There's the Oregonian's award in the bag for the year, then. I was wondering what it would take to stop them running irritating stories about how dangerous the MAX is. Too bad the O's managing editor, and "driving force behind its investigative journalism," resigned this morning.

everybody knows the real problem with tri-met is crappy poetry that they put up on the busses!

“The fact is, Fareless Square provides a free ride for panhandlers, who go back and forth between downtown and the Lloyd Center, and drug dealers and rowdy gangs of young people, homeless people and drunks who are using the train as a shelter and a place to do their business. This type of undesirable behavior—that intimidates our riders and leads to crime—is being subsidized by regular Trimet riders,” he added. “The restriction of hours specifically targets these types of behavior.”

BULLSHIT!!!!

"Zero tolerance for fare evaders"... that's just effing great. Bring on the punitive corrective measures that are worse than the problem itself.

After all, zero tolerance has worked out so well for drug enforcement and school behavior policies.

And exclusions zones have been so evenly and fairly applied in other instances, let's streamline the exclusion of TriMet users to make exclusions faster, with less input from the person being excluded.

Limiting the hours of Fareless Square would produce lower nighttime ridership and "conveniently" justify reductions in service (much to everyone's inconvenience). Real cities are defined by their nighttime culture, and taking away public transportation options at night is a real step backwards. It's already hard enough to attend any nighttime social function and catch one of our scant few local trains or busses. This will only make the situation worse.

Interesting. I wasn't aware that the panhandlers and rowdy young folks only existed at night. I guess you learn something every day...

everybody knows the real problem with tri-met is crappy poetry that they put up on the busses!

Hey!

Here's a suggestion to make TriMet better: fire Fred Hansen.

Dick.

Actually they need to expand fairless square to goose hollow; this would make things simple for those who are the "shopping crowd". They expanded it to Lloyd center which was great because it makes easier to see movies or hit the convention center.

They also need to get rid of tickets all together... go the way of MTA cards like NYC. I want to be able to just buy a chunk of "rides" at once and then use them as I see fit.

They also need to get rid of zones and flat rate everything.

“The fact is, Fareless Square provides a free ride for panhandlers, who go back and forth between downtown and the Lloyd Center, and drug dealers and rowdy gangs of young people, homeless people and drunks who are using the train as a shelter and a place to do their business."

Well, yeah, sure. But Fareless Square also provides a free ride for, you know, working and commuting Portlanders, and citizens who're trying to get around parts of town w/o driving or paying for parking, and those visiting our city. Based on my experience, there are far, far more people who value and appropriately use the system than there are those who abuse it.

In roughly five years of riding the MAX and the streetcar pretty regularly, I'm hard-pressed to think of anything else in downtown Portland that helps as much as Fareless Square to alleviate livablity, affordability, and convenience concerns in NW and downtown. And in those five years, sure, I've seen no small number of sketchy people on Fareless Square transportation. But restricting or cutting off the whole system to everyone just so that Tri-Met can say they got rid of a few assholes seems like a ridiculous reason to get rid of or limit one of Portland's best services.

OK, so what's the address for Trimet to protest to?

Lots of good reasons to keep Fareless Square have already been given. I'll add another: it reduces drunk driving, and saves lives. I'd actually like to see 2-hour tickets bought after say 7pm be valid all night long, as happens in many other cities around the world.

The security problems people keep talking about on the MAX aren't downtown, they're in Gresham. They're not happening in Fareless Square, because there's too many people around (there's another point for you - reducing ridership makes it less safe). Yeah, there's fare evaders causing trouble; eliminating Fareless Square does f*ck all to solve that problem. Just enforce the rules already in place. I've never once seen fare inspectors at Max stations after 6pm.

Last I checked, we still had a climate change problem.

This is a shortsighted step, and a step backwards in Portland's efforts to slow climate change.

The whole system should be fareless.

I don't recall him saying anything about eliminating fareless square, only restricting the hours and then in the future, exploring the policy implications of continuing fareless square.

If you're a panhandler and/or drug dealer, are you really the type of person that's going to be overly concerned about paying a MAX fare? I mean, if I'm standing at the Rose Quarter at 11pm on a Saturday, and I want to get to Old Town (doors to my right) to deal me some blow, am I really going to stop and say, "shit, that's right... it's not fareless any more, and I don't have enough money in my pocket for a fare, and I certainly would never consider breaking the law, so damn... I guess I'm just not going to be able to deal me some blow tonight"... ?

My guess is no.

Soooooo...

Are these "solutions" really a deterant for what Hansen is attempting to deter? No.

Conversely, would these "solutions" in reality actually deter the very cornerstones of what any mass transit system is supposed to encourage (less driving/parking/congestion/pollution)? Probably yes.

I'm resisting the urge to come out on either side of this until I've thought harder about it.

Lately it's like the entire country is being run by the drill sergeant from Full Metal Jacket. And I, for one, really fucking hate having to do push-ups because some asshole ate a jelly donut.

Now. The connection between violence on the MAX and the continued existence of Fareless Square is... well, there is no connection. It's bullshit, in point of fact. That part of the proposal is old-skool Congressional-style pork, purely motivated by profit, and anyone who tries to tell you differently is probably a TriMet executive.

Better lighting at MAX stops? Totally. Increased security personnel? Wish we didn't have to, but yeah, that's probably a good idea. Getting rid of Fareless because it's (gasp!) actually being used by people who need it?

Fucking WHAT??

If you're a panhandler and/or drug dealer, are you really the type of person that's going to be overly concerned about paying a MAX fare? I mean, if I'm standing at the Rose Quarter at 11pm on a Saturday, and I want to get to Old Town (doors to my right) to deal me some blow, am I really going to stop and say, "shit, that's right... it's not fareless any more, and I don't have enough money in my pocket for a fare, and I certainly would never consider breaking the law, so damn... I guess I'm just not going to be able to deal me some blow tonight"... ?

I think the reasoning is that if that person still hops on the bus without a fare, and causes trouble, the driver now has an easy way to get that person off the bus—they're a fare evader. Right now, the drivers don't have an easy way to eject people downtown, without calling the cops.

Why not just create a system like Seattle, and nobody pays until you get off the bus? Once you're outside of fareless square, the only exit is the front of the bus...

Concerning the Max - why not create a system like the Bart in S.F. outside of fareless square, and you can't get in and out of a max stop unless you've paid your fair and gone through the gates. While that would be a lot of money, it's surely better than punishing people who take public transit.

And if the argument is drug dealers, gang bangers, young people and homeless people (cuz they are all the same you know) are ruining the system than the idea of axing fareless square downtown doesn't make sense. What ever would the good people of the world do, if homeless individuals couldn't get out of downtown after 7PM? Hmm... What, I can't ride the max out to the Lloyd Center, well, shit, I'll just hang out downtown... oh the cycles. We need innovation. Punishing the general public and dare I say homeless individuals who don't have a shelter by cutting fares is insane.

Yeah, I heartily agree that the ticket "kiosks" are super lame, and need to go. The card system like Chicago's CTA, would be a huge improvement. In my own personal experience, those ticket machines actually invite theft because one doesn't need a pin code to use a debit card in them, and so assholes just steal peoples' wallets, stick the card in and extract as many tickets and monthly passes they can and then attempt to resell them. Our house was robbed and someone stole a wallet and did this, aka personal experience.
That is a huge problem. And given Tri-Met's rant, they come off hypocritical and creepy.

These niggers and bums are ruining our city. They need to be taken care of!

You people complaining about my plan, I don't think you fully understand the grandeur of my vision. Increased security and constant paper checking is only the beginning. Wait until you hear about the camps!

Anyone with an IQ above 80 knows that this won't make anything any safer (if anything the opposite). That's not why they're doing it. They're doing it partly to make a bit more money. But mainly they're doing it because it'll make Oregonian readers and Fox 12 viewers feel safer. You know, the ones who believe despite all evidence to the contrary that it's really dangerous on the MAX at the moment, because they saw a few loud black kids on there.

While "Fred Hanson's" comment above is obviously steeped in irony—CUT THAT HATE SPEECH OUT, ASSHOLE. That shit doesn't fly in Blogtown.

One last thought (promise!)

Anyone else think it can't be a coincidence that he announces this on a Friday afternoon? When all the local news are still talking about the floods? Trying to minimise press coverage of something he knows will be unpopular. Most blatant attempt to sneak out bad news EVER.

There's only one way to make sure he doesn't get away with it. Front page of next week's Mercury!

Stu -

Since most of the "mainstream" press in this town has completely gone over-the-top with coverage of security/safety issues on MAX, and based on the comments posted on various media sites, it seems that the pressure is on TriMet to do _something_, so I don't think TriMet is trying to hide anything based on the timing here -- I think they'd rather prefer that announcements of these kinds of changes are widely publicized.

TriMet already sent out two email blasts to subscribers of their news releases, and has two prominent pages up on their web site.

That being said, do people here disagree with any of the measures _besides_ the Fareless Square issue? More fare inspectors shouldn't be a problem for everyday riders, as fares are normally checked between stops while the train is in motion, and increased police and security presence with greater authority to remove people from a transit vehicle for bad behavior doesn't immediately sound like a bad idea. Increased lighting and new/refurbished ticket machines doesn't harm everyday users, either.

That plan is absolutely ridiculous.

So much for not trying to kill anyone on a night of drinking downtown. Looks like we're driving in and driving out. Rather than MAX'n in and walking/cabbing out.

Tri-Met needs to focus on running 24 hours, not taking counter-productive steps from how awesome a service it currently is.

My question, Bob, is what counts as bad behavior? We've already got enough unchecked "private security" downtown, harassing the homeless and "undesirables", making the streets safe for the cowardly yuppies and suburbanites. Do you really want to see more of these people on the MAX, with the ability to ban anyone they want?

This is GREAT news.....tired of the thugs, smelly people, drug addicts, prostitutes, and so forth. The leaches of society...

I've got a great idea. How about all those people who get shit-faced downtown just PAY THE FARE? It's a couple bucks! Jesus christ.

"Oh my god! TriMet is going to kill people because they are going to force drunks to actually pay to ride!"

P.S. I am one of those drunks who is fine with paying. It's cheaper than a cab.

Actually we might want to think about how to get additional mileage out of Fred Hanson´s idea. We are always concerned about drunken drivers on the highways; let´s turn them into toll roads. And all those people whose dogs poop in city parks; let´s charge everyone for park use.

The real problems here are the following:

(1) a media frenzy promoted for obscure reasons. Last week´s story about "anarchy on the rails" had far more to do with the writer´s fevered imagination than significant problems on the MAX. As someone who has used late-night MAX service for years I have seen the occasional drunken or doped-up individual, and the noisy idiot who takes joy in intruding in the lives of others, much like any crowd leaving the Rose Garden or PGE Park. Those people most inclined to make a fuss are least likely to ride the bus late at night.

(2) a problem with aggressive behavior which appears to be most pronounced in Gresham-Rockwood. Gresham police and TRI-MET share responsibility for tightening security but that has nothing to do with Fareless Square. But Gresham is doing a fine job of blaming its problems on all those bad elements grabbing a free ride to molest Greshamites.

(3) Has anyone else besides me noticed that the announcements you must pay a fare east of Lloyd Center come only AFTER the doors close? So if you suddenly realize you do not have the fare it is too late, you automatically become an "evader". More seriously, many of the security improvements such as better lighting can be handled as part of routine maintenance and upgrading. Fare inspectors would be a help.

But the real issue here is TRI-MET is talking about major policy changes without the slightest idea as to whether they make any sense at all, whether they would address the problems a small but vocal group claims to have detected. Meanwhile Portland State has a major transportation research center which exists precisely to help improve policy and service.
Fred, before you have another bad idea please call PSU.

What a bunch of whiners.... somebody is finally taking the steps to do smomething about the scum on our streets and the jerks on the bus and all you guys can do is whine about how it is going to affect your night out on the town...... Quit your whining and let him do his job.....

Jack asked "So if you suddenly realize you do not have the fare it is too late, you automatically become an "evader".

I guess all of those signs inside the train, plus all of the signs and maps at the platforms, including in braille, must have evaded your notice.

“Your free ride on Trimet is about to end.”

Ha! We'll see about that...

Or you could follow many Euro's lead and make all public transport free and encourage use of public transport by all citizens.

It'll never happen. stupid americans and loving their cars...

Trimet’s exclusion policy will be streamlined, “to more effectively respond to disruptive behavior.” Hansen’s also expanding the code of conduct, and “making it enforceable.”
Wow, they're going to make it illegal to kiss on the bus, or post to blogs anything that questions any Tri-Met policy for any reason. The punishment will be a lifetime ban from Tri-Met! Wow, I can't wait to be protected from people in love and people with an opinion!

Why not just create a system like Seattle, and nobody pays until you get off the bus?
You just described the Salem Cherriot system, which also comes complete with awful service, rude drivers, and rules that change all the time. People leave Salem so they don't have to put up with them. Oh, and they are also so hated that most people there want to see them go away entirely.

Hansen for mayor! It's about time someone does something about all the problems on MAX.

As many of these posts indicate Hanson appears to have mixed security concerns, real and contrived, with Fareless Square and then argues restricting or doing away with the latter somehow addresses the former.

First, he provides no compelling evidence this is so leaving us with the impression that he has a solution in search of a problem. How many potential convention visitors is he willing to saddle with fares to their downtown hotels in order to inconvenience a few panhandlers?

Second, a number of the fixes such as better lighting, more visible security, etc are straightforward without a major policy change. All it takes is making the decision. Some (admittedly trivial) changes such as announcing the last stop in Fareless Square before rather than after the MAX stop are cost-free. Even with all the signs on platforms, in trains, and elsewhere (correctly noted subsequently by Bob R.) TRI-MET considers this worthy of announcing on its trains, so why not announce it where it can have the intended effect, i.e., to tell people they are about to leave Fareless Square?

I repeat my closing point earlier. If TRI-MET believes doing away with or severely limiting Fareless Square will in fact solve crime problems then let it present solid third party research supporting the argument. Otherwise this sounds pretty bogus to a regular MAX user.

I worked for 'Freddie' many years ago. His idea of fixing things is to add another layer of management - kind of like our current fucked-up government.
There's hardly any enforcement of existing rules/laws and I haven't seen a fare inspector in months (I ride M-F).
One person commenting about MAX's lack of security summed it up perfectly:
"STOP!, or I'll yell again!"
Oh, Texina is my idol....

I think a good solution to many of our problems, as a society, is to stop relying on other people to keep you safe. Can't anyone take care of their own shit anymore? If everyone continues to rely on the police and security to keep everyone safe, the place is going to get worse and worse. If people stood up for themselves and for those around them, we wouldn't have nearly the problem that we do.

If TRI-MET believes doing away with or severely limiting Fareless Square will in fact solve crime problems then let it present solid third party research supporting the argument. Otherwise this sounds pretty bogus to a regular MAX user.

I've asked Trimet for just such information—how do they quantify the "problems" on Trimet, and how does that compare to ridership in Fareless Square versus outside of it? Is the "problem" statistically worse in Fareless Square? They were going to see what they could find...

Jack -

Regarding signs and announcements, in occurs to me that in addition to the announcement of "Validated Fare is Required on MAX Outside Fareless Square", which is played at several stops along the entire route, I recall that they also announce, prior to Lloyd Center and prior to 10th, "Last stop in fareless square". Perhaps my memory is on auto-pilot but I remember hearing this recently. I'll be riding again in the next few days so I'll try to listen for it.

- Bob R.

"Or you could follow many Euro's lead and make all public transport free and encourage use of public transport by all citizens."

Have you ever been to Europe? I lived there for 5 years. The transit isn't free--and I've never heard of any fareless zones there. Not saying there aren't any, but in the (many) places I've been in Europe, I always had to pay.

i arrived here on aug 25, after 30 years of waiting and raising my kids elsewhere. i finally received a place to stay, courtesy of TPI, sept 10th. yes, i was homeless. when i first arrived i was grateful for fareless square to enable me to get away from downtown to various hideyholes; and a few times after i noticed there were no fare inspectors i actually used the max to sightsee a little.
i noticed also that i was being checked out by, ummm, young street people (as opposed to other homeless) as to whether i was worth mugging. i was semi-fearless with my can of Mace in my hand, but yes, after rush hour you here in portland do have a problem on the max. the silly person suggesting everyone stand up for themselves evidently doesn't believe they will make to old age, and they may be right. why police are present when the max is most used makes no sense; isolated people are victims in waiting, don't you see?

i vote for a free fareless square from 5am to 10pm; especially in the summer. expand the area west to include PGE park if only to make the area more square and less oval or call it the fareless oval.

if someone's moral compass is literally
so fucked up that they'd rather drive drunk than pay bus/max fare... i hate to break it to you, that person is gonna drunk drive... until they kill themselves or someone else.

so there goes that argument.

besides, unless the bus driver is a complete tool, just tell them that you're trying to get home without drunk driving, you don't have any change in your pocket, and you'd really appreciate it.

you'll get a free ride.

re: comment 44

does that seriously work?

“The fact is, Fareless Square provides a free ride for panhandlers, who go back and forth between downtown and the Lloyd Center, and drug dealers and rowdy gangs of young people, homeless people and drunks who are using the train as a shelter and a place to do their business. This type of undesirable behavior—that intimidates our riders and leads to crime—is being subsidized by regular Trimet riders,” he added. “The restriction of hours specifically targets these types of behavior.”

As a former panhandling, drug dealing homeless youth I can honestly say that I did not use Tri-Met for those activities. If I wanted to panhandle, I would have better luck pouting for drunk men coming out of a strip club downtown to give up any money that didnt make it into a g-string. If I wanted drugs, I promise I got better drugs by chillin' downtown WHERE ALL THE DEALERS PARKED THEIR CARS!!!!!!
The only time fareless square helped me out was when I finally decided to clean up, and had to get from my group home apt in Northeast by Freddy's (would walk up to fareless zones) to my rehab, also downtown. Oh, and when I had to get to work at the job the youth agencies downtown helped me get, and to get to the classes I took also downtown at PCC. So, sure....Kick those worthless bums off tri met. Maybe then, they will stay down...errrr...downtown

I would love an explanation of what in the hell eliminating fareless square is going to do to protect the citizens riding the system? I've only been assaulted on the east side. My son was assaulted on the east side and the rest of what I've read, has been about the west side. Isn't fareless square downtown? Wow! Tri-met is in a world of it's own.

Hrm. Sounds like a money issue disguised as a "protect the innocent" move. But is it related to PBA (as suggested by the mention of the panhandlers near the end) or simple budget shortfalls?

I stopped riding from the far end of Gresham into Downtown for more than the freaks that get on at Lloyd to Dwntwn, but also all the people that don't know how to speak english from Gresham on in. Not only them but the other freaks that get on around Rockwood down through the rest of the stops into Lloyd. Better to pay for gas and parking than be smashed up with people who smoked a pack of cigs or dumped a bottle of perfume on before boarding and having them cough and sneeze all over you, shit get a life.

Bloggers always have an opinion. On this subject, the majority sounds self-absorbed, uninformed, and conspiracy-oriented. Get real. Are you not aware, separate and apart from the media frenzy, that the citizens of Portland and the law enforcement community throughout the metro area (not just Gresham) have been on Tri-Met's back for years to do something about common ongoing crime on the max line? The recent beatings and serious violent crime in Gresham are merely the "last straw," which are symptoms of a deeper problem -- Tri-Met's refusal to ensure security on its system. Safety is essential to a publicly-funded transit system. A safety plan needs to be thoughtful, effective, and permanent, to ensure the long-term viability of our huge investment in light rail. Tri-Met is finally responding to what has been obvious for years....and now the masses who think they are entitled to free transportation are storming the barricades -- again. Get a life, and wake up. Maintaining order is part of what makes a city livable. MAX has become a chaotic conduit for the underworld. These measures are long overdue!

To enforce fares-At the last stop in fareless square, fare inspectors can check for fares on every bus and train. Anyone found without proof of payment has to pay or get off and stay off the bus, or get off the train and buy a fare from one of the train station vending machine or stay off the train.

Outside of fareless square-On the buses the drivers have authority to enforce fare payments
and can require passengers getting on to pay or show proof of payment, or get off, or the driver can turn off the bus until all fares have been paid or all passengers without
fares are off the bus.

Outside of fareless square on the trains either keep fare inspectors on every train or have fare inspectors get on every train some where on the route to check fares. Anyone found without proof of payment has to get off and buy a fare from a vending machine or stay off the train.

Some where on at least some of the train and bus routes inspectors can get on at random with drug dogs that can go through and sniff for drugs. Take a picture of anyone found with illegal drugs and take their finger prints, and ban that person from riding Tri-Met for at least one year.

What the...?!?!?!

Ok...So I have lived in Portland for over 15 years now, and not ONCE have I been asked to show my fare by a fare inspector.

For the last 6 months, I have commuted out to Hillsboro on the MAX, and tho I have seen security guards on most of my trips in the last month or so, they have NEVER said word one to anyone about any obnoxious behavior, or asked to see anyone's fare. They just stand there, waiting for something stupid to happen in front of their eyes.

If you wanna cut down on the problems on the MAX, have those Wackenhut guys walk the aisles, say "Hi!" to folks, and get OUT there. Ask to see fares, and generally get involved.

If criminals see an active presence on the MAX, they will stop using it as a refuge.

Quick story: one night, coming in from Westside, we had two guys hop on the max at the very last minute at the Library stop (first stop--Fairless square.)

They then proceeded to complete a pot deal right there! It was a nice refuge out of the rain. Then at the Pioneer Place stop, the buyer hopped off, and the dealer hung around to make another transaction with a guy that saw the first deal take place. This was out in the open.

Oh, and the rent-a-cops had hopped off at Goose Hollow, BTW, after riding in from Orenco. The deal took place at EXACTLY the same spot where the Wackenhut guys had stood just 5 minutes and 3 stops prior. I wonder if they would have detered that deal. Hmmmmmmm.

Please people, STOP THE INSANITY! These comments are a testament that no matter what Trimet comes up with, people will continue to bitch and moan. So many whiners, so little time. Can we all please just grow up and try to be supportive and open to what can improve the current system? Now, there's a thought. There are no perfect solutions to anything on this earth. And these comments all certainly show that.
Happy holidays.

Please people, STOP THE INSANITY! These comments are a testament that no matter what Trimet comes up with, people will continue to bitch and moan. So many whiners, so little time. Can we all please just grow up and try to be supportive and open to what can improve the current system? Now, there's a thought. There are no perfect solutions to anything on this earth. And these comments all certainly show that.
Happy holidays.

Please people, STOP THE INSANITY! These comments are a testament that no matter what Trimet comes up with, people will continue to bitch and moan. So many whiners, so little time. Can we all please just grow up and try to be supportive and open to what can improve the current system? Now, there's a thought. There are no perfect solutions to anything on this earth. And these comments all certainly show that.
Happy holidays.

Did you read what you just wrote Skippity?
Pot meet kettle.

#49: Government's job isn't to shelter you from "freaks" and people who speak other languages than you do. But at least MAX is sheltering me from assholes like you.

Almost sixty comments, and not one person has managed to explain how eliminating downtown's fareless square will fix Gresham's crime problem.

It won't.

The city should make MAX free to ride system-wide, and should raise money to offset a free MAX by setting up toll booths on I-5, I-84, and Hwy 26 only in the direction coming into the city. You live outside the city and drive into/through the city for work or whatever... you pay. You ride TriMet or drive within the city... you don't pay.

I don't think that eliminating Fareless Square is the answer at all. I've seen panhandlers (one in particular that is always selling 'candy for spare change' and weekly passes - although he swears their monthly passes) and those stupid political name collectors outside of Fareless Square on a nearly daily basis.

TriMet needs to have more of a security presence on the trains and they're not even fully staffed in this area. They have vacant, unhired positions just waiting to be filled, although I'm not sure what they're waiting for -- more outbursts of violence, perhaps?

I find it ironic that the most recent outbursts of violence have happened outside of Fareless Square and yet the answer to it all is to eliminate Fareless Square. What method of logic deduced that?! Oh yeah, there was no logic. Let's overreact in typical Portland fashion. Yippee!

Let's start with security and enforcement before we jump to conclusions and eliminate anything.

The efforts to restrict fareless square are long-standing. Fred's just exploiting unrelated violence to achieve that end.

Tried to by a pass today at a MAX station---at THREE different stops--and not a one working. Fix the machines and I'll gladly pay the fare.

This is great, they've authorized Blackwater erm...Wackenhut to check Fares and issue beatings...I mean, citations. They've increased the number of fare inspectors to the tune of $500 thousand dollars.

But they are only 'planning'??? to fix the ticket kiosks? Sounds like someone is putting the cart before the horse. I commute by Max (Interstate) every day into downtown, and have never experienced any criminal activity I may add. (even if teenagers, obnoxious and ill-mannered to the one, should be outlawed) and I can say without exxageration that MOST of the ticket kiosks are inoperable, and it's worse since the weather got bad.

Leaving town in the evening, it's nearly impossible to purchase a fare without going to at least 7 machines.

But let me say this, the very first $90 fine that I am required by the court to pay(and will cost the city plenty, trust me) I will simply abandon Tri-met forever, take my pro-transit voting record with me, get back in my car, and start taking advantage of the subsidized parking my employer is so generous to offer me.

END TRIMET APARTHEID!

END TRIMET SEGREGATION!

Migrant workers from Hillsboro have to pay $2.05 each way to get to downtown but the pearl condo owner pays nothing to ride around in downtown.

END THE APARTHEID.

END PORTLANDS DOMINATION OF TRIMET.

END FARELESS SQUARE OR MAKE THE WHOLE SYSTEM FARELESS.

PDX talks a big game about being green but the limitation of fareless hours would make lots of people drive and drive drunk.

I second the idea that the transfers should be good for all night when purchased after a certain hour like sf and other cities.