April 18
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April 11
Today we rode the Portland Streetcar from 21st and Lovejoy. We decided to get off at Couch and walk over to Whole Foods. Their brick-oven cheese pizza is delicious! A short walk over to Glisan and and a shorter bus ride to 20th dropped us at school with a luxurious 4 minutes to spare.
April 4 – Occupy TriMet
Yesterday was Occupy TriMet, so the TriMet Wednesday crew spent their hour handing out these fliers on the MAX and bus. We were far too busy to take pictures, so instead you can spend your time looking at this flyer and thinking about what you can do to help (HINT: Bottom of second page).
28 de marzo – ¡Metro Miércoles en La Ciudad de México!
Stevie has always been a transit lover, and this photo from the Washington, D.C. Metro in 2002 makes it obvious that the subway has always been special to him.
Washington, D.C. Metro - April 2002
So when Stevie and his family traveled to Mexico City for Spring Break, the Metro system was an attraction of itself. This system was constructed beginning in the 1960′s, and its 280 miles of passenger track make it the second largest subway system in North America. There are eleven lines that run on routes throughout the city, as well as a twelfth line that will be opening soon.
Ticket Cost: 3 pesos (24¢)
Riding the Metro is a clean, safe, and efficient way to get around the city. The only drawback is the incredible crowds during rush hour. Trains run very frequently, and stations are clearly marked with signage for transfers and directions. My family and I found it a bit uncomfortable bringing our luggage on the train from the airport, but apart from that the only problems we encountered were crowds.
The mechanics of these subway trains are quite interesting. They are, of course, electric but the unusual thing is their wheels. Only one of the lines (and not one we rode on) runs on traditional rails. The rest have wheels similar to buses, with big rubber tires running along guides.
When the train pulls into the station you have to be pushy, especially if you are on a crowded platform attempting to board a jam packed train. The doors are generally only open for about ten seconds, and they are not nearly as forgiving as those on the MAX light rail. Once you’re on board the ride is relatively smooth and one advantage of the crowd is that you are often too closely packed to fall over. If you are lucky enough to find an available seat, that makes for a far nicer ride.
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Apart from the Metro, there are also a variety of bus service options.
The four Metrobús lines are a great way to get around if you’re not in the mood to take the underground. These buses run in dedicated lanes and stop at raised platforms for level boarding. We took the brand new Línea 4 on our way back to the airport and were delighted to find that these buses featured luggage racks.
Cost: 5 pesos (39¢)
Mexico City also features a network of electric trolleybuses with overhead power. We passed by Corredor Cero Emisiones and snapped a few photos of these neat buses, but we didn’t get a chance to ride them.
Ticket Cost: 4 pesos (31¢)
So… What I have mentioned (as well as one light rail line) makeup the solid part of Mexico City’s awesome transportation system. There are many, many other privately owned buses that run on routes throughout the metropolis and provide yet another means of getting around.
And if you are in a hurry, or not wanting to deal with crowds, you can always take a taxi. There certainly are plenty of them around. However, that will no doubt cost at least 20 times the price of taking public transit.
For shorter distances, walking is definitely the way to go. Lots of streets are dedicated for pedestrians only. Many people also choose to bike, and there is a great bike sharing program called Ecobici.
Anyway, those are your options for getting around Mexico City. Driving is highly disrecommended.
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- April 2002
I hope you get to visit this city someday. It really is an exciting and interesting place.
March 21
Yesterday was another day downtown, and when we got off the 17 and there were no buses in sight, we decided to walk over to Pioneer Square. We had a jolly time watching the KGW studio, and Will was even on the news for a second or two. We also picked up some schedules at the TriMet ticket office. And by the time we were done it was time to head back to school.
March 14
Our deepest apologies for the great delay in posting; the past week has been busy and hectic. We hope that the lack of TriMet Wednesday content has not affected your life too greatly.
Last week we traveled to Montgomery Park for the second time. We had no lunchtime commitments, so we were able to pop inside and explore the building a little. Soon we found ourselves in the magnificent atrium, and lo and behold a sustainability conference was taking place. We were offered free cookies and all sorts of knick-knacks from Office Depot (the sponser of the event). When our bellies were full of sugary treats and our complimentary tote bags were full of office supplies, we exited the building and caught the 17 back to school. And it was our first time riding on a Flxible Metro on TriMet Wednesday too!
