Comments on: TriMet Nukes Fareless Square Free For All http://pdxsucks.com/2009/08/12/trimet-nukes-fareless-square-free-for-all/ Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:31:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: F. Yu http://pdxsucks.com/2009/08/12/trimet-nukes-fareless-square-free-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 F. Yu Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:55:36 +0000 http://pdxsucks.com/?p=1956#comment-1621 Every last trouble maker on the MAX or the Bus that I've had the displeasure of riding with in the last 15 years has gotten on in the fareless square. That includes the fine young gentlemen who insist on taking up 5 spaces with their camping gear and their "service dog" pitbulls and refuse to move, even for quadraplegics. Jerks aside, why should people outside of Multnomah county have to subsidize the fareless square with payroll taxes? How exactly is that fair? Every last trouble maker on the MAX or the Bus that I’ve had the displeasure of riding with in the last 15 years has gotten on in the fareless square. That includes the fine young gentlemen who insist on taking up 5 spaces with their camping gear and their “service dog” pitbulls and refuse to move, even for quadraplegics.

Jerks aside, why should people outside of Multnomah county have to subsidize the fareless square with payroll taxes? How exactly is that fair?

]]> By: fpteditors http://pdxsucks.com/2009/08/12/trimet-nukes-fareless-square-free-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-1620 fpteditors Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:19:54 +0000 http://pdxsucks.com/?p=1956#comment-1620 If you look at the big picture, charging fares is more expensive than providing free buses. The costs of auto need to be considered. Here are a few: medical costs from collisions, repairs from collisions, carbon emissions, oil-wars, traffic congestion, parking lots, noise, traffic enforcement, parking enforcement, stress, the list is long. Public transit is a public investment. The more people ride, the more successful the investment. People who never ride reap many benefits, just as people with no children benefit from public education. If you look at the big picture, charging fares is more expensive than providing free buses. The costs of auto need to be considered. Here are a few: medical costs from collisions, repairs from collisions, carbon emissions, oil-wars, traffic congestion, parking lots, noise, traffic enforcement, parking enforcement, stress, the list is long. Public transit is a public investment. The more people ride, the more successful the investment. People who never ride reap many benefits, just as people with no children benefit from public education.

]]> By: Kellman http://pdxsucks.com/2009/08/12/trimet-nukes-fareless-square-free-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-1616 Kellman Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:33:28 +0000 http://pdxsucks.com/?p=1956#comment-1616 BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND THEIR CANS? WAAAAHHH!! BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND THEIR CANS? WAAAAHHH!!

]]> By: Phillip Kerman http://pdxsucks.com/2009/08/12/trimet-nukes-fareless-square-free-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-1614 Phillip Kerman Thu, 13 Aug 2009 02:49:33 +0000 http://pdxsucks.com/?p=1956#comment-1614 I think it's misguided. First off, it's been working to some degree for years. In fact, there's a huge risk if you get on downtown and ride outside of fareless square--when the inspectors board the bus you could get a hefty ticket. Maybe this enforcement is too hard--but, again, it used to work somehow. Perhaps they looked at fixing the issue other ways and found it unworkable. I think this will have only one notable effect: people won't hop the bus for short in-town rides. You say the vote wasn't close and it's no surprise. But couldn't they have addressed this long ago? I believe they've discussed it for years--but my point is only that there's reason why it's taken so long to go through. Hope it helps tri-met. They need all the help they can get. I really do wish they thrive. Despite this misguided decision I'm still believe strongly in tri-met's value. I think it’s misguided. First off, it’s been working to some degree for years. In fact, there’s a huge risk if you get on downtown and ride outside of fareless square–when the inspectors board the bus you could get a hefty ticket. Maybe this enforcement is too hard–but, again, it used to work somehow. Perhaps they looked at fixing the issue other ways and found it unworkable.

I think this will have only one notable effect: people won’t hop the bus for short in-town rides.

You say the vote wasn’t close and it’s no surprise. But couldn’t they have addressed this long ago? I believe they’ve discussed it for years–but my point is only that there’s reason why it’s taken so long to go through.

Hope it helps tri-met. They need all the help they can get. I really do wish they thrive. Despite this misguided decision I’m still believe strongly in tri-met’s value.

]]> By: Dan Bozyk http://pdxsucks.com/2009/08/12/trimet-nukes-fareless-square-free-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-1613 Dan Bozyk Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:07:50 +0000 http://pdxsucks.com/?p=1956#comment-1613 A friend of mine suggested that, in light of the windfall that will be the elimination of fareless zones, TriMet should be offering late-hour service (bus AND max) like a real city. I'd think that's an idea that could gain some traction. A friend of mine suggested that, in light of the windfall that will be the elimination of fareless zones, TriMet should be offering late-hour service (bus AND max) like a real city. I’d think that’s an idea that could gain some traction.

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