Sunday, August 31, 2008

INSTANT REPLAY!

My all time favorite blogs, both of which I make sure there is always activity being posted, are:

TRIMETOPERATORS, and BUSEMERGENCY, the latter I am actually a co-moderator so I extend extra effort. As a co-moderator I founded the Bus Emergency You Tube site and Bus Emergency video blog, which has the best collection of bus crash videos I have ever seen on the entire web, and that's saying a lot. This is one of my videos for Bus Emergency:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/trimetoperators/

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bus_Emergency







Thursday, August 28, 2008

AL SINGS THE LEAD IN THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

http://rosswrede.blogspot.com/2008/08/al-margulies-to-sing-national-anthem-at.html



BUS STOP SIGN SAFELY RECOVERED!

http://rosswrede.blogspot.com/2008/08/bus-stop-sign-recovered-and-safely.html

THE MANAGERS RESPOND!

EDITORIAL INTENDED FOR PORTLAND TRANSPORT

GOT BLOCKED FOR SOME REASON:



http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-little-editorial-that-never-made-it.html



TRIMET LIKES TO CONFUSE ITS RIDERS

AL EXPLAINS WHY YOU NEED TO FOLD UP BABY STROLLERS

An elderly light-rail rider gets slammed

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/andy_parker/index.ssf?/base/metro_south_news/1219541111153340.xml&coll=7

ROAD RAGE AHEAD




One of Dirk's recent signs that has yet to see widespread useNewsbreakers: Dirk Ritter, Road Sign InventorGRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (CAP) - If you drive a car, chances are pretty good that you've been stuck in traffic created by road construction. And if there was no police detail to help you figure out the maze of cones and barrels, chances are pretty good a well-designed road sign helped you find your way.Chances are also pretty good that 71-year-old architectural engineer Dirk Ritter invented that road sign

PORTLAND MERCURY-amy ruiz, pretty decent article

http://www.portlandmercury.com/news/fare_check/Content?oid=881293

ROSE QUARTER NOT FOR BIKES AND BUSES!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

ABUSER OF TRIMET WHEELCHAIR RAMP SERVICES?

BUS DRIVERS PETITION TO KEEP BIKES OUT OF ROSE QUARTER

http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/Blog?blog=41935&oid=881338

FARE INSPECTORS CUT IN HALF

FAVORITE PASSENGERS

AL CONTINUES FIGHTING THE DARKSIDE

Monday, August 25, 2008

FIRST AID KITS FOR BUSES











I bought this little kit of first aid supplies at Goodwill for $1.50. I think it would be a good idea if every pouch had one of these in them.

INCIDENT AT BTC

INCIDENT AT WILLOW CREEK

Sunday, August 24, 2008

GOOD READS

http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2008/08/good-read-82408.html

Hollow Log: train broken, look for finger

Hollow Log: train broken, look for finger

TAKE A RIDE ON THE REAL 72

TAKE A RIDE ON THE 72-trimet tvland

ARE THESE BICYLISTS ACTING RESPONSIBLY?

SOON TO BE FAMOUS BUS OPERATORS

MORE EVIDENCE FOR BUS VS RAIL RAPID TRANSIT

BILL ALLOWS AMERICANS TO HAVE CAKE-EAT IT

Rep. Rick Renzi awaits the final vote of his bill to allow Americans to commence with eating their cake.
House Bill Allows Americans To Have Cake, Eat It

WASHINGTON (CAP) - Today the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that would make it legal for American citizens to have their cake as well as eat it. Proponents of the bill are calling it "a great day for cake lovers."

"I like having cake," said Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) who sponsored H.R. 2480, "but I also like eating cake. Americans are a priveleged people. Why can't we have both? I say we can, and we should."

[CONTINUED]

NEWS 8/24/08

http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2008/08/news.html

HERE COMES JOE!


Joeredo
Uploaded by vids4us

ANNOYING PASSENGERS

Saturday, August 23, 2008

BOB AND WIFE VISIT AL

THE INFAMOUS ROSS WREDE NOW HAS HIS OWN BLOG!

http://rosswrede.blogspot.com/

CREATIVE GRAFFITI

SUNSET BOB GETS DOWN!

http://sunsetbob.blogspot.com/2008/08/bob-gets-down.html

AL MISSES HIS CHANCE TO TALK TO MICHAEL MOORE!

MY VIDEO WAS ACCEPTED BUT I DID NOT REALIZE THAT I HAD TO RESPOND TO A MESSAGE THAT WAS SENT TO ANOTHER YOU TUBE E-MAIL SITE!! Here is the video question I posed to MICHAEL MOORE and here is the response I got from MEET THE BLOGGERS!

My name is Ofelia Yanez, and I am the Production Assistant for 'Meet The Bloggers.' We have viewed your video, and are considering for the show, but we need an original video file. Could you please provide us with this? You can contact me here or at the following:


ROSS RACER

Friday, August 22, 2008

TRIMET CRACKS DOWN ON ILLEGAL BICYCLE PARKING

http://rosswrede.blogspot.com/2008/08/big-crackdown-at-sunset-tc_23.html



























WES ART

TUALITIN NOT HAPPY ABOUT WES NOISE

WES NEWS

FARE SCREW UPS THE NORM AT TRIMET

WILLOW CREEK UPDATE-8/20/08

ROSS WREDE REPORTING!

http://rosswrede.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-buddy-and-blogging-mentor-al.html















































































Two of Merlo's Finest
!

JOE FLEENOR: TRIMET'S NEWEST MASTER OPERATOR

AL MARGULIES: THE MASTER OF THE 76 LINE (FOR ANOTHER WEEK AT LEAST)



Wednesday, August 20, 2008

ROGER GATES DEAD!

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

BOB IN SEATTLE SEARCHING FOR A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM

ATTEMPT TO CENSOR SUNSET BOB'S BULLETIN BOARD!




















This picture of Sunset Bob's highly praised and award winning bulletin board was taken at approximately 4:30 PM Tuesday August 19th and illustrates an attempt to silence Sunset Bob and bring TRIMET personnel back into the "stone age" where only "official" information will be allowed to filter to employees.

MOVEMENT HAS BEGUN TO RENAME PLAZA AFTER SUNSET BOB

http://rosswrede.blogspot.com/2008/08/movement-has-begun-to-rename-plaza.html



















Tuesday, August 19, 2008

WHY I HATE THE NEW UNIFORMS

WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO US?

BIG NEWS STORY!

http://portlandoregontransitnews.blogspot.com/2008/08/bus-stop-sign-turns-up-missing-on-62.html

BOB IN SEATTLE CHECKING OUT BUS SERVICE THERE

http://sunsetbob.blogspot.com/2008/08/bob-in-seattle-checking-out-bus-service.html

I CAN'T SEE!

I WANT THIS OLD ABANDONED SIGN
















Sitting on top of this electrical panel now for several months is this old ticket machine sign.
I REALLY WANT THIS ABANDONED SIGN!
I sent a letter to Peggy Hansen asking for permission to take it!

SUNSET BOB'S BULLETIN BOARD!





















Last time Bob went on vacation someone completely ruined his bulletin board.
SO FAR NO ONE HAS TOUCHED IT!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

IMPORTANT!

http://mystuff-alvin.blogspot.com/2008/08/death-of-internet.html

http://mystuff-alvin.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-world-order.html

SUNSET BOB ALIVE!

SUNSET BOB-the forgotten files, bob continues tix machine disgrace

YOU THINK THE 72 IS BUSY...at least this transit agency has enough buses

UNBELIEVABLE!

TRIMET BUSES SHOULD HAVE THIS FEATURE

THE FORGOTTEN FILES-the kid must pay!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

SUNSET BOB-the forgotten files

BIZZARE WALK SIGNAL

SUNSET BOB,previously misplaced files!

GREAT SUNSETS

REPORT ON SUNSET BOB

SOME SORT OF TRANSIT VOUCHER?





















This woman kept getting on my bus presenting me with the above document stating that it authorized her to ride TRIMET buses. Being the laid back driver I am I let her on. After about a week though I started wondering about this document so I asked her to let me take a picture of it. I NEVER SAW HER AGAIN!

INTERNAL BUS TEMP PEAK



















Digitally recorded on the 62 line 8/15/08

113 DEGREES!

SUNSET BOB SETBACK

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

FAMOUS OPERATORS

FAVORITE PASSENGERS

STRANGE BDS MESSAGES

BIG NEWS STORY!
























Neighborhood residents rejoiced on Monday with the early completion of the TriMet bus stop sign replacement project at northbound Murray Blvd. and Linda Ln. “Since the old sign has been missing for the past two years, church service attendance has suffered.” says Rev. Larry Falwell of the nearby Village Baptist Church. “ The temporary sign they put up had been there so long that the letters were totally faded and unreadable. Most parishioners and many bus drivers had no idea a bus stop was located there.”


Funding for this project was part of TriMet's new green line MAX expansion. When no one at the agency could figure out what a bus stop in Washington County had to do with the MAX line, TriMet officials decided to “fast track” the replacement and finish one full year ahead of the scheduled Fall 2009 target date.


Of course a project of this enormous scope involved some controversy. A comprehensive environmental impact statement was required. Many activists who are now opposing replacing the Interstate bridge were on board early insisting that a toll should be required to pay for the new sign. Their objections subsided when they were reminded that a fare is actually required to board a bus in that part of the city. A few rouge bus drivers were also grumbling, saying that they were turning in yellow cards regarding the missing sign and felt that TriMet was ignoring them. One driver thought that a road supervisor could have spent five minutes several months ago and put up a new temporary sign. If only life could really be that simple.


On a related note, TriMet also announced on Monday that a new division of the Transit Police has been established to battle theft of TriMet property. Since the transit agency has practically eradicated fare evasion and rowdy behavior on the system, manpower can be utilized for two goals: Prevention and recovery of stolen bus stop signs and to curb the alarming increase of bus operators taking rubber bands home with them.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

ATU 757

MORE VIOLENCE ON MAX

http://www.kptv.com/video/17149934/index.html?rss=ptl1&psp=video

THEY ARE TRYING TO BREAK THE UNIONS BY LIES!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxVe5wF8ob4

BOB KEEPS WATCH ON SUNSET TRANSIT CENTER

THEY CAN KEEP THEIR CLEANING SUPPLIES

FAMOUS OPERATORS

GET THE TOW TRUCK

BLACKBERRY DAY AT SUNSET TRANSIT CENTER

RAES-4

RAES-3

RAES PART 2

Saturday, August 9, 2008

BOB HEADS TO RAES

FAVORITE PASSENGERS

BEAVERTON CLOSES HALL BLVD

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO THIS SEAT?

ON THE JOB WITH SUNSET BOB

FAMOUS OPERATORS

CREATIVE GRAFFITI

AL RESPONDS TO THE ROSS INCIDENT

ROSS RESPONDS TO TRIMET


On Thursday August 7, 2008 I had a short meeting with managers Lyle Pereira and Greg Larsen at Merlo Garage. I learned that managers at TriMet do not any authority to issue or initiate exclusions to unruly and dangerous passengers. Only road supervisors and transit police can do so.


In my case, where a individual called TriMet customer service on July 31, 2008 not once, not twice, but three times within a one hour period and threatened myself, the bus operator, there is no policy at TriMet which allows a process to try and remove such people from the transit system.


TriMet would rather have someone act out on his threats and allow an incident to happen rather than take a more proactive approach and prevent it. TriMet is gambling that nothing bad will take place. Is that a chance that should be taken? I don't think so.


In conversations with Lyle, this particular individual has made a promise not to ride my particular bus but has not been excluded from the system. I am expected to pick up this person if he is waiting at a stop and make a call to dispatch only if he acts up. Judging from his prior behavior, I don't know if he can be trusted to stay away from my bus and not stay out trouble. I was offered a open 43 route for the remainder of the Summer sign up if I wished to avoid the chance of meeting up with this individual. While that offer is still on the table, I would rather continue doing the 62 route. I feel I shouldn't have to hide from anyone while performing my job duties.


I also feel that this person also poses a threat to all TriMet personnel since he has also screamed and cursed at other drivers and customer service this past week. I also feel that this person has not been made accountable for his actions. Simply saying that he is sorry and will stay away from my bus is not enough. As a bus operator, I am so closely watched under the microscope for the tiniest of transgressions, it is disheartening to once again learn that TriMet will allow almost any kind of behavior from a passenger, even allowing threats to be made to the front line workers. Everyone should be accountable for their actions, including passengers.


As a private citizen, I would be very uncomfortable to witness this kind of behavior directed toward a bus operator. I could expect this person to go after me or another passenger if he is allowed to treat a bus operator this way. Is it any wonder that the public has questions regarding the safety of the TriMet transit system. The bad guys ride the bus along with the MAX.


I would like to put this entire episode behind me, but on Friday August 8, 2008, the first day after I was assured that this individual would not be riding my bus, he was back waiting at his usual stop. Since I was told that I was required to let him board, I did so and fortunately he kept his mouth shut and did not cause any problems....this time. To him, a promise means nothing and I should not be surprised that if he has no respect for me, why would he keep his word with the Merlo Station Manager, Lyle Pereira. Once again, I don't see any accountability.


In conclusion, I will continue to perform my job duties to high professional standards, knowing that most of my colleagues will do the same. It is sad that TriMet's high level management fails to appreciate the topnotch workforce they have.

THE ROSS INCIDENT-THE PASSENGER LIES

Monday, August 4, 2008