The issue of whether or not the turnstiles will fully pay for themselves or not is a red herring the rail advocates commonly use.

The real issue, of course, is putting a stop to antics of the hordes of teenage thugs and career criminals who board for free, and promptly proceed to stab, beat, intimidate, and rob the minority of civilized people who do pay to use the system.

If you've read the Tribune comments lately, you'll notice that Dave Lister claims Fireman Randy is behind him on this one. Good job. Can't wait to see my tax dollars used for something productive for a change...a good start on making our transit system safe to ride again. Me, I'm 6 ft and 235 pounds of street attitude, but I would never allow my 60 year old Mom onto the Max on her way out to the Airport when she comes to visit, not after all of the savagery and violence as of late.

Maybe all that will finally start to change for the better.

Lister, if you run for Mayor or something someday, you have my vote.

Perhaps Max can enjoy an above ground tunnel to control passenger flow. Super sized concrete Sewer Pipes laid end-to-end would do the trick and provide a most fitting visual.

Just think of the fresh graffiti canvas they would offer to our local artists.

We can call it "The Big Pipe to the Max."

When someone called "Cabbie" advises against using the MAX line to the airport, I can't help wondering about motivation . . . .

So my mother and other potential victims can ride MAX safely, without being beaten, robbed or murdered. As these latest horrific accounts of reported violence rolled through the news, I remembered all the times watching her get on that MAX train last fall.

The statistics I've looked at all agree, more rail+density=higher taxicab use per-capita. I am taxed outrageously for this, but I do make money off of the whole seedy enterprise.

Look at the big picture, not just what is profitable and/or convenient for you, like the rest of us are doing.

I've gone over this in depth before.

I talked to friends of a friend from Colorado this weekend in town for "the tennis". They were "thrilled with the train system", but wondered how we paid for it all. I explained the $4 bilion debt and that took some of the thrill away. I also advised them not to stray too far from fareless square.
Well, that is 6 or so folks I kept from moving here...in true James G. Blaine tradition.
Cheers!

Thanks Cabbie. I don't know if or when I will run for office again, but I certainly intend to continue to advocate for common sense.

I am particularly passionate about the MAX because my 27 year old son rides it routinely, mostly at night. His stories are beyond scary. He talks about having to hop off at stops to avoid being shaken down by roving gangs of youths. He is subjected to verbal abuse by belligerent drunks. He will routinely feign being ill by coughing and hacking to keep people from trying to interact with him.

And he is absolutely convinced that 90% of the problem causers are riding without buying a ticket.

My discussion on this topic with Randy Leonard was during an interview he gave me for my column in Brainstorm NW. It will probably be in the January issue.

its amazing how individual experiences can vary. my wife and i ride the max frequently, at day and night.

i've never felt the need to exit the train, and never have felt threatened. even at night. even when large groups of loud teens board the train.

looking at the crime statistics published on the oregonian website, i see that my station (the prescott station on the yellow line) is way SAFER then i thought.

its a pretty sketchy area around the prescott station. but for the two year period 2005-2006, with only 5 reported crimes at the station puts me at ease. to me, that confirms my experience that its generally safe.

i would guess that there were way more injuries from car accidents on that corner during the same period.

I should have probably mentioned that most of my sons bad experiences occurred after midnight.

the drunk trains!

those are often the most fun of all MAX rides. people are really very friendly on those last call trains in my experience. i often end up in long conversations with strangers on those rides.

i wonder if you son is giving out some sort of "target" vibe? is he coming back from work or something?

nonetheless, transit should feel safe for people with street smarts and those without street smarts.

i wonder if you son is giving out some sort of "target" vibe?

kinda like rape victims are "asking for it"?

jeez.

My son is doing what good Portlanders are expected to do. He is returning from his job as a cook and living an existence sans automobile.

i hate to break it to you guys, but some people attract attention by the way they dress or act. and some of those people end up being targets because of it.

as i said pretty clearly above, everyone should feel safe riding transit no matter what their street smarts are. trimet should be working actively to make sure this is the case.

they obviously aren't doing well in the safety perception department. and might not be doing well in the actual safety department as well...

and of course, your son could be very unlucky as well!

just because me, my wife, and basically everyone i know hasn't really had a problem on the max doesn't mean that there isn't a problem.

i might just have very lucky friends!

You work for Tri Met, dontcha George :)

George happens to be right. I ride the Max, and my friends ride the Max, and none of us experience the problems that you guys who never ride the Max describe.

From those fine citizens over at the Tribune:

"Anyone want to go for a MAX ride this Friday night and adminster a little law and order?"

"I'd love to see groups of about 10 Men each, provide a little schooling in MAX etiquette to those punks."

"Are some of us projecting vigilantism? I for one would have no problem putting a few .45 Hydra-Shok's into some skel, or skels, that decide to make me a random victim or anyone else for that matter"

"this is why i pack heat. punk pulls a knife on me and i start blasting."

"They were all wearing hoodies?
Shocking.
The new uniform of the lowlifes."

You've got a mighty fine group of constituents there Dave. Sounds a lot like the "28 strong Men" story linked here a few days ago.

All very interesting. Maybe you should comment on it over at the Trib.

JerryB...
are you riding it at 1 AM????

Also,
I didn't advocate for anyone beating, shooting or otherwise hurting anyone. I advocated for collecting fares.