carless relocation later this year (Portland, Beaverton: neighborhoods, live, vs)

[crisw]

The free transportation is only the MAX, and only in/near downtown. And it's scheduled to be axed from the current TriMet budget, so the program will be discontinued in September.

[Minervah]

The utilities typically included in the rental cost are water and garbage pickup. Heat is sometimes but not very often included at least in my experience.

The only free zone is within the downtown are but will cease pretty soon.

[Nell Plotts]

I think much of Portland's ride free zone will be eliminated for budget reasons.

[drum bro]

don't most people have monthly passes?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by drum bro

don't most people have monthly passes?

I wouldn't say most people. Monthly passes are expensive unless a person's employer subsidizes them. Taking the bus as often as I do, I see more cash fares being paid than anything else.

I am fortunate because I get an "Honored Citizen's" pass for a reasonable cost because I'm old.

[davemess10]

Yeah, I think you have to ride more than 5 days a week for the monthly pass to come out ahead. I have been really surprised how little of a price break you get for the monthly and yearly passes.

[davemess10]

Originally Posted by aajn1983

almost everywhere in the portland metro is do-able without a car, though some places are more difficult than others.

In the Portland Metro? I don't agree with this at all. I think there are parts of Portland proper that are kind of hard to live without a car, let alone the whole metro area. Then again I don't have 3 hours a day to spend sitting on a bus, while some do.

[aajn1983]

Originally Posted by davemess10

In the Portland Metro? I don't agree with this at all. I think there are parts of Portland proper that are kind of hard to live without a car, let alone the whole metro area. Then again I don't have 3 hours a day to spend sitting on a bus, while some do.

and if you'd read my entire post, you'd see that i noted some places are more difficult than others.

i said it was do-able, meaning it can be done.

not that it should.

it's also important to note that not all of us expect a bus stop to be placed right outside our front door.

[drum bro]

its a 2.5 mi walk or bike to the bus here, there was one a while ago close to my house. when i was in high school i had a dirt bike and i would ride it in the city at night and i didn't have any lights but there weren't any cars. i wish i had a motorcycle now that i could legally drive. my mom doesn't want me to have one. so many people ride them, my friend is getting his motorcycle license.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by aajn1983

and if you'd read my entire post, you'd see that i noted some places are more difficult than others.

i said it was do-able, meaning it can be done.

not that it should.

it's also important to note that not all of us expect a bus stop to be placed right outside our front door.

I don't think very many people would want that. It would be very noisy for one thing. But I agree with your do-able statement because it can certainly be done with the right planning. I live two blocks from one good bus route and 6 from another. That was definetly planned.

Originally Posted by davemess10

In the Portland Metro? I don't agree with this at all. I think there are parts of Portland proper that are kind of hard to live without a car, let alone the whole metro area. Then again I don't have 3 hours a day to spend sitting on a bus, while some do.

That's kind of exaggerating a bit. I take the bus everywhere and never have had to sit three hours on one to get someplace.

Originally Posted by davemess10

Yeah, I think you have to ride more than 5 days a week for the monthly pass to come out ahead. I have been really surprised how little of a price break you get for the monthly and yearly passes.

That is exactly right. For me, when I was taking the bus to and from work 5 days a week and often on evenings and weekends, it paid for itself. But any much less than that it doesn't pay to buy a pass. Buying books of tickets are more practical.