Last day on MAX

Well the day is here. Today is my last day riding the MAX in Portland. For almost 2 and a half years I have rode the Red Line from ParkRose to downtown 5 days a week religiously. It was only recently that I started this blog to record my daily travels and tribulations. I wish I had started it sooner because its always been an adventure to share.

The MAX to some is a means of transportation that they will never step foot on due to the news reports of random violence that litter the local news media. Yes there is some crazy shit that goes down on MAX sometimes. But shit, there a hundreds on crazy things that happen on other mass transit systems every damn day and people still ride. Look at the NJ/NYC PATH or NYC subway even BART in Cali has violence. I believe that you need to get on and ride to see the real deal. I also believe that 90% of the shit that happens on MAX is a direct result of bad fair management on TriMet's part.

Young teens and homeless in my opinion make up the majority of these problems. You never hear of a 35yr old business man calling another passenger a "fuckin whore" and then stealing his/her bag? Its always some deranged homeless dude or a kid trying to look tough in front of friends that is beating down a 70yr woman or snatching purses from other teens minds their own business. TriMet does nothing to stop fair jumpers at all. They put random fair inspectors at some stops to check fair, when they have 5mins free from stuffing their faces with donuts and coffee. Ridiculous.

If MAX was run like a subway or PATH train system passengers would pass through a turn style system by swiping their monthly/yearly card or purchasing a single ride ticket. This would cut out a great percentage losers that skip fair each day and cause the issues TriMet faces. Its just a bad design they have now and they think by hiring cops for stops or trains will help. Money could be spent on better equipment that could outlast an officer's shift.

Obviously I have a lot to say about how TriMet manages their system. One day they will get it, right now they don't.

When I moved here from New Jersey about 3yrs ago I never thought I would love it so much. MAX has been but a small part of my Pacific Northwest adventures over the last few years. Hiking in the Gorge and around Mt Hood and St Helens is an experience that I will always remember and also a reason to one day return. As for now, I am transferring to my firm's main office in Houston, TX. I am not at all trading my hiking boots for cowboy boots, no way no how.

A great opportunity has guided me this way. It is a huge move for me and my family but has many benefits right now in my life and career.

MAX, I will miss you and your interesting characters you shuffle to and fro...

Peace out for now-

pdxMAX (Nigel)

Fair Inspectors arer back!

Wow! TriMet is working these inspectors. This is the 4th time in two weeks we have stopped at 82nd Ave for Fair Inspectors to board and take off the deadbeats. The MAX operator has even been announcing a warning that they will board and we still have idiots saying "I didn't know where to pay" or "its not free".

Haaah. I love it. And why is it that everyone they bust has no form of ID!? WTF?

Anyway. iPod battery is dead have to listen to rider commentary.

pdxMAX

PDXMAX blog is moving

Its sad to announce that I will be leaving the PAC NorthWest in the next couple of months. My job is taking me to Houston, TX. Wow, big change I know.

My family and I have found a new home and will be moving around the 1st week of December 2008. Houston has a small light rail system in downtown but I will be able to make it part of my daily commute. I will miss the MAX and its strange/odd/weird/asshole/funny/freaky/smelly riders.

You never know, maybe TriMet will buy my blog! Haah! Yeah right.


More updates will follow.

pdxMAX

 

It's Official

Well it is indeed official, I am being relocated to Houston, Texas. My firm's main office is in Houston and my position is in great demand down there. My family and I will begin our journey sometime in Oct/Nov.

I will be heading down there for work and house hunting the week of the 25th. My wife will follow for a few days. We have been looking in the area of Houston called "The Woodlands" about 45miles north of downtown. Friends and co-workers in that area will make a move much easier to deal with.

I will definitely miss the Pacific Northwest although its only been 2yrs since I got here from NJ. I thinks its a wonderful place to live and have a family. Texas I hope, will provide that same feeling, less the beautiful mountains and cooler air!

I will post more about the move as the days wear on.

pdxMAX

Back to School

Back to School week:

It used to be a fun time when you could catch up with friends that you hadn't seen all summer. Trade new numbers, talk about what classes you had and such. But that was back in the day...

Now its... Hang out at the MAX platform and talk shit about your friends and family. Talk as loud as possible on your cell in a full train to your BFF who is riding in the car behind you. Then at the next stop yell louder into your cell while your BFF runs out of one car and into the other before the doors close.

I never thought I would say this but, "damn kids these days!"

Stay tuned for my back to school fashion report friday.

pdxMAX

Cat on a leash

Friggin white trash idiots. What the hell are you doing dragging a cat around on a leash? Then bringing it on the MAX? She talking to the cat like it knows what the Eff she is saying. "Come on kitty, move over so people can walk here". shorten the friggin leash you dumbass then the cat won't be able to walk under folks as they make their way to the platform.

I don't understand it

Blog Drought

Its been a week or so since my last post and I apologize. I was in Houston, TX for a few days last week/weekend on business so that took me away from riding MAX. Houston has a light rail system I found while there but I don't think it has a cool name like, MAX, PATH or BART. I think they just call it the "Light Rail".

Portland light rail has been interesting this week to come home to: Steel Bridge is closed.

I almost forgot about it. So now you can ride the MAX to Convention Center and exit to catch a Shuttle bus that will take the Burnside Bridge across the river and drop you at the Chinatown platform. Or ride MAX to the Rose Garden stop and exit there (if you don't get off, the Blue or Red line that you are on will become a Yellow line and head towards the Expo Center) and walk across the bottom of the Steel Bridge. The bottom of the bridge is used by freight trains and has a bike/walk path. This walk takes about 10 mins to get to Chinatown and is much nicer than the Shuttle run I think. The down side: the bottom bridge is a draw bridge and will open for large boats/barges. This sucks cause that adds like 15mins on to your walk while you wait for the bridge to close again.

Its a nice walk from Rose Garden to the office (on 6th ave) on a nice, dry day- rainy days will mean shuttle time.

Time to get off the MAX and walk! Till next time,


pdxMAX