Wanna learn more about each MAX station?

Posted by Christian in TriMet on Jan 28th, 2009 | 2 comments

Do you want to learn more about each MAX station?  Like bus line connections, which lines it serves, as well as some somewhat useless trivia?

For example, did you know the Goose Hollow MAX Station had several cameo appearances in the movie What The Bleep Do We Know?

Well hop on over to The List of MAX Light Rail Stations wikipedia page if you want to learn about your favorite MAX stations and the like.

Wow!  I didn’t know that the MAX stop near my place is the 16th stop for eastbound MAX trains!

…

Transit geeks love this kind of stuff :p

TriMet giving tickets to non-hung bikes on Max?

Posted by brewcaster in Public Transportation Stories on Jun 26th, 2008 | 27 comments

My wife works in Beaverton, she normally uses a two bike system so she doesn’t have to hassle with bringing a bike on the Max. But unfortunately yesterday this wasn’t the case.

Blue line 185th Stop:
She was about to board, when she saw that Trimet ticket checkers were not letting cyclists board unless there was an empty hanger for their bike. Train after train they were kicking people off from previous stops, a group of 20-30 cyclists standing confused gathered. One was quoted “I guess I will ride to Portland…” My wife said one cyclist challenged them verbally and was given another ticket. His defense was that he was not blocking any one from moving in the cabin, and as he (and I) understood Trimet’s rules, this was allowed. No tolerance, bike on hanger or bike off train.

Here is my wife’s comment about the situation, taken from BikePortland comments:

“On Wednesday, I experienced/witnessed the incident at the Willowcreek/185th Station. To clarify, I entered a train which all hangers were being used and parked my bike next to one of the bikes hanging. I was not blocking the aisle in any way. The inspector told me to exit the train because I was blocking the aisle. As I exited, I realized that at least three bikes were also asked to exit. This particular train was not standing room only and there was actually more room then usual at this time. I patiently waited for the next train in which at least five more bikes were asked to exit. This continued for at least two more trains. Several of the bikers decided to ride back to Portland. I also noticed at least two inspectors writing something on their pads to bikers. Whether this was a ticket, a warning, or whatever I’m not sure. Many of the inspectors I witnessed were rude to many of the bikers and could have conducted this situation in a far more pleasant manner. I will also point out that for the past month I have stopped bringing my bike on the max and instead riding two bikes specifically to take up less space. One bike I ride into downtown which I park and then the other bike I leave at the max station at Willowcreek and then ride to work. There is simply not enough room for the bikes and I no longer wanted to inconvenience anyone. This particular day, I did not have my bike lock for the bike I park downtown and had to carry my bike onto the max.”

Great work Trimet. You have ignored bike capacity issues, and now you are trying to force them off the train. Bravo.

*Update – Jonathan Maus from BikePortland.org pointed out that this is not a new issue:

http://bikeportland.org/2007/04/20/trimets-bike-policy-differs-from-actual-enforcement/

What makes me even more upset, is this line:

“we have clarified this point with our inspectors and expect no further issues in this regard.”

Here we are a little over a year later, same issue my friend.

**UPDATE2 -

BikePortland has contacted TriMet and has received a response, read here:
http://bikeportland.org/2008/06/27/trimet-security-still-saying-no-hook-no-ride/

 ***Update 3 -

BikePortland has another follow up based on another response from TriMet.

-Brewcaster

The reason why there might be no Harold Street light rail station – one minute

Posted by Christian in TriMet on Jun 6th, 2008 | 5 comments

In a follow-up to his plea to put back the north end of Westmoreland / Harold Street light rail station in the Southeast light rail plans, Eric Norberg gives us more insight into TriMet’s thought process to exclude a light rail station in that particular area. His conclusion?

A one minute delay.

Apparently TriMet’s computer model calculates a delay of one minute if there was a Harold Street light rail station in the plans.

One minute.

Eric sums up his feelings (and I’m sure just about everyone elses on this matter):

“Think about it: A substantial number of Clackamas County commuters — says the computer — would be discouraged from taking a direct trip downtown on light rail — and presumably would turn back to their cars to make the trip, with $4 a gallon gas and all the delays commuters encounter on S.E. McLoughlin Boulevard — simply because of that “unacceptable” 60-second delay.”

Adding a station at Harold Street would only cause more ridership, an ease of congestion at a location that experiences it tremendously, a more cost-efficient means of transportation for public transportation riders around the area & more.

But yeah, that extra minute of commute time if it was planned? Yeah, so totally inconvenient…

Come on TriMet, wise up. This is getting a little ridiculous, don’t you think? Why are they so against building a station in an area that so desperately needs a light rail station? And one that was already figured into the plans in the first place and was taken off for who-knows-what-reason at some point of time.

TriMet Riding Etiquette – what to do with those baby strollers

Posted by Christian in Riding Etiquette on Jun 5th, 2008 | 16 comments

TriMet has a rule to fold up your baby stroller when boarding the MAX. Those who have boarded MAX with a baby stroller know that this request is a tough one. The crowding on the MAX, your stroller condition & amount of goods that you have with the stroller & other factors play to a decision that many make: to find room & park your baby stroller wherever there is space.

Baby stroller on the MAX

Another TriMet rule is – if you have your baby stroller and are by a priority seating area, you need to move for seniors and people with disabilities. Whether this happens or not, it limits the space to put a baby stroller on the MAX.

With these rules & restrictions, the overarching question here is: what do you do if you board a MAX train with a baby stroller?

Simply put, TriMet’s rule to have to fold your stroller is absurd. Think about it – you get on the train and within seconds it’s moving, making you unsteady. So now you’re supposed to unseat your child and fold up a stroller while the MAX quickly accelerates, which always seems to result in some folks losing their balance.

But it’s not like people follow this rule; I’ve never seen someone fold a stroller. And I’ve seen lots of strollers while riding.

I already wrote about Activistas already talking about this issue in the past. What do you think?

New MAX trains ‘leave the station’ in Fall 2008

Posted by Christian in TriMet on May 13th, 2008 | 4 comments

New MAX trans are coming to Portland in Fall 2008!  Color me excited!  The new trains will be able to hold 36 more individuals per train and will be about seven feet longer than the existing MAX models.  They’ll also have air conditioning!  Take a look at this new MAX train sexy beast:

Love the new “aerodynamic” styling going on!  Makes it look so… so… 21st century.   Seating area illustration:

I’m loving the new look & design, but one thing that’s seemingly missing: more bike storage!   Finding room for the “bike hook area” even not during rush hour times can be hit-and-miss… and people are wanting a better solution for what we have now.  Well, I guess the increased capacity may help in clearing that area a bit… but I’d love to see some other areas riders with bikes can take their bike and ride on the MAX.

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