TriMet clarifies why they required riders with bikes to disembark

“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).”

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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mac
mac
15 years ago

I suppose this is part of the Trimet \”duck-and-cover\” SOP? Would they require people with children to lock a stroller at each end? A wheelchair? Why not address the real problem, and ensure there is a reasonable prospect of having enough room for bikes? Increase fuels costs and ridership will only make the situation worse and ignoring it is not a solution…etc, etc.

Anonymous
Anonymous
15 years ago

Bike-Max-Bike.

It\’s all or nothing.

Critical Mass Max trip anyone?

R.

brewcaster
15 years ago

My wife was the one who witnessed this. I am the one who wrote the article.

The article I wrote states: \”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.\”
This is just for clarity, that I made no claims that they were the hired security.

According to her(and I will ask her to write here and comment), this was not a single train issue. Before I start taking what I remember her saying out of context and bad memory, I will have her comment here soon. Thanks again for writing on this.

I think TriMet REALLY needs to start looking at options for accommodating bicycles in a Platinum Rated city.

N.I.K.
N.I.K.
15 years ago

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.”

To the bike shop! Marher is, apparently, buyin\’! Or doling out new jobs. Or has invented a time machine. Or…something…

brewcaster
15 years ago

Also on a side note:
Riding the yellow line today, I took the last bike hanger. A woman with a HUGE cruiser came on blocking access to the stairs followed by a TriMet hired Security officer. He didn\’t say a thing. She apologized to him as he bumped against another hanging bike as he moved out of the way for the lady with the stroller who was also blocking the flow of people. He was a really nice guy. I think that as long as the person blocking flow with either a stroller, a huge suitcase, or a bike is willing to be considerate of others and move when they need to, CAN\’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG/TO AND FROM OUR JOBS?!?!?!

Steve
Steve
15 years ago

Why the uproar? TriMet seems to be doing what any smart business would do…cater to the greatest number of customers. Isn\’t it shortsided to expect them to redesign trains to accomodate more bikes and eliminating space for others without bikes? As far as strollers and wheelchairs, really how many strollers are on the train during rush hours anyway and isn\’t it obvious that wheelchairs deserve special consideration? This concept of entitlement to a MAX ride if you\’re on a bike is ridiculous and is just another way that a few complaining cyclists marginalize the rest of us. And why would TriMet care about our \”Platinum\” status anyway.

peejay
peejay
15 years ago

Steve:

Properly designed, a train car can fit a standing cyclist with bike in very little more room than a seated passenger without a bike. TriMet should make the allowance for bicycles because it operates under public charter, and therefore has some obligation to serve the interests of the community, which includes the desire to encourage bicycle use. Let me restate the equation: a standing cyclist with bike on a train takes up less room (and resources) than a seated driver with car on the road. In many cases, those who can not take their bikes on the train might opt to drive.

N.I.K.
N.I.K.
15 years ago

This concept of entitlement to a MAX ride if you\’re on a bike is ridiculous

What? No, it\’s ridiculous that any passenger with a validated fare be refused services. It\’s even more ridiculous when that refusal is not based on the area taken up by the accompanying device, but its nature alone. If Tri-Met had a fair policy, there\’d be refusal for boarding for *any* passenger with an oversized object when MAX trains are at high capacity. But then they\’d have a very serious PR crisis because mothers with kids in strollers and people with utility carts and the like would be up-in-arms, not just those rascally louts with the bikes.

Melissa
Melissa
15 years ago

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.

GB
GB
15 years ago

What frustrates me, are TriMet\’s assumptions…

1) Medical issues prevent me from riding an upright bike; associated strain aggravates my mondini dysplasia, which can cause permanent total-deafness if I strain hard enough. As it is, I\’m already near-deaf from that birth-defect.

So, a decent and affordable folding bike is not an option for me, and my other usage patterns. I only have, and can afford to maintain, one bike, and aside from TriMet, it\’s my primary mode of transport. For how many others is that also true?

2) My narcolepsy means that I:
a) Medicate enough to stay awake while behind the wheel…oh boy, more expensive narcotics…ugh…I\’m already paying $500/month for enough prescription drugs to stay awake at work…spare me more expenses, please.

or

b) That I stay physically active (ie: movement via biking…as driving yields insufficient movement) so that I don\’t fall asleep while moving from place to place.

For that matter, I actually had a fare inspector screaming at me a few months back, because I\’d fallen asleep on MAX. He thought I was faking, while I\’d just fallen into my typical near-instant deep sleep (ie: dead to the world…not even hearing, or waking to, his yells). I guess I\’ll just have to wait until fare inspectors start carrying tasers (or encourage a cop to do so); like the guy in the UK who was in a diabetic coma when he was tasered for not responding to police instructions. Maybe after being tasered, and then sued, will TriMet start taking people with my condition seriously.

3) My regular commute requires that:
a) I wait in unsafe areas of town, at late hours, for a bus, so that I can finish my final leg (and then finish it by walking another 1.5 miles in an \”OK\” neighborhood)…I\’ve been followed home before, and hate that feeling…

or

b) Bike the distance between the closest MAX stops…cutting nearly a half-hour from my average transit time, and minimizing exposure in the bad neighborhoods. I\’ve already had a few run-ins directly because I was not biking that day…only my mace saved me…I\’m just waiting to be shot at while defending myself…

Joy Us
Joy Us
15 years ago

Peejay #8, the space designated for bikes on a MAX train takes up enough space for at least one human being.

When I ride my bike to work, I ride my bike. When I take the MAX, I try not take my bike on it at rush hour because it is an inconvenience to others.

I hope that Trimet can find a good solution to our situation. Namely, we have lots of people who want to ride bikes in Portland!

Remember, at least some bikes are allowed on MAX. In New York, the subway allows no bikes on the train at rush hour.

Joel
Joel
15 years ago

It sucks that Tri-Met designed their system in such a short-sighted fashion that it can\’t accommodate the number of riders and bikes now demanded of the it. I also understand that the fare inspectors and/or security are expected to make sure everyone on the train is behaving according to the rules for ridership, which includes maintaining aisle access and whatnot. That said, they can do it with decency and respect. There is one fare inspector who works this 185th to Beaverton Transit route who is a world-class jerk on most days, and can be counted on to be rude toward cyclists of any kind. Completely unnecessary, and it reflects poorly on both him and his employer. Tri-Met and Portland have a growing problem here: how to encourage and support cycling for those who commute between the \’burbs and downtown via MAX because it is faster, safer and cheaper than the alternatives. Being rude to your paying customers isn\’t a very good start.

wow
wow
15 years ago

I still can\’t get over the dipshit who asked on the other thread… If a wheelchair boards and a bike is in the designated area for it, do I have to exit the train?

Babies in cars, babies on bikes, babies walking. Maybe even one or two babies on uni\’s. All have one thing in common.

jason
jason
15 years ago

Thank you for remaining objective while obtaining information on the article. As a huge fan of Portland\’s public transit, it\’s nice to see that full details were looked into.

Though it seems everything was handled correctly, it would be nice to see Trimet looking into some other options to accommodate additional cyclists in the future.

DJ Hurricane
DJ Hurricane
15 years ago

This is a ***** joke. Anti-bike bias. As mac says, do you think they would treat people with strollers like this?

It is simply ridiculous that TriMet personnel are focused on excluding people with bicycles on the trains when people are being assaulted by thugs on the same trains.

Get some goddamn perspective, Trimet! People are afraid to use the Max. Is it because of evildoers with bicycles or because of the gang bangers you allow to ride the trains with impunity?

If only you managed the security situation as well as you managed the \”bicycle overuse\” situation, you might be able to run a mass transit system that actually offered an alternative to the single-occupancy vehicle.

As it stands, you\’re just like the PPB – MISPLACED PRIORITIES.

Ron
Ron
15 years ago

I\’ve been on a Tri-met train, in all the described scenarios, both with a bike and without, including boarding with my bike when there were no hooks available.

I have come to the conclusion that it is just plain rude to take your bike on a crowded train when there are no hooks available. I have watched peoples clothes get greasy from people haphazardly boarding a crowded train with their bike. I have seen bikes fall over on people on crowded trains. I have seen people trip over bikes while trying to get off the train.

It\’s just rude. I am not sure why people are so up in arms as if Tri-met is targeting cyclists in some unfair manner. Tri-met does some really dumb things (I\’ve been a patron for years), and their fair inspectors are often horribly trained to deal with people. But 4 or 5 bikes packed into the space between the hooks and the stairs is ridiculous, and it should not happen. There are plenty of _actual_ cases of cyclists being unfairly treated, we don\’t need to make one up here.

I just don\’t board if there are no hooks. When that is a problem for me, I ride my bike — crowded trains turned out to be the catalyst for my riding nearly 100% of the time now. If you are inconvenienced by not being able to bring your bike on the train, then plan around the rush hour, don\’t transfer the inconvenience to everyone else.

Russ
Russ
15 years ago

If I think I might for any reason have to take the bus or Max during the day, I drive rather than ride my bike. The possibility of either having to wait for 2-3-4 buses/Max trains or cycling 10-20 miles longer than I\’d anticipated due to being denied service keeps me from bothering.

Trimet is designed to transport cattle, not people. As soon as you get used to being treated like cattle, you can use Trimet without it feeling like an insult to your person-hood. By trying to use this system and insisting that Trimet employees treat you well, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and failure.

The two-bike solution I hadn\’t given much thought. I don\’t think it\’d work for me, but I\’ll let it roll around for a couple weeks.

Aaron
Aaron
15 years ago

The easiest way to solve this problem is to RIDE your bikes.

Donna
Donna
15 years ago

Clearly Trimet is gearing up to ban bikes from the MAX during rush hour. You\’d have to be pretty myopic not to see that coming. Next year, perhaps? I guess I\’d better look into Zipcar for my twice monthly commute into the nightmare that is Washington County, as there\’s no way I\’m going to be using Trimet. Bike-MAX-bike takes 50 minutes to get home while bus-MAX-bus takes two hours. I sure wouldn\’t miss the Sherman tank strollers…

I\’d gladly pay for an annual bike permit if it meant Trimet used the money to retrofit some cars for bikes and standing room.

BURR
BURR
15 years ago

screw bikes vs, peds. I think the train is really first come first served, and they shouldn\’t be kicking cyclists off who boarded earlier.

The ZooBomb record is over 80 bikes in a single car train I believe…and the passengers on the train generally coexist.

Donna-I checked LIRR and they require permits and prohibit rush hour use, same with BART, I believe…but I never used TriMet when a permit was required.

Anonymous
Anonymous
15 years ago

Wow.

There are many anti-bike, pro-trimet Trolls posting on this thread.

Clearly, and I reiterate previous posters, trimet\’s priorities are way off: get thee hence to the Eastside, oh trimet agents, and prevent death and injury to your community!

While you\’re at it, make space for bikes on Max. As your own survey states, most bike-max-bike riders who are not allowed to bike-max-bike will simply get back into their automobiles.

Trimet, what is your mission?

R.

scoot
scoot
15 years ago

I\’m pretty sure every transit system I\’ve used in this country has had some restrictions on bikes. A couple have prohibited bikes completely during rush hour. I\’m surprised people seem surprised by this. There\’s a bike limit on the front of a bus, too…

Al M
15 years ago

Let just go back to the

EVERYMAN FOR HIMSELF motto.

The hell with security, the hell with regulations, let\’s just let the public fight it out amongst themselves.

The \”anything goes\” motto of Portland should just continue.

Whoever is strongest survives, the weak perish! (haven\’t I heard that somewhere before?)

William
William
15 years ago

TriMet\’s story and TriMettiquette\’s story aren\’t quite the same. How do you decide who to believe? I tend to think that TriMet\’s story is one step removed from the source, and cleaned up for public consumption. Which suggests to me that it may be a smidge further from the truth than TriMettiquette\’s version of events.

As far as crowded trains and bicycles go, I\’ve rarely seen the train too crowded to hold more bikes and more people (heading to Washington County in the morning at various times during rush hour)(I know it\’s a different story heading into down town and that different people have different tolerances for crowding). There have been times where it\’s tough to get on and off the train, and I\’ve even seen people get their clothes greased up a little bit. When I\’ve seen these events, they are almost invariably related to people preferring to barge past rather than to say \”excuse me\” or to exhibit any modicum of patience.

That having been said, there is apparently a lot of ill will towards bikers that doesn\’t need to be. One major contributor to the crowding problem, as I see it, is the lack of creativity/open-mindedness/whatever of the TriMet employees in charge of overseeing the design and placement of bike spaces.

I can envision several ways to improve the utilization of space, and I\’m sure other people can, too. But does TriMet want input? Are they open to the idea of a fun design contest?

Jeff
Jeff
15 years ago

The sense of entitlement by some posters on this board is shocking. Being able to take a large, greasy bike onto a busy, cramped train during rush hour clearly SHOULD be a privilege. I rode MAX to the tron and beyond for almost 2 years. Some small number of times I had trouble getting on with my bike that was remedied 90% of the time by waiting 12 minutes for the next train.

The first time I ever rode all the way home was during a heat wave. The system was down.. Oh well, start pedaling. That\’s what the bike is for anyway. Once I got used to the ride home, including going over the hill from west to east, I started enjoying the workout and looking forward to it as an option. And I discovered that riding from 205th to downtown only took an extra 10 minutes over the train.

While that\’s not an option for everyone, there are options. Trimet is simply trying to balance the needs of its users. Bikers aren\’t the only users. Trimet has been one of the most accommodating transit agencies in the country and the other 90% of the day that is off-commute is wide open for bikes.

Time to balance out your righteous indignation.

Joe
Joe
15 years ago

Bikes on transit isn\’t a reliable way to get around during rush hour. It\’s not hard to imagine quick fixes.. a) biking the whole way; b) riding earlier or later to avoid the rush; c) folding bike.

I just wish TriMet would concentrate on world-class bike facilities at MAX stations. To think how much money is spent on park-and-ride spaces.. (at least $20,000 per parking space)… There must be at least 6,000 parking spaces on the TriMet system. That\’s over $120,000,000 spent to ensure 12,000 rides per weekday. Seems like we should be able to create truly secure, Bikestation-like facilities at most MAX stations for far less than that, and TriMet would get far more bang for their buck.

GB
GB
15 years ago

Joe (and others with the same suggestions),

While these suggestions of yours are…obvious…they are not at all practical for everyone.

a) Biking the whole way/just ride the bike:
This is a brilliant idea… Though it works for some people, and not others; showers are not available (or practical) at our destination, so a bike/max/bike combo allows us to effectively exert less effort, sweat less (if at all), yet still arrive at our destination not sticky, sweaty and/or rancid.

b) Riding at different times:
Are you saying that, because my disability effectively forces bikes and TriMet as a primary means of transportation. That I should basically cower in the shadows until a \”more empty\” train comes? Am I now a second-class citizen, who now must adjust my work/commute/school hours, to accommodate someone else? Or that should leave a job I enjoy (ie: to someplace closer, with showers, etc..), and/or move away from friends and family (ie: into downtown, to shorten my commute), because it\’s too inconvenient for someone else to wait for a train with more room (ie: someone who was at a later stop, and would otherwise kick me & my bike off, because the train is \”too full\”).

What happened to first-come, first-served? Why am I kicked off the train (with VALID & PAID! fare) just because someone else wants to ride. Why are people, who take up even more room, not also removed; folks with luggage, strollers, or carts full of groceries. Is it truly about the physical space, or about relegating certain people into a second-class citizen status?

TriMet clearly knows the high-usage times, why can\’t they run more trains to accomidate these peak times? Or adjust existing schedules so that there\’s fewer trains outbound from the city, and more in-bound, during morning rush times (and of-course the reverse during evening rushes). Or…get with the times, and start adding the appropriate accommodations for an obvious emerging trend (ie: more hooks on the trains).

c) Folding bike:
For financial and medical reasons, that\’s not an option for me, period. But funny you should mention that; a folding bike consumes just as much \”floor-space\” as a hanging bike, a stroller, or luggage – why is a folding bike ok, but not a few more hooks for hanging bikes?

That\’s all me…but for how many others are situations similar to mine also true?

Gerod
Gerod
15 years ago

I understand the safety issue with the crowded trains, but I think everyone needs to step back and look at the situation. The are more people riding bikes, using public transit and this issue will rise again and again. There are several categories of travlers now. Long term users, long term combined users (cyclist and public transit), and a new group of users being driven by the price of gas. Don\’t start getting angry at fellow users, we are all in the same boat for whatever reason, some by chioce others by using other options due to gas prices. The end result, some extra time to get home, no polution from you or your fellow users driving cars. Give me clean air and a few extra minutes to breathe it.

EVERYONE TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

For the security issues, Trimet make it safe for all in your terminals, especially those taking those waiting for the next train taking a breath!

Wheel chairs and strollers are not to be included in this debate. My question is why would they?

My 2 cents.

Gerod
Tacoma WA

GB
GB
15 years ago

Gerod,

I don\’t see how, if TriMet is claiming safety and security, you can exclude anything which takes up equal space. That includes folks with strollers, luggage, or groceries.

The simple fact is, and with the exception of a few folks who seem to believe it\’s fair to cram themselves (plus bike) onto packed trains (sorry, it is full at that point, you need to wait – like everyone else). If I\’m on the train first, and have valid/paid your fare, why am I being removed, just to accommodate someone else\’s desire to ride?

Steve
Steve
15 years ago

GB,

I would agree that if you have been allowed on the MAX you should not be \”removed\” unless you are violating a TriMet code, however to continue to argue that cyclists are no more a hinderance than luggage and groceries is pointless. Mass transit was designed to be a stand alone means of transportation. The fact that we are even allowed to bring bikes on the train and buses is something we should be thankful for.

Mister Viddy
15 years ago

The bottom line is that TriMet never foresaw an increase in the number of people using bikes and now they are resorting to a quick fix, which is to start booting people with bikes.

I did not witness this particular incident but it sounds very familiar, TriMet enforcing rules only when it suits them.

What needs to happen is for TriMet to pick a policy, any policy and then stick to it. Exclude all bikes or clearly state only when hooks are available or first come first served but make it crystal clear. Because I do agree that if TriMet allows someone to purchase a fare then they should be allowed to ride MAX the same as anyone else.

Personally, MAX is so busy now due to high fuel prices that I simply do not consider bringing my bike with me when I ride.

JT
JT
15 years ago

It\’s difficult, because we can\’t increase train length, don\’t want to hang our bikes off the back and front (stolen bikes), and increased trains would increase costs by millions (but is doable).

But how many people seated can\’t stand (at least for the trip that I had from Chinatown to 148th: 17 minutes), perhaps half of the seats can be removed for more bike-hook AND standing room? Or folding seats to be folded UP during rush hour?

And the final solution: I could (and have) biked from downtown to 148th without too much ado.

shishi
15 years ago

Being in NYC I can\’t help but find this a bit humorous. While bikes should be allowed on trains and front bus racks, as cyclists we do need to be more aware of other passengers. While their is much hatred for strollers in NYC; seniors, the disabled, and children should all be given a priority seating on public transit. When we try and make everything about the bike we start to loose focus on the bigger multi-modal issues. Well we have to be happy about access to transit with bikes (and keeping fighting for more of it) we also need to realize that sometimes we (you and your bike) might have to wait for the next train.

Amber
Amber
15 years ago

I wonder if it would be possible to create a car, or section of a car that is all for bikes during rush hour? Probably in the last car. I\’m sure they won\’t go for it, but it would open up the bike areas in the other cars to non-bike passengers as well. 4 bike hooks per max car with only 2-3 cars is pretty ridiculous. Besides, most cyclists commute AT rush hour. How did he say it added to 24? The most that 3×4 adds up to for me is 12…but maybe my math is funny.

Amber
Amber
15 years ago

I wonder if it would be possible to create a car, or section of a car that is all for bikes during rush hour? Probably in the last car. I\’m sure they won\’t go for it, but it would open up the bike areas in the other cars to non-bike passengers as well. 4 bike hooks per max car with only 2-3 cars is pretty ridiculous. Besides, most cyclists commute AT rush hour. How did he say it added to 24? The most that 3×4 adds up to for me is 12…but maybe my math is funny.

J-On-Bike
J-On-Bike
15 years ago

In Washington DC, the Metrorail system prohibits bicycles during AM and PM rush-hours (and certain holidays where they expect high metro ridership). It makes sense to me…

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/bikeonrails.cfm

Bicycles are permitted on Metrorail (limited to two bicycles per car) weekdays except 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Nelly Algren
Nelly Algren
15 years ago

You\’re doing a great job of researching the full story here. I truly appreciate that.

I have plenty of criticisms for TriMet, however I don\’t see the cost-benefit of TriMet reconfiguring trains to accommodate more cyclists. And I do think comments that claim that TriMet was short-sighted in regard to this issue, are simply, well, short-sighted. Every decision TriMet makes comes with positive and negative outcomes. There is no perfect solution for most public projects. It would be wonderful to live in a world where the resources were endless, but we do not.

The truth is that Portland\’s cycling community will need to look at other solutions itself. This cannot simply be put on TriMet. And any solutions developed cannot ignore the needs of other users.

Nelly Algren
Nelly Algren
15 years ago

shishi: Great post. Thanks for the perspective! As a parent, I have become much too anti-stroller for my own good. Still, I wish Portlanders would learn to walk on sidewalks with my toddlers. When we visit NYC, no one blinks an eye as they walk past the little ones. Here people stop, if they see them, as if something horrible is going to happen if they attempt to pass by. It\’s very bizarre.

There\’s my rant for the day.

Cheers!

Joe
Joe
15 years ago

Seriously, this whole issue is ridiculous. When the cars are that crowded, it\’s terribly inconvenient for everyone when there are bikes onboard, particularly at each station (too many of them unfortunately), where people need to maneuver around the bikes or worse, the bikes maneuver around the rest of the passengers. At least a stroller doesn\’t jab people with handlebars and scrape people\’s legs like pedals do. I love to commute by bike, but when I need to take the train, I leave the bike at home. It might be a good time to reconsider where you\’re living if this is too difficult to swallow.

Sasha
Sasha
15 years ago

I agree, this is completely ridiculous. Bikes on the train are a privilege not a right. Pedestrians come first in my book. We\’re lucky to have any accommodation during rush hour, and I think it\’s completely fair to ask extra bikes to wait for the next open train. You\’re going to be delayed, what… 10-20 minutes during rush hour? Get over it. You\’re still going to get there faster than sitting in the stand-still HOV lane on the freeway!

S

Eileen
Eileen
15 years ago

Maybe I\’m missing something, but if there is that much demand at those times, why don\’t they add more trains/cars at those times? Would that be too simple?

And also wonder what I\’m missing – anti-stroller? Where does that come from?

Gerod
Gerod
15 years ago

GB

I think the issue is minor and will take some time for commuters to get used to the idea of crowded trains. I believe no one should be asked to get off if they are already on. I am sure the accomodations can be made to benefit all travelers. Rush hour limits on bikes, strollers, groceries? But it should not go that far. I wouldn\’t mind a little inconvience on a crowded train, I rode public transit in St Louis MO with standing room only (no bikes in the 80\’s, but most kids had skateboards-no issues) I think manuvering around a bike, stroller, grocery bags should be nothing new to anyone traveling on public transit. I just believe that Trimet is trying to prevent confrontations between passengers.

At the same time we as passengers should be more aware of crowding and be flexible in our travels. (ie if the train looks full and you have a bike, stroller etc, if another train is coming with in 20 minutes, look and decide to wait). I am sure in a couple of months this issue will be forgotten. We need to more considerate of others and others of us. I see the me, myself & I all the time when I drive, more so when I bike, we take this with us everywhere. If we back away from this a bit we could all get to work and home without any stress even with crowded public transit.

With the increase in revenues from the new travelers Trimet should be able to reinvest in more space, better designs to accomodate more bikes and have certain areas made to accomodate strollers, groceries can still rest by feet while standing and sitting.

2 More Cents

Gerod

Meg
Meg
15 years ago

@GB #28,

I understand that they can\’t run more cars at this point because when the new orange/green line is added to the mix, Steel Bridge will basically be at capacity for MAX trains. Which I guess means MAX is done expanding… @_@

I still find it a little strange that they\’ve chosen to build that one choke-point into the whole system, across all lines. It seems like it would\’ve been better to extend a spur from the yellow line across the Broadway bridge for the new line, back when that bridge was being refurbished. What do I know, though, I\’m no traffic/transit engineer… 🙂

To the topic at hand .. I do know that I try to never take my bike on the MAX anymore. Even when there are bike hooks (quite likely due to my route) it is a big pain to have to stand there with it, keep it from bumping into the glass on the door, having people bumping into it and giving me dirty looks as if they couldn\’t have seen the handlebars sticking out in front of them .. 🙂

I try to just ride my bike to work and back on the same day each time and avoid the MAX entirely in that trip, though I do have the luxury of being able to do that easily (and having secure storage on both ends), which others do not. However they stick their fingers in their ears and deny that it\’s their challenge to meet, I think this problem is going to continue coming back and haunting Tri-met.

Bob
Bob
15 years ago

I got a flat tire downtown yesterday while riding with my wife. We decided to take the #15 bus home. There was already one bike on the rack so I was going to put my flatted on on the rack and ride my wife\’s home. The bus driver noticed this and allowed us to bring one of our bikes on the bus. The bus wasn\’t crowded and by putting it next to the side seats by the back door the bike didn\’t block the aisle. I\’m sure this is against TriMet policies, but in this instance it didn\’t negatively affect any of the other riders.

TriMet rightly deserves criticism and needs to add more bike space on its buses and trains, but not everyone who works there is a bad apple. This driver used common sense and was very generous to her customers.

Andre
Andre
15 years ago

Why don\’t we as a city get creative and bury the max line through downtown. If Seattle, the most ineffective of all cities (anyone remember the monorail) managed to bury a large scale tunnel through downtown for transit, Portland should be able to do the same.

Maybe we should be spending our chunk of 4.2 billion for a freeway for whiny Washingtonians in a tunnel for the max through downtown. This will allow the increase in train length and thus capacity that we all want.

rixtir
rixtir
15 years ago

If Trimet was doing \”everything it could\” to accommodate cyclists, there would be enough room on the trains for cyclists.

As usual, Trimet sucks and looks elsewhere for the blame.

Josh
Josh
15 years ago

No, it\’s ridiculous that any passenger with a validated fare be refused services.

That does it! I\’m bringing my horse on the train now.

GB
GB
15 years ago

Josh,

Animals are prohibited 🙂

Unless of-course you can convince them it\’s a companion animal…

SkidMark
SkidMark
15 years ago

I use the train to ride from Beaverton Transit Center to Goose Hollow. I never took the polka-dot jersey in the TDF so I am not up to riding up and over the West Hills every single time I go into the City. It is also dicey riding on streets like Barbur Blvd, Capitol Highway, and Farmington at night because they are not that well-lit. If you talk to the majority of cyclists on the train in that area you\’ll find they are there for the same reason. All you people saying \”just ride\”, I have to wonder if you have ever made that climb on a singlespeed, or if you could do it every dday twice a day, on any bike.

If I never rode a Tri-Met train again I would be happy, but I will live where I live until the little one is out of school.

A folding bike is not the answer if you are riding a specific bike for a specific reason, like there are no folding track bikes, mountain bikes, BMX bikes, or tallbikes. For me a bike is more than a commuting tool, that is what a train is.

dcatalyst
15 years ago

i live in Portland and work in Beaverton. The bus does not service the place where I work, so locking up my bike downtown would not only invite theft, but would add an hour and a half of walking to my morning commute. As it is, Bike-MAX-Bike works out to about 55 minutes, which would be 35 minutes of driving if I owned a car. If Tri-Met continues to address the issue this way without troubleshooting the increasing ridership issue, they are likely to anger an activist community. The proposed solutions by Tri-Met do not address the issue at hand, so let\’s start talking solutions!

One such solution would be to add a bike car every half hour or so. Another would be to redesign some of the existing cars for use during rush hour.

Let\’s be clear, the issue is the failure to accommodate bikes, not increasing bike ridership. We *want* increased bike ridership, we just want to ensure that everyone else can ride, too.