America's Best Transit System

Let's go over this again

2011-08-11T09:23:57Z

There are open seats on the aisle a little further back. You don't need to stand up in the front. It's not like you are talking to the driver, or anything. Look, you can even get out through the back door. It's not that crowded.
Lady, you are almost as wide as my walker. What makes you think that I can get get around you if you back up towards the driver? No, I feel absolutely no guilt at all for crashing straight into your big feet without saying anything. You're lucky it's just your feet, practically BEGGING me to reach out & smack you.

LJ Mobile post

2011-07-29T18:06:05Z

Okay. Maybe I have the rules wrong. For some reason, I thought that bike or skateboard riding was prohibited on the MAX platforms. That is, no actual using them while seated or standing on them. And I certainly didn't think that I'd have to leap out of the way when this guy who kept approaching me while on his bike would not get off it or stop riding it or even change his path to avoid a collision.

Silly me. I guess being called a "crazy bitch" just because I jumped out of the way for my own safety (and also his, believe it or not) was totally warranted. =P

Good thing I wasn't in that seat

2011-06-13T09:42:04Z

Preaching to the obvious choir (LJ Mobile post)

2011-06-10T18:21:53Z

Two pro-tips if you're riding the MAX:

1. If you wait for people to deboard first before you get on, there'll be a lot more room for you to get on and find a seat. If someone is standing right at the door and facing outside when the train stops? Yeah, that's a good indication that they're wanting to deboard and would greatly appreciate it if you stepped aside for them instead of forcing them to squeeze past you.

2. Baby strollers take up a great deal of space and thus aren't appropriate to have sitting unfolded in the narrow aisles. Same goes for those metal shopping "granny" carts. I tripped over one of those today trying to get through the aisle because the cart took up most of the aisle's width.

(I know, I know... the people who most need to read this are the ones least likely to. =P )

Dear assholes standing up front,

2011-06-08T18:02:15Z

The people sitting on the bench moved for me when the driver asked them to. YOU did not. How did you expect me to get around you with my walker? I hate to tell you this, but you do, in fact, have feet. They are big feet. If you really want to pretend that you and your big fat feet are flat, I will be more than happy to oblige you.

how to deal with harassment?

2011-05-22T19:19:21Z

I had a jarring incident on the yellow line last night. I was approaching my stop, so I went to stand by my bike on the hook, and a man started yelling at me to get my hands off "his" bike. He repeated this about 10 times in the eternity it took for the train to stop. I just ignored him until the doors opened, and I loudly said "NO, this is MY bicycle, SIR" as I quickly deboarded. I guess that was the right thing to do (he didn't pursue or try to fight me) but I was terrified for a little while there. I am definitely going to sign up for that self-defense refresher course I was thinking about.

Is this a thing now? Potential thieves trying to intimidate people into abandoning their bikes? Anyone else noticed any recent threatening behavior on Trimet, and how it was dealt with? Should I have called the driver immediately instead of ignoring the guy?

People who break the "no eating on the bus/MAX" rule

2011-05-11T01:37:57Z

I've just about had it with people who eat smelly, noisy food while on the bus. I know the rule against eating on TriMet is there to avoid messes, but I wish it were better enforced because it's nearly impossible to escape the odors from pungent food or the sounds of people crunching chips ten aisles away.

Just a few minutes ago, I had to change my seat because the orange that this lady was eating was so pungent, it made me sick.

Is there a non-wanky, nice way to ask people to at least be more considerate about this? They're breaking a reasonable rule and I'm sick of having to accommodate for it.

-Message sent to Timet!

2011-05-03T21:33:01Z

This is the message I sent to Trimet:

I have always had trouble navigating by reading the bus maps because they aren't detailed enough. Every time I try to use the map to navigate, I end up lost, because the route maps don't really relate to the actual city streets the listed route to the actual city streets around them. Why don't the bus maps relate to the actual city map?

It probably won't have any effect, but I had to send it anyway.

Note to self

2011-05-03T00:05:47Z

1. Get a bus system map.

2.Enlarge it.

3.Study it.

4. Do not ask anyone else at the bus stop. That's how getting lost happens.

How do people even memorize these things?

If you have a system map, can you even read the damn thing? They make everything SO TINY!

Damn you, Trimet!

2011-04-28T07:43:55Z

Damn you for only putting stop ID numbers on some of your stops!

Why did Transit Tracker tell me that the bus would not be at my stop for 50 minutes, when it was clearly much less? I was too cold to stand there for 50 minutes & ended up walking, based on your bad information

LOST!

2011-04-12T19:21:23Z

So I've already contacted trimet about this, but figured I'd post here too. Today I misplaced my PSU ID card. It has my bus-flexpass-sticker on it, so it's pretty important I get it back because I can't get that sticker replaced. It also is a key card that I would rather not have to replace. Not to mention the cost of a new card.

Anyway, rode the 9 this morning toward psu from SE at about 8am. Misplaced my card, pretty sure on the bus. Possibly on campus. If anyone finds it, would be awesome if I could get it back. My name is Gloria, and my name is (obviously) on the card. As well as my picture and ID number.

x-posted to pdx_edu & damnportlanders

tia!
glo

Grr!

2011-04-05T19:39:18Z

I hope that this wasn't one of you, leaning against the sign that says to move back. To this guy's credit, he moved when he saw me moving to get off.
After I ran over his feet.

The bus was pretty full, but it wasn't packed. He could have moved back.

Excellent article from the Street Roots newspaper on the TriMet situation (LJ Mobile post)

2011-03-16T18:58:27Z

It's here: http://streetroots.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/trying-to-cut-a-fare-deal-with-trimet/

Whether or not TriMet will actually care or listen (or at least the powers that be there, since many TriMet drivers feel our pain), this is a great article outlining the challenges that someone who is transit dependent have to face, and especially that of how long a simple round trip to the grocery store and back takes, whereas someone who has their own car can require only a fraction of the time.

I'm lucky enough to have a pass subsidized by my employer, but I remember the stress of trying to meet a connection (especially during the late evening and/or the weekend, when many bus routes run less frequently than once every half an hour) before my transfer expired. =P And with traffic jams that happen frequently during rush hours (especially if you're just trying to get across the Willamette River), sometimes it can take over a half an hour just to get from one side of the river to the other. And no, I'm not kidding; I've actually timed these instances.

DON'T

2011-03-16T09:48:00Z

Don't be that guy.

Dear Bus riders,

2011-03-16T05:28:01Z

Dear bus riders,

If you insist on gathering in a knot in the front of the bus, you are not allowed to be surprised when I get mad at you for blocking my way.

No Love,
Me

LJ Mobile post

2011-03-04T18:44:52Z

Wow, I just learned something today! Being on a "public bus" means you should let your kid make as much noise as he wants on his noisy-ass toy. And it also means you can be rude to anyone who kindly asks you to have him not play with it because they have a headache and the noise is irritating it. And finally, what great examples you're teaching your kid!

...Oh, and by the way, I was being sarcastic. >.< What the hell happened to common courtesy these days?

Hands!

2011-02-03T22:49:30Z

Random strangers on public transportation need to learn to keep their hands to themselves. I don't care how old they are, or if they are sitting next to me- my walker & my hand are not arm rests for random people.

Possible new MAX line?

2011-02-03T08:54:20Z

So, I noticed that they've built some train tracks down by MLK, along part of the 6 route. I assume it's going to be a new MAX line or something. Anyone got any details about that?

Increased MAX service on New Year's Eve but regular bus service?

2010-12-27T22:11:25Z

Given that most buses stop running long before the countdown would commence on New Year's Eve, what the hell is the point of increasing MAX service but not bus service? I have to ride a bus just to get TO (or from) a MAX, and the only bus route that services my home within a mile stops running after 10:30 PM. So this increased MAX service won't do me one bit of good for New Year's Eve festivities.

So pointless. But what else is new when it comes to TriMet's foresight in trip scheduling?

LJ Mobile post

2010-10-15T19:43:39Z

...

Is it just me, or have TriMet passengers become more belligerent, aggressive, and "in your face" even when you're just minding your own business, in general?

I don't mean everyone, of course, but ten years ago, I don't remember it being a daily occurrence for random strangers to panhandle me on the bus and get offensive about it when I tell them -- honestly, since I don't carry cash -- that I don't have any money. Or people picking fights with each other for no apparent reason, or damaging windows and other things on the bus.

TriMet Did Me Right!

2010-09-13T18:32:07Z

I tried to buy a pack of 10 tickets from a machine on Wednesday, September 8th. Unfortunately, the tickets didn't print, so I had to go to another machine. You guessed it: the firat machine dinged my debit card anyway, so I was short $10.

I noticed it on Friday, September 10th, and called TriMet. Jenny L. Jones was my friendly Customer Satisfaction Agent, and she took the report with alacrity and wonderful pleasantness.

I received a letter from her on Saturday, giving me a reference number for the refund, and telling me the claim was submitted to the financial department.

The refund hit my account today.

Well done and thank you, TriMet!

Subject: Reminder: Most fares increase 5 cents starting September 1

2010-08-31T21:03:19Z

"Most TriMet fares will increase 5 cents starting Wednesday, September 1, 2010. We increase fares every year or so to cover the increasing cost of doing business. The last fare increase was in September 2008.

This fare increase includes:

5-cent increase for Adult, Honored Citizen and LIFT tickets
a $2 increase for Adult and LIFT 1-Month Passes
a $1 increase for Honored Citizen 1-Month Passes
no increase for the 1-Day Pass or Youth/Student tickets and passes
a 50-cent increase in the shipping and handling fee for trimet.org Online Store orders (from $1.50 to $2)
View new ticket and pass prices effective September 1, 2010

Good thing they're improving it.

Oh. Wait.

Saturday afternoon misadventure

2010-08-23T21:45:53Z

Saturday afternoon was starting to look up... however, my bruised ribs hurt & I was cranky.

I was over on SE Division & 12th. I saw the #4 bus from across the street, but wasn't about to hurry to catch it.

So I sat down to wait for the next one & got on..... didn't ask for the ramp, even though I should have. I was going to get off just before the Hawthorne bridge & transfer to the #6, since it would would take me closer to home. I requested a stop... & the driver didn't stop. OK...the # 6 also stops on the bridge. No big deal, right? WRONG.

It normally wouldn't be. Apparently, this driver liked to ignore stop requests. It was like he hesitated for a few seconds on the bridge, but didn't open the doors, completely ignoring the stop requested sign..... so he let me off on the other side of the bridge- 2 or 3 blocks away from the stop for the # 6. Bastard. Trimet will be hearing from me.

Trimetrolled

2010-08-10T02:53:45Z

I was on a crowded max today, and 3 aspiring rappers got on and started making some noise, throwin' down some rhymes, generally being noisy. There was an older guy in a wheelchair in the priority area right across from them.

At some point the older guy interrupted their freestyling with a "hey!"

They said "Hey!"

Old guy said "Oogie boogie!"

Homies said "What?"

Old guy said, louder this time, "OOGIE BOOGIE!"

Rappers looked confused and went back to making noise.

I looked over at the older guy. He caught my glance and gave me an epic trollface grin. Well played, older guy, well played. :)

Post from mobile portal m.livejournal.com

"Sensitive Areas"??

2010-08-08T22:21:06Z

So I was waiting for the bus outside the little mall at SW 185th and Walker Rd., about 5:00 p.m., and a lady came from her shift at Burgerville and we got to talking. About 5:10 or so, up comes what I believe was the #48 bus (could've been the #52, maybe, but I think it was the #48), and we get on. I have a disability (walk with a cane) so I sat in the disabled seating just inside and to the left of the door, and my conversation partner sat on the next bench over. (This was a newer bus, one of the ones with all the LEDs, and there are two long banks of "honored citizen" seating on that side of the bus.)

The driver (a petite white woman) turns to us and says, "Ladies, ladies, I have to tell you to keep in mind you're sitting in a sensitive area." We nodded and I said, "Yes, yes, we'll move if someone comes in who needs the seats." And my acquaintance and I start talking again. Yes, we were speaking loud enough to be heard over the bus noise, but we're a couple of old broads, it's not like we were screaming or carrying on (and no, neither of us were deaf, either, lol. It was just normal kind-of-loud-ish talking.)

The driver interrupts us again after 30 seconds or so and says, "LADIES! Ladies! I told you you're sitting in a SENSITIVE AREA! You need to keep it down! If you want to talk, sit next to each other!"

The other woman and I looked at each other like, "WTF?", then I looked around the bus. There were two other people on the bus, both of them sitting in the seats toward the back. I'm not sure who she thought the "sensitive" people were, unless it was her poor sensitive little self.

Well, we shut up, of course. But now I need to ask: have any of you heard of this new "sensitive area", where we're not allowed to talk? I've been taking Tri-Met for 20 years, you'd think I'd've heard of something like this.

Tell me, what's up with the "Sensitive Areas"?

ETA: Monday, 10:25 a.m. - I just got off the phone with Tri-Met customer service. I explained the situation and asked the nice lady if she'd ever heard of these "Sensitive Areas." She laughed and said no, that was a new one to her, and that it didn't sound like we'd done anything to warrant that kind of treatment. The called ended up logged as a comment/complaint, and I did leave my name and phone number.

The driver may never hear about it, but I feel better. ;D