From http://www.trimet.org/inside/ridership.htm :
Customers who ride only MAX differ from those who ride only the bus or
a combination of bus, MAX or Streetcar—both demographically and in
terms of how they use the transit system.
MAX-only riders
MAX-only riders take an average of nine trips a month on MAX,
primarily for recreation (40%) and less often for work (18%) or
shopping (16%). Nearly all (93%) MAX-only riders choose to ride even
though they have a car available to make the trip. Their primary
destination is likely to be downtown Portland. They are equally as
likely to live in Multnomah or Washington counties and have a median
household income of $56,900. Their average age is 39.5 years.
Bus-only and bus-and-rail riders
Bus-only and bus-and-rail riders take transit more often (21.4 trips
per month on average) and for different purposes than those who ride
only MAX.
-----
40% for Recreation? Does this mean that MAX is a "fun train" or that
it is so good that people will ALSO use it for off-peak trips? What
is the split for all trips (combined transit/non-transit)?
Also, on the demographics, MAX only riders (vs. bus(/MAX) riders) are
more likely to be married caucasian men with more education, employed
outside the home, drive alone to get there and use transit less. They
are 30% of TriMet's total riders.
http://www.trimet.org/inside/pdf/custprofile2002.pdf
Lastly, if you want some numbers (costs, riders... over time) there's
http://www.trimet.org/inside/pdf/busmaxstat.pdf
--Jason McHuff, Salem, OR; Happy 4th!
Jason McHuff wrote:
> From http://www.trimet.org/inside/ridership.htm :
>
> Customers who ride only MAX differ from those who ride only the bus or
> a combination of bus, MAX or Streetcar—both demographically and in
> terms of how they use the transit system.
>
> MAX-only riders
> MAX-only riders take an average of nine trips a month on MAX,
> primarily for recreation (40%) and less often for work (18%) or
> shopping (16%). Nearly all (93%) MAX-only riders choose to ride even
> though they have a car available to make the trip. Their primary
> destination is likely to be downtown Portland. They are equally as
> likely to live in Multnomah or Washington counties and have a median
> household income of $56,900. Their average age is 39.5 years.
>
> Bus-only and bus-and-rail riders
> Bus-only and bus-and-rail riders take transit more often (21.4 trips
> per month on average) and for different purposes than those who ride
> only MAX.
> -----
> 40% for Recreation? Does this mean that MAX is a "fun train" or that
> it is so good that people will ALSO use it for off-peak trips? What
> is the split for all trips (combined transit/non-transit)?
It doesn't surprise me. MAX just plain doesn't go anywhere.
Not anywhere I wanted to go when I lived in Portland. And it
only goes from two places, downtown Portland and the zoo. Unless
I lived in one of those noplaces, or one of the nicer communities
on the way, I wouldn't have any reason to want my BUS cut short
or diverted five miles out of the way just to be rewarded with an
extra fare and a transfer to MAX. I never actually used MAX
more than once or twice and I relied on foot, bike and mass
transit the entire time I stayed in Portland.
From a commuter's or shoppers standpoint MAX is good if you
live way out beyond one of the three termini and want to drive
or bus in and avoid the traffic further in towards downtown.
Other than that, it's an extremely rudimentary and slow system
that happens to connect alot of prime visitor hotspots, much
like the St Louis and New Orleans lines, but is supported by
a wonderful bus system. Without the bus system Portland would
be no more transit-friendly than Dallas with its rudimentary
starter system. (And Dallas has only
taken a few years to get to that point...)
The bus mall is what revitalized downtown Portland. That is
what disturbs me about the potential for conflict if they try
and make buses and light rail compete for space. It's like
tearing down most of the theaters on Portland's "Broadway".
> Also, on the demographics, MAX only riders (vs. bus(/MAX) riders) are
> more likely to be married caucasian men with more education, employed
> outside the home, drive alone to get there and use transit less. They
> are 30% of TriMet's total riders.
> http://www.trimet.org/inside/pdf/custprofile2002.pdf
What it tells me is they're counting on MAX riders to be more
vocal than bus riders, even though the less affluent bus riders
are paying the bills....
-BER
"brasil98@no-spam" wrote:
> I don't remember the exact options, but it seems like that particular
> question had the options, for purpose of trip, being a) work b)
> recreation. With those options, someone going to Mt. Hood Community
> College might choose "recreation".
Ouch! Depends on the school, I guess... and the student.