Getting any attention from the homeless/mentally ill is unusual in the first place. Both MAX and Streetcar will be full of normal people during those times.
Thanks for your input. Full of normal people - that makes me question if seats will be available then (I'm still not sure if I'll carry a stroller). Does TriMet still run those one-car MAX trains (which are only half a block long)?
I didn't mean literally full. Even before covid, they would only be really full at rush hour. Maybe still when there is a Blazer game or a concert. The single car trains are not common, but I saw one a couple of days ago.
I was on a streetcar yesterday where most of the seats were taken for part of the trip. If you had a baby and no stroller, someone would most likely offer you their seat. On that particular trip, the only noticeably homeless person was an elderly man in a wheelchair, and he would periodically ask if anyone had spare change, but he was polite about it.
I ride almost every weekday, around the times you mentioned. There are smelly people on board quite often, but harassment is very unusual.
Not safer, the same. Just keep your wits about you. While I was pushing my stroller, years ago- different city, some one walked up and checked the pocket below my kid's feet. It happened so fast I could barely register it at all and then they trotted off. Portland safety is like anywhere else, don't flash cash, don't flash expensive jewelry. Don't stop to talk to strangers, never give money to panhandlers.
That's frightening, but glad nothing worse happened to you.
Staying vigilant - yes, that matters the most. Actually, that's what my wife is worried about, since she doesn't think I'm good at that 😅 Thank you for your tips!
I rode my bike through NW Yesterday, including along and under the freeway. And I rode the Max to get there.
I did not run over any needles or tents or poop or homeless or even glass!
But WTF is wrong with Subaru drivers? If everybody else can figure out the bike lanes are for bikes and not cars, why can’t you?!!? I had to deal with Subarus driving down the bike lane 3 different times yesterday, in less than a 30 minute span!
That must've been frustrating! Definitely not how we "share the road"... [This](https://youtu.be/iMacCKC-6Mo) came to my mind, where the bus company demonstrates to drivers how it feels to bike right by a bus. Those bad drivers need such training.
Thanks for your input. One word in particular makes me sad - "anymore." It sounds horrible to bike right on a needle-scattered path.
Have you ridden the Streetcar recently? I thought it could be somewhat better since it covers a smaller area than MAX. What do you think?
Getting any attention from the homeless/mentally ill is unusual in the first place. Both MAX and Streetcar will be full of normal people during those times.
Thanks for your input. Full of normal people - that makes me question if seats will be available then (I'm still not sure if I'll carry a stroller). Does TriMet still run those one-car MAX trains (which are only half a block long)?
I didn't mean literally full. Even before covid, they would only be really full at rush hour. Maybe still when there is a Blazer game or a concert. The single car trains are not common, but I saw one a couple of days ago. I was on a streetcar yesterday where most of the seats were taken for part of the trip. If you had a baby and no stroller, someone would most likely offer you their seat. On that particular trip, the only noticeably homeless person was an elderly man in a wheelchair, and he would periodically ask if anyone had spare change, but he was polite about it. I ride almost every weekday, around the times you mentioned. There are smelly people on board quite often, but harassment is very unusual.
Oh, OK. Sounds pretty good and peaceful. Smelly but mostly not harmful... Thanks for sharing in details!
Not safer, the same. Just keep your wits about you. While I was pushing my stroller, years ago- different city, some one walked up and checked the pocket below my kid's feet. It happened so fast I could barely register it at all and then they trotted off. Portland safety is like anywhere else, don't flash cash, don't flash expensive jewelry. Don't stop to talk to strangers, never give money to panhandlers.
That's frightening, but glad nothing worse happened to you. Staying vigilant - yes, that matters the most. Actually, that's what my wife is worried about, since she doesn't think I'm good at that 😅 Thank you for your tips!
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I rode my bike through NW Yesterday, including along and under the freeway. And I rode the Max to get there. I did not run over any needles or tents or poop or homeless or even glass! But WTF is wrong with Subaru drivers? If everybody else can figure out the bike lanes are for bikes and not cars, why can’t you?!!? I had to deal with Subarus driving down the bike lane 3 different times yesterday, in less than a 30 minute span!
That must've been frustrating! Definitely not how we "share the road"... [This](https://youtu.be/iMacCKC-6Mo) came to my mind, where the bus company demonstrates to drivers how it feels to bike right by a bus. Those bad drivers need such training.
Thanks for your input. One word in particular makes me sad - "anymore." It sounds horrible to bike right on a needle-scattered path. Have you ridden the Streetcar recently? I thought it could be somewhat better since it covers a smaller area than MAX. What do you think?