ClubMax. It's like a roller coaster for old people. When you've got nowhere to go, it's the way to go.

This octogenarian's Max story sure paints a different picture of what it's like to use the Max to get around.

In other Max news, my wife got the following email message from her employer today.

"Work is about to start on a complete rebuild of the intersection at 17th and Holgate, which will be followed by a rebuild of SE 17th and the overpass at Burnside, in preparation for light rail construction to Milwaukie. There will be lane closures and restrictions through the summer on Holgate, and 17th will be closed from Powell to Holgate for about a year. When 17th is closed for construction we will probably see more traffic on 26th and other nearby streets"

Looks like it's full steam ahead for PMLR.

Of course it's full steam ahead. Remember, it's "too late to turn back now".

One day, the wheel on my walker got stuck. On the MAX train. Because the platforms and the MAX train doesn't mesh well.

I won't ride the bus, even though the buses have a ramp that mesh perfectly.

I ride the MAX, because I can sit on it for hours on end. It goes across the bridge...and then it stops. Right on top of the bridge. Where I can look out and gaze across Portland. Now I could ride a bus and actually get out on the sidewalk of the bridge, but I like that the MAX trains let me have a seat where my walker is in the walkway, and people have to walk around me and use other doors. MAX lets me be selfish. On the bus, I actually have to fold up the walker, and put it aside so other people can get on and off the bus. I don't like that.

It's nice that I don't work, and I don't have anywhere to go, so I can ride the choo-choo train. I'm in no rush, no hurry. I have no where to go. And MAX gets me...there. No where.

Does this woman have a valid green card; or is she another ILLEGAL alien like Obama's aunt and uncle?

Does everyone just choose to forget that Eugene's BRT doesn't exist? With built-up curbs at stations and new articulated buses that have a more light rail type configuration of seating, there is no difference in the riding experience. Talk about blinders!

Looka like I typed in a double negative. Should have said,
Does everyone just choose to forget the Eugene's BRT exists?

I can see a Portlandia parody with Grandma taking the Max through the Lloyd Center area along side some "youths" wearing pants around their knees.

On a side note, why doesn't the city just employ a limo service to shuttle senors around town - be cheaper than light rail.

Wow good news for the seniors in King City?
It appears seniors can't wait to get on MAX? Yeah sure. Have your mom ride it, not mine.
And never mind the unworkable problem at both ends of having to walk, drive or bus to and from it, waiting for trains and transfers to go where the tracks don't go. All while carrying things and safely getting around? The tiny fraction of seniors who would find this acceptable may as well be none. I can't even imagine a MAX station at King City having seniors waiting for trains. This is just another fabricated piece of Light Rail BS. I wonder if TriMet actually paid for it?

Of course driving is easier than transit riding for most elderly.

see:http://www.portlandfacts.com/elderly%20travel.html

Thanks
JK

Karlock: you're making a good case for "transit:" keep the bluehairs off the streets - it just may save your life!

Everyone with a pair of eyeballs and a brain behind them has figured out by now that light rail has little to do with solving transportation problems.

Mr. Grumpy reminds us all of the real point here - it's not about transportation or congestion or greenhouse gases.
It's not TOD - Transit Oriented Development like they try to tell us.
It's DOT - Development Oriented Transit.

I wonder what'll happen when her choo choo tickets rise when TriMet actually has to think about paying for this expensive junk. What then?

On a side note, why doesn't the city just employ a limo service to shuttle senors around town - be cheaper than light rail.

They already have them.

Have you ever seen the Tri-Met short buses around town? You know...the ones with the wheelchair doors on them? Those are called "Special Services" buses.

Older folks and the handicapped get to use those to get to where they need to go, door-to-door. Tri-Met also has town cars they use for those same purposes.

"I wonder what'll happen when her choo choo tickets rise when TriMet actually has to think about paying for this expensive junk.

What would that ticket price be? Has anyone ever calculated that? Mr. Karlock? PomMom's limo service probably would be a tiny fraction of the cost.

I really think it's a great, and important, question what the ticket price would be for a "sustainable" intercity transit system paid for by the residents of that transit system service area.

I can't even imagine a MAX station at King City having seniors waiting for trains.

Especially considering that TriMet used to have the 44-King City Loop route (made a loop around King City, and then ran to Tigard TC for connections elsewhere) and abandoned the service...King City residents today get "Ride Connection", which is a shuttle service provided by a non-profit organization.

Have you ever seen the Tri-Met short buses around town? You know...the ones with the wheelchair doors on them? Those are called "Special Services" buses.

You mean LIFT.

And yes, they do serve King City. Quite frequently. As does Ride Connection.

Kinda interesting. My wife who is disabled used Trimet to get to and from the doctors a few times, but they couldn't manage to be on time and then they blamed her for the error.