A TriMet Rider: January 23, 2012

TriMet Diaries

TriMet Diaries Links of Interest (19-January-2012)
It’s Casual-The Red Line (Warning- this is very weird)
And saving the two best for last....
Panic on the Blue Line!
The TriMet Charon Express

If You Are Afraid to Ride TriMet, You’re An Idiot

http://portland.daveknows.org/2012/01/18/if-you-are-afraid-to-ride-trimet-youre-an-idiot/

Crime on TriMet: Let's face it, 'honor system' for fares doesn't work

TriMet has responded to the recent beating of a teenage girl on the MAX line, the assault of a teenage boy on a MAX platform and a fight on an east Portland bus in its typical fashion.

First, TriMet ramped up its public relations machinery to insist these incidents, compared with the total number of trips, are statistically insignificant. Technically, that is correct, but I'm not sure that provides any comfort for the victims.

Second, TriMet has insisted that anyone engaging in crime on the system will be apprehended. There have been arrests in two of these cases, but prosecution after the fact is no replacement for prevention in the first place.

Third, TriMet is pledging it will heighten security on the system by providing more officers, both uniformed and undercover. If TriMet's heightened security measures go the way of its occasional fare enforcement stings, it will be short-lived. There will be some highly publicized arrests, more press releases for a time, and then things will slide quietly back to the status quo.

Residents in communities of future planned light-rail lines have good reason to have serious public safety concerns about the projects. In 2007, before reaching an agreement with TriMet to provide better security, Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis ordered his own police officers to ride the line within Gresham's city limits because the crime was so out of hand. It's no wonder that Lake Oswego is now rejecting the streetcar from Portland and Clackamas County residents are pushing back on the Milwaukie line.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/01/crime_on_trimet_lets_face_it_h.html

Dog gets loose on the MAX tracks

http://northeastportland.katu.com/photo-gallery/pets/455461-ruh-roh-dog-gets-loose-max-tracks
The dog is okay. Good. The person trying to catch the dog is okay. Good. No max trains got in trouble because of this (that we know of). Good.
...but one little question....
How the heck did the dog get loose on the max tracks in a spot like that in the first place?

TriMet.org pageviews

(cooler to look at than it sounds)
http://www.box.com/s/pbs2qgly1nso811ke3ms

STOP THE MADNESS

It has been some time since ATU 757 has held a picket before the Tri Met Board meeting but this is so important that we feel we have no choice but to do it again. Please come join us at this informational picket January 25th at 8:00 am in front of the Portland building. Please feel free to stay for the meeting (9:00am) and give your opinion to the TriMet board.

TriMet has no budget crisis and they need to manage taxpayer dollars better. There is no need for slick expensive brochures that attack 87% of their employees, websites or meetings with the public. TriMet should sit down and work with ATU 757. Please go to www. atu757.org to see the Union's recommendations for TriMet.

This information, along with the attached flier is meant for wide distribution and for all politicians and government board members. Please print and distribute the flier to all tax payers and those who are fed up with TriMet’s mismanagement of funds, sending millions of dollars overseas, unnecessary rate hikes and service cuts.

We have been asking for help from all politicians for a long time with regards to TriMet’s illegal actions toward our members. Please investigate our recommendations and help us make TriMet a more efficient agency.

http://rantingsofatrimetbusdriver.blogspot.com/2012/01/stop-madness.html

Another Portland Transit blog!

These things are popping up everywhere.
SARDINES ARE ONLY PACKED ONCE

Fare checks on the streetcar?

@grovesdesign

Checking fares on Streetcar tonight. They're becoming very consistent about this.@pdxcommute @PortlandAfoot @PDXStreetcar

Okie dokie. Great, Portland. Now how about that actual enforcing thingy? Ya know...where you actually make sure people pay their fare by giving them a ticket if they don't?

I never have understood why fares aren't enforced on the Streetcar...