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"I hate to say this, but I'm almost certain you haven't thought this through from the other side. Which I believe is bad, because it comes off as more entitled than concerned.
Bike riders aren't always, or even often, people with easy alternatives. People who are quick to point out that there alternate routes for bicyclists to take haven't thought it through enough to realize that it's rarely as easy as that. The only bike lanes parallel to a MAX line are the I-205 path between Parkrose and Clackamas, and along the 26 between Sylvan and Sunset (which in and of itself warrants biking from Washington Park). In Washington County, there are no immediate alternatives along the unique routing of the MAX through there, and in East County, the nearest alternative is Burnside/Stark/Glisan, all of which are dangerous choices. There simply is not an abundance of easy alternatives for bikers to hop onto along every step of the MAX line.
Also, you are misinformed by thinking that people can use those alternatives all over the system. What about those commuters traveling large distances? Those transferring off the MAX from one place to another? Ones whose trip involves a long bike ride where there is no bus or MAX line available? It's not as simple as it sounds; for example, I have a friend who uses the MAX from downtown, line 62 and then bikes west down Scholls Ferry for a couple of miles to get to their destination. Are you insisting that person walk for the sake of your own space and leg room?
And honestly, consider your demands. You are demanding that for the sake of more space and comfort, that MAX riders uproot their entire commute or walk for miles. You accuse them of imposing on your commute simply for existing on your train, which they have every right to. However, you are imposing that they be banned from using the train for your sake of entitlement and comfort.
That, in my book, is a lot more selfish than bike riders riding MAX, and intentionally closed minded as well.
3 comments:
My comment:
"I hate to say this, but I'm almost certain you haven't thought this through from the other side. Which I believe is bad, because it comes off as more entitled than concerned.
Bike riders aren't always, or even often, people with easy alternatives. People who are quick to point out that there alternate routes for bicyclists to take haven't thought it through enough to realize that it's rarely as easy as that. The only bike lanes parallel to a MAX line are the I-205 path between Parkrose and Clackamas, and along the 26 between Sylvan and Sunset (which in and of itself warrants biking from Washington Park). In Washington County, there are no immediate alternatives along the unique routing of the MAX through there, and in East County, the nearest alternative is Burnside/Stark/Glisan, all of which are dangerous choices. There simply is not an abundance of easy alternatives for bikers to hop onto along every step of the MAX line.
Also, you are misinformed by thinking that people can use those alternatives all over the system. What about those commuters traveling large distances? Those transferring off the MAX from one place to another? Ones whose trip involves a long bike ride where there is no bus or MAX line available? It's not as simple as it sounds; for example, I have a friend who uses the MAX from downtown, line 62 and then bikes west down Scholls Ferry for a couple of miles to get to their destination. Are you insisting that person walk for the sake of your own space and leg room?
And honestly, consider your demands. You are demanding that for the sake of more space and comfort, that MAX riders uproot their entire commute or walk for miles. You accuse them of imposing on your commute simply for existing on your train, which they have every right to. However, you are imposing that they be banned from using the train for your sake of entitlement and comfort.
That, in my book, is a lot more selfish than bike riders riding MAX, and intentionally closed minded as well.
Think it over."
I stopped reading when I hit the words "Guest Columnist".
I probably should have, too.
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