Monday, October 25, 2010
Now how is the system becoming more efficient? Tell me again?
"McFarlane, the TriMet GM, says that "we are making the system more efficient" by raising fares and cutting service. TriMet continues to build more light rail lines, even as it is cutting light rail frequency and service because TriMet says (with a $2.5 million budget, per Willamette Week, an independent paper) 'there's no money'. The strawman argument (not a federal law, per se, according to Rick Van Beveren, unelected TriMet board president) is that federal 'preferences' privilege capital projects over operations. That is, TriMet can build more 'toy train sets' but has to cut back on bus and MAX (the trains) service.
McFarlance also notes that the system "is one system -- there's no division between rail and buses." Yet, in Los Angeles and San Francisco, transit activists (BRU in LA especially) have been doing civil disobedience, picketing the mayor's mansion/residence (Antonio Villagosa) and getting federal court injunctions to stop fare increases (with ten minutes to go) or require MTA to stop doing rail (for five years) and buy 500 buses instead."
Article Here
"'we are making the system more efficient' by raising fares and cutting service." Now how does that work, TriMet? How does the system become more efficient by fare hikes and service cuts? Raise the fares and suddenly you've got a more efficient system? Cut service to 60 or some bus lines and (god forbid!) extend the time between MAX lines by 2 minutes and that makes the system more efficient? To me that sounds like the system is becoming less efficient and making service worse, not better.
"TriMet continues to build more light rail lines, even as it is cutting light rail frequency and service because TriMet says 'there's no money'."
I've got one question for you, TriMet, how can there be no money, but magically, somehow you can continue to build upon light rail this and that, but you cut service to 60 bus lines and even add a few minutes between MAX times? That's right, you get it from bond measures that you claim to be wanting the money for bus improvements, but really fall to your true love, light rail.
"...the system "is one system -- there's no division between rail and buses.'"
umhum...yeah, right. So building more and more light rail lines and cutting bus service does not imply anything about any sort of division? There is division. TriMet focuses on light rail. Thats the truth. Now, light rail may be the 'transportation of the future' or something, but buses are now. More people ride the buses than MAX (if i remember correctly).Buses are the transportation of today. These big shiny MAX trains may seem exciting and better, but in truth, buses are more reliable and safer. TriMet, can you honestly say you have no division or discrimination of bus vs light rail?
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But will anything change? The likelihood, No. TriMet is hooked on its love affair with light rail and that doesn't seem like it is going to change anytime soon.
Ah, the corruption in America....
McFarlance also notes that the system "is one system -- there's no division between rail and buses." Yet, in Los Angeles and San Francisco, transit activists (BRU in LA especially) have been doing civil disobedience, picketing the mayor's mansion/residence (Antonio Villagosa) and getting federal court injunctions to stop fare increases (with ten minutes to go) or require MTA to stop doing rail (for five years) and buy 500 buses instead."
Article Here
"'we are making the system more efficient' by raising fares and cutting service." Now how does that work, TriMet? How does the system become more efficient by fare hikes and service cuts? Raise the fares and suddenly you've got a more efficient system? Cut service to 60 or some bus lines and (god forbid!) extend the time between MAX lines by 2 minutes and that makes the system more efficient? To me that sounds like the system is becoming less efficient and making service worse, not better.
"TriMet continues to build more light rail lines, even as it is cutting light rail frequency and service because TriMet says 'there's no money'."
I've got one question for you, TriMet, how can there be no money, but magically, somehow you can continue to build upon light rail this and that, but you cut service to 60 bus lines and even add a few minutes between MAX times? That's right, you get it from bond measures that you claim to be wanting the money for bus improvements, but really fall to your true love, light rail.
"...the system "is one system -- there's no division between rail and buses.'"
umhum...yeah, right. So building more and more light rail lines and cutting bus service does not imply anything about any sort of division? There is division. TriMet focuses on light rail. Thats the truth. Now, light rail may be the 'transportation of the future' or something, but buses are now. More people ride the buses than MAX (if i remember correctly).Buses are the transportation of today. These big shiny MAX trains may seem exciting and better, but in truth, buses are more reliable and safer. TriMet, can you honestly say you have no division or discrimination of bus vs light rail?
----
But will anything change? The likelihood, No. TriMet is hooked on its love affair with light rail and that doesn't seem like it is going to change anytime soon.
Ah, the corruption in America....
TriMet. Listen to us!
Cameron Johnson, Ravings of a TriMet Ally
I thought he said this very well, so i though i would post this.
Now for some of my comments on the bond measure:
Those of you who can vote should vote for the bond measure should because TriMet does need new buses and to improve/ redo some bus stops. Some of the oldest buses in the fleet are barley surviving. I know this first hand because my regular bus line, the 51 uses the 1600 series buses and many of them, as they roar up the hill, sound like they are barley make it. The breaks are bad, so the bus doesn't stop well and i have seen some stuff on these buses simply held together by duct tape. Some of the bus stops, not just along the 51 line, but many other bus lines as well, really need to be improved or simply redone altogether. So, after that ramble, those of you who can vote, please vote Yes. If you are voting No because you want revenge on TriMet, you''re not really hurting anyone except yourselves, those of you who ride TriMet regularly.
Okay, i realize that TriMet could blow us bus commuters off and waste all the money they would gain from the passing of this bond measure on Light Rail. I wouldn't be surprised if they did, but at least give them a chance. They owe it to us after inciting all the service cuts and fare increases September 1st and 5th.
You know, it really sucks to be 14 sometimes and not able to vote...
Well, thats all for now, folks!
I thought he said this very well, so i though i would post this.
Now for some of my comments on the bond measure:
Those of you who can vote should vote for the bond measure should because TriMet does need new buses and to improve/ redo some bus stops. Some of the oldest buses in the fleet are barley surviving. I know this first hand because my regular bus line, the 51 uses the 1600 series buses and many of them, as they roar up the hill, sound like they are barley make it. The breaks are bad, so the bus doesn't stop well and i have seen some stuff on these buses simply held together by duct tape. Some of the bus stops, not just along the 51 line, but many other bus lines as well, really need to be improved or simply redone altogether. So, after that ramble, those of you who can vote, please vote Yes. If you are voting No because you want revenge on TriMet, you''re not really hurting anyone except yourselves, those of you who ride TriMet regularly.
Okay, i realize that TriMet could blow us bus commuters off and waste all the money they would gain from the passing of this bond measure on Light Rail. I wouldn't be surprised if they did, but at least give them a chance. They owe it to us after inciting all the service cuts and fare increases September 1st and 5th.
You know, it really sucks to be 14 sometimes and not able to vote...
Well, thats all for now, folks!
TriMet Safety and Service Report
Report Here
Joseph Rose, The Oregonian writes 'Report says TriMet must change its culture to achieve new levels of safety'
Joseph Rose, The Oregonian writes 'Report says TriMet must change its culture to achieve new levels of safety'
Thoughts...
Why does there always seem to be so much controversy over bikers vs. bus operators? I acknowledge that many bikers do not follow the rules of the road, but still, why do so many bikers seem to hate bus operators and vice versa?
Being a regular biker and TriMet rider, i can see why drivers might dislike some bikers for being in the way when there is obviously another place where that biker should be, ect. What i can't see is why so many bikers seem to hate the bus operators. I, for one, do not even come close. I am friends with many of my regular bus drivers. I know there are probably reasons, but are any of them good? You could say, "That bus driver honked at me for no reason!" Well, i'd betcha there was a reason. Were you riding where you weren't supposed to be or riding in the middle of the road when there was a clear bike lane to the right? Buses and bikers share the right side of the lane, so it is no surprise that problems arise, but still, do you bus hater bikers (many of whom are on bikeportland.org) have a good reason to be mad at the driivers and come to hate them. Think about your reasons. Do they make sense? Give the operator some slack, they were driving a 30' or 40' bus, likely very full and need to stay on schedule so they don't later need to deal with angry passengers because the bus was late.
So next time when your thoughts drift to how much you dislike bus operators (or transit operators in general), think about it. Do you really?
Being a regular biker and TriMet rider, i can see why drivers might dislike some bikers for being in the way when there is obviously another place where that biker should be, ect. What i can't see is why so many bikers seem to hate the bus operators. I, for one, do not even come close. I am friends with many of my regular bus drivers. I know there are probably reasons, but are any of them good? You could say, "That bus driver honked at me for no reason!" Well, i'd betcha there was a reason. Were you riding where you weren't supposed to be or riding in the middle of the road when there was a clear bike lane to the right? Buses and bikers share the right side of the lane, so it is no surprise that problems arise, but still, do you bus hater bikers (many of whom are on bikeportland.org) have a good reason to be mad at the driivers and come to hate them. Think about your reasons. Do they make sense? Give the operator some slack, they were driving a 30' or 40' bus, likely very full and need to stay on schedule so they don't later need to deal with angry passengers because the bus was late.
So next time when your thoughts drift to how much you dislike bus operators (or transit operators in general), think about it. Do you really?
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