As increasing numbers of folks in the Portland area flatlands employ a combination of bicycles and transit to get around, conflicts are becoming more commonplace.
According to TriMet, the number of commuters who take their bikes onto the MAX has exploded. But there's a problem: the trains have limited space for bikes.
So this week, at the 185th station in Beaverton, TriMet security guards kicked cyclists off bike crowded trains and would not let any board unless there were empty bike hangers.
TriMet says it's a matter of safety. But cyclists say they're frustrated by the crack-down and the lack of bike-space.
Presumably, bicyclists would be willing to pay for additional, bicycle-only, light-rail cars? Hmmm...didn't think so. Bicyclists should have everything given to them. Because they're special.
Meanwhile, in an exciting development, a route has been selected for the roughly $1.4 billion, six and one-half mile light-rail line linking downtown Portland and Milwaukie. No word on how many miles of road could be built for that amount of cash. But hey, why worry? It's not your money:
Money for the project will come from the Federal Highway Transit Administration, lottery-backed bonds and local contributions from Metro, TriMet, Clackamas County, Portland and Milwaukie.
Oh. Maybe it is.
