TriMetiquette reader ckuskie asks:
“It was interesting reading recent posts about having bags on seats. What is the recommended etiquette for traveling to the airport on the Red line with luggage?”
Very good question, ckuskie! In the case of having bags on the seat, I think it’s a whole different story when it comes to luggage items. And I apologize for not being clear in previous posts about this issue… but I think if you have a piece of luggage that could possibly affect any rider’s ability to go about moving about the train if placed on the floor is perfectly acceptable being on the seat next to you. Before, I was specifically talking about things like backpacks students have with them or perhaps some office ’sling’ bags that professionals use.
So yep, I think when it comes to luggage, and when you’re taking the red line to the PDX airport, bringing your luggage and placing it on a seat near you is 100% acceptable.
Anyone care to share thoughts and opinions about this?
5 comments ↓
What’s wrong with sliding the luggage under the seats? What ever you do, do NOT put your luggage under the bike hooks.
Public transportation requires all of us to respect each other. In a crowded vehicle it’s best to keep your luggage or other personal items out of the way of other riders. This would include isles and seats. If there are no bikes in the bike areas of MAX that would be a good place to stand by your larger luggage (until that bike boards), otherwise, storing your bag under the seat or on your lap is your other option.
That sounds reasonable, Andrea, except when a bike passenger boards, they need that hook immediately. If they can’t get their bike on the hook immediately, often they can’t get on the train at all.
good points brought up by all. I wonder if the red line trains couldn’t be equipped with a “luggage-holding” area or something. Though, then each red line would need at least one extra security individual protecting said area…
Anyway, the different opinions tell me that there isn’t a simple solution to this situation. I suppose you should analyze the situation you’re in (how busy the train is) and then decide where your luggage should go.
If I remember correctly, when the red line to the airport opened there was talk of luggage racks but the decision makers decided bike hooks were more useful. The metro bus you can catch from the San Diego airport to downtown has luggage racks and seats close enough for you to keep an eye on your bags. I wonder why Tri Met decided a train that goes to the airport should have bike hooks instead of luggage racks. It is not practical to expect people coming from the airport to put their luggage on their laps. Some of those roll-along bags are huge! Although they still don’t take up as much space as a stroller.
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