On Saturday, a two-year old child was separated from her father at a MAX station because the father was trying to load a bike trailer onto the train.
Here’s more from The Oregonian:
“Transit agency officials said Kevin James, 39, loaded the girl and his bicycle onto the northbound train at the Albina/Mississippi Yellow Line station about 3:45 p.m. Saturday. He then stepped off the train and to retrieve a bike trailer, TriMet said.”
“…this incident illustrates why bike trailers are not allowed on MAX, whether they are attached or not.”
— Colin Maher, TriMet
TriMet bike access planner Colin Maher says there’s “no indication” the MAX operator did anything wrong. The incident, Maher says, is a prime example why bike trailers are not allowed on MAX.
“Thankfully, the father, his child and his bike were quickly reunited,” Maher wrote via email, “but this incident illustrates why bike trailers are not allowed on MAX, whether they are attached or not… if a passenger gets off the train, there is no way to know they intend to get back on.”
TriMet’s bike policies are clear on this point, stating that trailers “cannot be accomodated.”
Maher says that with the summer season approaching, now is a good time to for folks to remember that trailers and tandems aren’t allowed on MAX. Also, as a general rule, Maher says, “It’s also a good time to remind parents to hold onto to your children when boarding and deboarding.”