Comments on: Turnstiles

By: Eric L

Eric L — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:11:27 +0000

What I don’t understand is how do the fare inspectors doing random inspections know that those using the swipe cards have swiped?

By: John Charles Wilson

John Charles Wilson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:47:59 +0000

Portland used to have the honour system on *buses* too (much as I propose and is common in Europe). They also used to have a lot more frequent fare inspections. The first stop outside Fareless Square was always a huge one for the fare inspectors, but they could show up *anywhere*. Added bonus: people were less likely to cause trouble knowing the fare inspectors could show up on any bus at any time….

By: John Charles Wilson

John Charles Wilson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:44:25 +0000

True, but since it would only apply after the 3rd time in a rolling 4-year period, I doubt if anyone really forgets their wallet that often….

More importantly, it would be a serious enough deterrent that even with a 1 or 2 percent chance of getting caught, people wouldn’t risk it….

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:59:22 +0000

(referring to the platform door – if you wanted to see the idea in action)

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:56:27 +0000

The monorail has something simialr (but only half-height)

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:51:22 +0000

Not exactly what I meant but a great suggestion! That would prevent accessing the platform from the tracks and objects or people falling onto the tracks. Seems easier and more beneficial to implement than my suggestion.

I’ve never heard of a system implementing platform doors for at grade street level systems before. It might not work in the transit tunnel shared with buses but we won’t need them if access is already controlled.

What I was trying to describe was a retractible barricade which is probably more suited in stopping cars and trucks than people who would climb over them.

By: justin

justin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:03:17 +0000

To me the criteria of a safe transit system is something I would be comfortable with having my wife and baby ride alone on. From my occasional bus use that would not be the case on many routes, especially south of I-90.

Outright violence is not too common but rude passengers, drunks/homeless, creepy staring types, loud gangbanger wannabes etc. In our Europe travels it felt like everyone took transit, here off peak that is not usually the case. It’s just not worth it to put up with this type of crap.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:39:55 +0000

You mean something like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platform_screen_doors

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:30:35 +0000

Thanks Sam. I’ve got ‘em programmed already, I just can’t get the signal down here in Kent for some reason. Everywhere I’ve lived in the south end they come in fuzzy, but here, complete static. They also use 452.275 (East county and route 41), and 453.375 (South county and the 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 for some reason) and 452.350 (supervisors). Oh and 453.525 (tunnel control).

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:44:27 +0000

Or if you want to go all out, you could install a security gate like the ones they use at the DSTT entrances. They will block the track until a train comes then it will open and let it through. But that’s too complicated and probably not worth it.

By: Oran Viriyincy

Oran Viriyincy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:39:34 +0000

My bus got stuck trying to leave Kingsgate P&R. It was a hybrid articulated 255 to Brickyard. It’s only a layer of compacted snow a few millimeters thin and the bus couldn’t get any traction. Having the exit be a very slight incline to the street doesn’t help either. It took me 30 minutes to walk home with 2 other people. They were good company.

I don’t have any snow removal tools other than a small shovel. The rest of my family are still at the store so I used one of my Mass Transit Now signs to plow the driveway for them. About 3″ here in Kingsgate. They might have a hard time getting off Capitol Hill.

Tomorrow’s lows are forecast to be above freezing. Hopefully the snow won’t be sticking around for very long.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:24:32 +0000

Craig, the main frequencies that are being used right now are 452.725, 452.650, 452.375, and 452.650 if you can get them.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:08:39 +0000

I’ve got my scanner going too. (Can’t pick up Metro here as I’m in one of the many radio black holes.) There are blocking accidents everywhere and many roads are just being closed because sanding crews weren’t ready. Glad I don’t have to go anywhere until tomorrow.

It’s supposed to turn to rain by midnight but we all know how that goes.

By: Matt the Engineer

Matt the Engineer — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:06:20 +0000

Yeah, I measure a bit over 3″ of snow sticking on the top of Queen Anne, and still snowing heavily. Tomorrow morning will be interesting.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:44:44 +0000

Right now one coordinator has over 60 calls in the que to talk to her. Presumably, many of those drivers are stuck. 3rd Ave southbound blocked. Buses rerouted to 2nd. I’d hate to be waiting for a bus right now. It’s a total meltdown out there.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:31:04 +0000

There’s a dusting of snow on the ground right now. From my scanner: Just now Metro cancelled the route 44. They are telling routes 43 and 49 to take the route 70 wire. Buses stuck up on Beacon Hill….

Simply amazing

By: poncho

poncho — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:56:19 +0000

the problem is fare inspection will likely be rare especially when they start cutting costs.

fare inspection on MAX in portland is rare and unheard of on the portland streetcar. a lot of problems have been associated with those riders that evade fares.

regardless of turnstiles or honor system, Link and the entire transit network need strict enforcement of fare evasion and crimes within the system. you know who is a lost tourist and who is taking advantage of the honor system. you dont want to let the trains get out of control with roudy people and a culture of not paying fares… there has to be a sense of law and order and people need to feel safe and unthreatened at all times.

also i hope they can keep the DSTT stations nice and clean as they have been since they opened almost 20 years ago. i have always been impressed with the appearance of the DSTT stations. while i dont like the new ads in the stations, my hope is the revenue from them will cover the increased station maintainance costs of having the stations open much longer than now.

By: Matt the Engineer

Matt the Engineer — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:31:15 +0000

90 days in jail for not paying a fare? Now that will certainly bump up costs. (“What are you in for?” “I knifed a guy for looking at me wrong. You?” “I forgot my wallet at home”)

By: Kaleci

Kaleci — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:27:32 +0000

Katie,
I’ve made up for you not getting checked. My pass was checked on Sounder the last five of the seven times I rode in the last two weeks.
Kaleci

By: John Jensen

John Jensen — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:04:32 +0000

Maybe “exceptional” is a little over the top. Apparently LA did a study and found that 5% of riders evaded fares.