Rubber coated MAX bike hook.(Photo: Tomas Quinones) TriMet has confirmed that they are testing a rubber coating on the bike hooks in some their MAX light rail trains. According to bike programs intern Colin Maher, they have been testing the rubber coating on five trains for the past two months. “We’re testing the durability of … Read more
Check out this posting to the Rants and Raves section of Craigslist (pasted below). It’s from a concerned person who was driving a car behind a bike and a bus and witnessed the bus almost run over someone on a bike while the two traveled on Interstate Avenue: Were you in the Trimet vs Cyclist … Read more
TriMet GM Fred Hansenis working with the BTAon bus/bike safety.(Photos © J. Maus) In the wake of the tragic death of 15 year-old Austin Miller, who was killed when he and a TriMet bus collided in Beaverton earlier this month, TriMet has issued a press release (full text below) that outlines immediate, near-term, and long-term … Read more
Current TriMet buses can hold two bikes.(Photo © Jonathan Maus) Looking for ways to add capacity for riders that like to bus and bike, TriMet officials say they’re currently testing racks that would hold three bikes (current racks have room for two bikes). However, according to TriMet stategic planner Eric Hesse, initial testing has given … Read more
[Updated 10/8, 2:13pm] [Updated 10/9, 9:18am] (File photo © Jonathan Maus) Somehow, a cyclist survived a run-in with a MAX train on N. Interstate Avenue today. Here’s the Oregonian’s report: “A bicyclist who was hit by a MAX train and ended up lying flat underneath it seems to have gotten away with non-life-threatening injuries, rescuers … Read more
[Post updated: 9/27, 11:42am] E. Burnside and 97th: The tracks where Sharon fell.Photo: Jim O’Horo At a meeting last week of the Portland Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC), TriMet Communications Manager Josh Collins shared details of TriMet’s plans to review 32 locations where bike paths and bike lanes cross MAX tracks. The review makes good on … Read more
I hope Colin has more luck with his new job than he did with these barricades at a Cross Crusade event last year.(Photo: Jonathan Maus) TriMet is in the process of taking a long, hard look at how bikes mix with their transit services. They’ve recently launched a major survey effort and they’re feeling the … Read more
There has been some confusion about whether or not passengers on TriMet MAX trains are required to move for bicycles in the designated bike hook area. Now, in a comment exchange from a post back in April TriMet has clarified that passengers are not required to move in order to make room for bicycles. Here’s … Read more
(Photo: Jonathan Maus) As promised last week, TriMet has just released the online version of their Bikes on MAX survey. They say it’s, “the most comprehensive study of bikes on light rail transit conducted to date in the U.S.” This survey is not to be confused with the version they’ve been passing out to cyclists … Read more
In light of the attention being given to the TriMet Bikes on MAX survey, I want to encourage everyone to not distribute and complete copies of the on-board survey. I linked to a PDF of it yesterday solely to present the information, not to encourage folks to print it out and send it in. An … Read more
[Post updated at 11:33am] There is mounting evidence that TriMet is considering a shift in their bike policy that may include a rush-hour prohibition of bikes on trains and an increased emphasis on bike parking at stations to encourage cyclists to park-and-ride. Currently, bicycles are allowed on MAX trains during all hours with some restrictions. … Read more
Bikes don’t always mix well on crowded trains.(File photo) A large increase in the amount of bicycles being taken on MAX trains has been a simmering problem for TriMet since the beginning of spring. That increase, combined with confusion over their policies has led to a situation in dire need of attention. I heard from … Read more