Nick Budnicks article on fare policy at the Tribune

Read the full article HERE!
 In an attempt to cut down on confrontations, TriMet says its bus drivers should no longer deny fare evaders access to the bus, but the new policy — including a clause allowing partial payment — is causing confusion among its own drivers..........

Although the new document is dated last month, word has only lately been spreading in blogs and in Trimet circles. Al Margulies, a retired bus driver who writes about TriMet on his blog, likes the idea. Assaults on drivers have been an increasing concern for TriMet employees.
The new direction "is no more kicking people off for nonpayment of fare," he said. Because it would cut down on passenger-driver confrontations, the new policy "is a good one as far as I'm concerned."

And an anonymous TriMet bus driver's blog, From the Driver Side, states "It won't be long before the riding public rises up and refuses to pay at all. Why should it? This flip-flopping fare policy makes us all look silly, from management to operators."