http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2009/02/19/fareless_square_may_be_on_the

“Ever check on how much Tri-Met employees make?”

~~>A full time bus driver makes $47k a year. Which is nothing but a lower middle class lifestyle. The reason that looks so good is that there are SO MANY FRIGGEN JOBS THAT PAY SLAVE WAGES!

Bus drivers have more health problems+ die younger than the general population.

It aint no ‘sweet’ deal;.

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“Where's the mayor on this one?”

~~>Hanging out in the bathroom. (sorry, couldn’t help myself)

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“Sschting, are you really criticizing Tri-Met for paying their employees equitably?”

~~>thank you Graham!

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“Have they been laying off employees, I haven't heard?”

~~>70 driver positions are getting whacked, dunno about middle management

…………………………….

“I think that bus ticket prices need to be standardized. Get rid of the zones. Two bucks for all you can ride four hours. if you are going to have fareless zones, enforce them.”

~>AMEN BROTHER!

……………………..

I’ve never been a fan of fareless square. I can’t tell you how many times I would hear:

WAAAIT UPPPP!

I pull over the bus, they hop on, say FARELESS, and they go ONE FRIGGEN STOP!

Fareless square is an idea left over from the 70’s.

It clogs the system and pushes out people that actually need to GET OUT of fareleess square.

Some buses are so full of fareless people that fare paying people can’t get on.

And for those of you skeptical that TRIMET is making this up, check what’s going on in Seattle!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29251064/

The entire countries transit systems are falling apart.

So much for OBAMA’S stimulus. USELESS!

There are people that don’t live in PORTLAND that are about to be left stranded.

These people have been riding TRIMET for years but are now going to be abandoned by TRIMET.

Its an obscenity for people to be riding FREE right now while others can’t get service and more have to pay top dollar to get to Portland.

END FARE LESS SQUARE NOW!

AND, TO QUOTE NUMBER SIX:

I think that bus ticket prices need to be standardized. Get rid of the zones. Two bucks for all you can ride four hours. if you are going to have fareless zones, enforce them.

The fair thing to do is end fareless.