People want to use this, just not deal with the bureaucracy involved with it. It would have been much smarter to just leave it open for public use and have one of the numerous BTC's camera's aimed right at the facility.
As all government seems to do, they made it too complicated for people to bother with.
No - if they did that then it wouldn't be nearly as secure. The way the current system works they know who exactly has entered the cage (you have to show a DL when you activate your card).
ReplyDeleteIMO, I would instead like to see them improve by offering bike link cards at Fred Meyer/etc.
Hell Max- they don't have that sort of high tech security for the auto park&rides! Why are bikes so damn special?
ReplyDeleteUnlike cars, bike infrastructure is cheap, environmentally friendly, and contributes to our population's health.
ReplyDeleteHow much would it cost to build a similar facility for 100 cars?
What I'm saying Max is that they did not need to OVER COMPLICATE it.
ReplyDeleteThey do have the snack shop guy there selling them, if you can go there when he's selling.
ReplyDeleteOverall, this could be another use for electronic fare cards. As long as someone had registered, they could possibly pay just like paying a fare. But an upside to BikeLink (at least to some) is that the cards are good at other facilities around the country.
If Trimet could get its head out of its ass for once they could update their fare collection systems with some sort of smart card and make it usable for the bike thing, bus fare, and start charging for park and rides!
ReplyDeleteYou mean like Seattle, Vancouver BC*, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Calgary*, London....and SOOOO many other "Technology Advanced" cities!
ReplyDeleteTriMet just keeps pushing the idea out farther and farther, when do so would save them money, provide better ridership numbers, and they could simplify the fare system. Or even overhaul it, like tap on tap off the MAX for distance based fares, for example.
* Cities Smart Cards forthcoming
From what I've heard, TriMet doesn't want to jump into a fare system that becomes technologically "old". But they are going to start replacing the bus fareboxes with ones that are smart card-compatible. As for charging at park & rides, there's other issues to deal with besides payment; parking meters are easily available.
ReplyDeleteTriMet doesn't want to jump into a fare system that becomes technologically "old".
ReplyDelete~~~>Are you trying to be funny or what? Trimet uses the OLDEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE! They are still in the stone age when it comes to fare collection so your comment is absurd.
As for charging at park & rides, there's other issues to deal with besides payment; parking meters are easily available
~~~>You're missing the whole fucking point! The 'card' will be interchangeable for bus fares, parking fares, bike and ride, etc etc...like Hong Kong.
Al: I think it depends on what the problem they're trying to solve is.
ReplyDeleteAre they seeking to provide covered bike parking? Then yes, it's overkill.
Are they trying to provide secure bike parking (like the bike lockers)? Then I can't think of another way to do it that costs less and is as secure.
Is the idea that by providing secure overnight parking, they will solve last-mile problems for some commuters?
It seems though that whatever they are trying to accomplish the usage shows that it doesn't seem to be working. I guess that could be lack of need, or simply lack of getting the word out.