“At rush hour, expecting to board a train with a bike is a less dependable option than locking a bike at both ends of the trip, bringing on a folding bike, or traveling at a different time.”
–Colin Maher, TriMet
TriMet’s bike programs manager Colin Maher has taken the time to look into the incident that I reported on earlier today. After his investigation of reports from Fare Inspectors at the scene, he has clarified what happened.
Unlike I reported (which was based on a post on Trimetiquette), he says what I referred to as TriMet’s contracted security personnel were actually uniformed TriMet Fare Inspectors.
Maher says the inspectors encountered a standing-room only MAX train at Willow Creek Transit Center “on which passengers with bikes were blocking aisles and/or doors.” He goes on to say that the hooks were full and that “three and four” bikes were in one priority seating area (which is against TriMet policy).
According to Maher, the Inspectors issued verbal warnings and “instructed them as to what the rules were”. The Inspectors then tried to find another place for the bikes, but upon realizing there was no room, he asked “those not in compliance with TriMet rules to disembark from the train because they were blocking aisles and/or doors.”
One of the people with a bike refused, and then threatened the Fare Inspector and was then cited for the bike infraction and was, “issued an exclusion for the threat as well as profanity.”
This version of the story shows that TriMet did everything it could to accommodate the bikes and that the person with the bike was rightfully told to leave the train because there was no room.
Maher added that, “At rush hour, expecting to board a train with a bike is a less dependable option than locking a bike at both ends of the trip, bringing on a folding bike, or traveling at a different time.”
He also shed some light on the maximum capacity of a train during off-peak hours, “When the trains are less full, we can accommodate up to 24 bikes (this includes using the designated bike areas and the accessible areas if a person with a mobility device is not using the space).”