good article you guys. the next one should be max stations after dark.

Thanks, LifeAquatic...

I actually did a piece about MAX-after-dark awhile back, which you can find here:

http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2008…

It's not the definitive study of the subject, but it's a start. :-)

Just a point - You can get month passes (which is what I use) and a book of tickets (which is what my wife uses). So there shouldn't be issues there. Whole Paycheck, Freddies and Safeway sell them, among others.

Also, I would focus also on the Streetcar - Those ticket systems on the trains NEVER work.

Rishu73 -

Books of prepaid tickets are also a problem if the validators aren't working, or as documented in the video, stamp the wrong time on your prepaid ticket, rendering it expired before you even board a train.

It is true that regular riders can buy passes, or stock up on prepaid tickets. However, many riders are occasional riders or visitors, sometimes pass-holders bring friends or children who wouldn't otherwise have a pass.

If we're going to have single-fare vending at all, the machines ought to work reasonably reliably, and policies shouldn't create burdens for legitimate riders when machines fail.

Lastly, regarding the streetcar, there are indeed problems with those machines. However, because the machine is located on-board the streetcar, passengers (if asked to show fare), can simply point to the failed machine as proof.

One possible solution for MAX would be to add on-board machines, a payment method of last-resort, should platform-based machines fail. Then, the problem of worrying whether you'll be believed by a fare inspector goes away, because if the on-board machine isn't working, as with the streetcar, passengers can just point to it. Installing such machines would remove a bit of passenger room, though.

Excellent! Top notch.

Bob R. is one of Portland's best examples of why wonkiness matters, or at least should.

Great job public advocate Bob and reporter Matt.

Would have been better if you got tackled.

No more tackling Matt! :)

--Matt's wife

a) Thank you Mr, Richardson for your fine work. The only machine my debit card has worked in since last Summer has been at the Pioneer Square TriMet office. Thank you new employer for my TriMet pass!

b) Feel free to take the plum out of your mouth Mr. Pom, I mean Mr. Davis.

I am an occasional (2-3 times a week) bus & MAX rider, and I normally don't have tickets on me. The two machines at the stop where I board (downtown near Central Library, going east) have NEVER both been working. I have never seen the westernmost one working, and the easternmost machine, on the occasion it is working at all, is only accepting one form of payment. I have had several experiences where it cannot read either of my credit cards (with which I have no problems at grocery stores, etc.). Last week I had an experience where I was trying to buy a $2.30 fare: I gave it three dollar bills, at which point it said I still owed $0.30, and then the red dot came on meaning I couldn't put in any more money. So I pressed cancel and got none of my money back, nor a ticket, and had to ride out to Gateway worrying about the inspectors. I would say that only about 5-10% of the time do I have a smooth, flawless transaction with a MAX machine.

Great video, guys. Entertaining and very telling of this issue.

I covered it on my blog TriMetiquette. You can read about it here:

http://www.trimetiquette.com/trimet-max-ti…

Again, great stuff.

We always buy passes, so it is not a problem. But any time (and I do mean any time) I am trying to ride with someone who doesn't normally ride the machines are broken. This makes a TERRIBLE impression on people who are wondering if they might be able to use transit reliably. This is a MAJOR problem for TriMet.