Entries Tagged 'TriMet in the News' ↓

You know the Westside Express Service?  The WES?  If you were just thinking, “I’ve known the plans, seen the construction… where are the trains?!” - here you go.  The first WES train has arrived and it’s a real beaut!  The seats look comfy!

Sidenote: KGW - do I really need to register on your site in order to participate in a poll?

Even after it was found that Austin Miller ran a red light on his bike through the intersection of Southwest Murray Blvd & Farmington Rd and collided with a TriMet bus, ending his life; Miller’s Mom is now suing Trimet for two million dollars.  From OregonLive:

“The suit seeks $1 million in actual damages and $1 million for Austin Miller’s pain and suffering and his parents’ loss of companionship.”

The lawsuit claims that the TriMet driver was “negligent in failing to keep a proper lookout for bicycle traffic.”  Again, the police report back in April found that the TriMet bus driver could not do anything to avoid the collision.

I do understand that losing a child has to be one of, if not the most heartbreaking feeling for any parent.  It really was a tragic mishap.

But suing after it was found that the bus driver couldn’t do anything to avoid the situation along with the circumstance that the victim proceeded through a red light?

I’m sorry, that’s a little selfish.

Does someone’s guardian have the right to sue TriMet if they ran a car through a red light and died from a resulting crash?  Sure, they have the right to do anything… but is it a little absurd?  Perhaps just a little.

I don’t understand the logic here.  Is it just me?

All Portlanders have probably heard about the recent attacks on MAX trains. In all of the recent instances, there was never a true ‘motive’ for those victims to be attacked; they were at the wrong place at, unfortunately, the wrong time.

With these attacks happening recently, you’re probably asking yourself, “Well, if I ride the MAX, how can I go about making sure I’m safe?” Here are some tips you can use to make sure you’re riding with no fear:

1. Ride with a buddy.  I typically ride during work “rush hours” but I know if my fiancee ever wants to ride later at night, I’ll always accompany her.
2. Know where the ‘contact the operator’ intercoms are.  If you feel like something fishy is going on, it’s best to contact the operator so that individual can contact transit police instead of confronting it yourself.
3. If you have a purse, make sure you have it secured in your lap around an arm.  Don’t just place it on your lap; loop it around your forearm a bit to make sure it can’t be easily swiped.
4. Don’t listen to music when riding late at night.  This can make you more aware of any situations.  Of course, listen to it if you feel you’re in a seat where you’re able to survey all around you; if you’re not in this position, however, listening to music could make you an unsuspecting victim.
5. Pick the best seat. If you’re feeling unnerved, don’t sit down where your back is to the rest of the train; choose a seat where you’re able to look around.

Those are some tips that can help you be more aware & safe when riding the MAX.  Anyone else have any tips they’d like to share?

Read this interesting story from The Sentinel last weekend about a TriMet bus driver who was unsure where to go for her route.  Apparently this wasn’t the first time the story’s author had to guide a bus driver along the designated route.

I will say, I’ve always wondered how much time bus drivers get to learn their new route.  Do they take it by themselves in their own car / means of transportation to see which way to go?  Or are they thrown to the wolves and told to just go and use directions the day-of?

Attack on the TriMet bus!  On May 19, a 27 year-old man attacked a TriMet bus driver when the driver refused to let him board with his counterfeit transfer slip.  The bus driver was not seriously hurt.  The dummy presenting the slip had a bruised sense of pride & rationalization.

Biodiesel was an affordable-looking alternative to regular fuel several years ago. That’s why TriMet had been gearing up to use a higher concentrate of biodiesel for its 600 buses.

Unfortunately, the timing is way off for TriMet to factor in more biodiesel for its bus fleet. While TriMet had been upping its portion of biodiesel in some of its buses, there have been unforeseen mechanical problems by doing so. However, TriMet has figured out how to deal with the issues associated with adding in more biodiesel… and are ready to go to add almost 10% of each buses’ gas tank with the fuel.

Though, there is now a two-pronged issue: the local availability of biodiesel in Portland & the price. These issues are preventing TriMet from making the switch over to this 10% biodiesel initiative for all of its buses.

Who knows when this switch will happen or will ever happen…

The Oregon Humane Society is having their 21st annual Doggie Dash on May 10.  And, good news - your dog (however big or small) can ride MAX with you if you bring your official Dash registration papers to the event and your dog’s Dash big on the way home from it.

Even though I see non-guide dogs riding MAX from time to time (that’s a no-no people: only guide dogs are allowed to be on the MAX excluding this special day), I think the MAX trains will be ‘gone to the dogs’ on May 10.

Just read over at Oregon Live that the TriMet bus driver who fatally hit a 15 year-old cyclist back in February has been cleared of any wrongdoing.  Based on the reports of the examination, it seems like it was just a really unfortunate & unlucky turn of events that just happen to fall in place at that point of time.

The Portland Business Journal has a piece about TriMet expanding their “TriMet code” which regulates conduct on the transit system. Essentially, the changes were made so there were more “tools” for TriMet personnel to deal with rowdy, disruptive or violent riders.

“Rowdy & obnoxious” riders can now be removed from riding any TriMet service for six hours. Individuals able to impose these new rules on riders include fare inspectors and field supervisors.

I’m glad to see TriMet making some moves to make their light rail & bus system even safer and more convenient to ride than ever. Bravo!

Trimetiquette reader Bjorn let me know of a new article posted by Oregon Live - “You shout, you’re out.“  And, again, I’m all for this.  It seems like a small handful of young people (and older, of course, as well) think getting on the MAX or bus allows them to do anything they want.  Not so anymore…

Read over at the Tigard Area 10 Neighborhood Blog that the Tigard library is having a Westside Express Service (WES) Day. TriMet personnel will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the new service that will begin having testing trains run in the summer.

More details:

WES Day
Sunday, May 18 from 1 - 4
Tigard Library
13125 SW Hall Blvd

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