoughts? Opinions on this? Has anyone else noticed this?

TriMet Interactive Map

Just got an alert in my inbox letting me know that TriMet has a new Interactive Map. You can access it here.

Think of it like their Trip Planner service on their website… but having a bit more interactivity with the map being there on the same page as your trip planner.

Since this is a new service, they do have some bugs. From their alert:

“Please be patient with the map as we continue to refine it over the next couple months. Here are a few issues we are working on:

• Do not include the state in the address (e.g.: OR, WA). When typing in an address, the map will find it faster if you just include the city and/or zip.

• Print functionality will be expanded. Currently you can only print from the browser.

• We will soon add a marker to the map to show the exact location of an address plotted using the Location Search tool. Currently, when a location search is performed, the map will zoom to that area and only show the info in the legend on the left.

• When you move your mouse over them, MAX & Streetcar icons may turn into Bus Stop icons, and you may not be able to select the Bus Stop icons on the map when certain tools are selected on the left (this depends on the browser… we’re working on a fix).

• Zooming into the map may take time to render, especially using the aerial imagery. However, this will improve as we tune the performance.”

Pretty cool stuff!  I already like it more than their regular Trip Planner service.  You can submit feedback on what you think to mapfeedback@trimet.org