Is it just me?

Or have there been more and more system outages for MAX trains as of late? I seem to get an email ping about once every couple of days about a Green / Yellow line disruption or, more recently (as in today), Blue / Red lines being down and needing to have shuttles to shuttle passengers between PGE Park and the Rose Quarter. Anyone else notice an increase of outages in 2010?

TriMet in Extraordinary Measures

Watched the movie Extraordinary Measures last night. As many of you probably know, this was the movie starring Brendan Fraiser and Harrison Ford that was partially filmed in Portland.

There are a couple of shots of TriMet transportation. The one thing I noticed during a scene Brendan Fraiser where was riding the MAX was all much TriMetiquette the other riders were displaying! Brendan was at a middle pole, hanging on, with the train being partially full; everyone was minding their own business, displaying good public transportation riding etiquette.

In any case, thought it was kind of fun to see. Is it only in the movies that riders of TriMet show good riding etiquette?

Ride TriMet and “catch up on sleep”?

I was reading TriMet’s Switching to Public Transit Saves Money page and something didn’t compute:

“In addition to all the extra money you’ll have, having TriMet deliver you safely to your destination will give you the extra time you need to meet your other New Year’s resolutions—relax, read more and catch up on sleep.”

Sometimes I can relax a bit on the bus (usually, on a packed bus, you can’t really relax) and I can usually get some reading time on my Kindle in the morning commute… but “catch up on sleep”?!  I’m sorry, I don’t think so!  I have to get up earlier and take a bus that takes 35 minutes to get to a stop that is a 10 minute walk to my final destination.  If I were to take a car, it would take me about 15 minutes total.

I’m not complaining about how public transportation takes more time than taking a car (I can bike faster to / from work as well), but I am finding it kind of funny about being able to “catch up on sleep” by taking public transportation.  Do they mean sleeping on the bus or MAX to catch up on sleep?

This time a tip for drivers

TriMetiquette is usually written from a point of view that asks for riding etiquette. But today, it’s TriMet driver (or operator, whatever you want to call those folks) etiquette.

First, this one line will explain it all:

Rain does not equal cold.

Sometimes, when it’s raining outside, it doesn’t necessarily mean riders are cold and that you need to pump up the heat. Typically, we’re wearing jackets and are already all bundled up. Making it extremely warm doesn’t help.

Ride TriMet free on New Years Eve 2009

Anyone can ride TriMet for free on New Years Eve 2009 starting at 8p.m. This includes the bus, MAX and streetcar. If you’re attending one of the 30+ Portland New Years Eve Events or Parties, feel free to hop on a yellow, green or blue MAX line until 3 a.m. The red line will be on the usual weekday schedule. Buses will also be on their regular weekday schedules.

Also note that on January 1, 2010, TriMet buses and MAX trains will be running on Sunday schedules.

Kid left on TriMet MAX platform

I’m sure everyone has heard the news about the MAX train “door malfunction” (as it was originally reported as being) that separated a child and his Dad. If you haven’t heard about this, here’s quick video recap.

It was originally reported that this incident was due to a “door malfunction” and that the repeated attempts by the father to contact the MAX operator over the intercom via the emergency call button were also not working due to a malfunction of that service. However, the MAX operator has been placed on administrative leave after TriMet has determined that there were no mechanical problems with the handicap ramp system or the intercom.

What an unfortunate incident. In any case, I’m just happy that a caring citizen was there to stay with the kid until the father could hop on a train and get back to the station. How can we avoid instances like this one? After how the media has jumped on this incident, I’m sure the TriMet brass are making sure any and all intercom communications on the MAX are responded to in a timely manner.

I strongly recommend anyone concerned with their safety on MAX to read EMS’s “Come walk in my shoes” post. As you’ll see, she’s an example of a MAX operator who takes pride in her work and give us insight as to how qualified each and every MAX operator truly is.