A series of peculiarities today.
This morning, I headed out to find the Oregon WorkSource Center that is located near PCC's Willow Creek Center. Supposedly, it's right off of the MAX line; but after circling around all the condominiums in the area...it just was showing up. Suspecting that it might be IN the PCC building, I passed by the "non-street" side on my way back to the MAX. Sure enough, WorkSource was hiding by the college's information desk. Long story short, I updated my work... 'profile', if you will, with what skills I have from painting (and added others I noticed). After faxing my last three pay stubs- which the unemployment office didn't have on record yet- I headed back to the MAX station.
Waiting for the MAX, it dawned on me that I kind of needed to use a restroom. But just as I started heading back to the Willow Creek Center, the train rang its warning to stay clear of the tracks. Home wasn't too far away to wait for a restroom. But...
With a short wait at the Hillsboro TC to catch the bus to Forest Grove; the passengers and I were ready to depart the transit center. But as we were ready to leave, the next MAX train was coming; as a warning light told us. So we waited, knowing the usual routine. But routine was broken as a man came cruising around the street corner, wearing headphones and smiling broadly, navigated his bike onto the MAX line to take a fast route to the ramp to catch the other MAX train.
Having not looked at the street, he probably didn't realize their was a MAX behind him; ready to crush him under its massive weight. My bus driver honked at the poor fellow, and the person operating that MAX train did their best to stop (which isn't really possible with all that weight and inertia). Well...standing right there in front of the bus; I watched every moment. This man probably realized that the bright lights behind him were pretty serious, and he _tried_ to turn unto the ramp that would get him onto the safety of the platform. As fate would have it, the back tire of the bicycle slid on the wet cement.
Being alert enough, the man did manage to jump Just far enough to get his torso from being hit by the wheels...and he even bent his legs into the air to avoid losing his kneecaps. After checking the situation of the man (who was on the opposite side of the MAX from the bus), the bus driver informed us that the man was alright. His bike was in no good shape though. A motorcycle police officer was there in no time at all. We were told that the man admitted his own folly; but we had to wait, regardless of the situation.
A police officer talked to my bus driver about what she saw (we saw the WHOLE thing...besides the last split second). The Trimet security was very quick to make it on scene to get everything cleared and to get us going. By the way, the Trimet supervisor is a really nice guy. I can't say the same for some passengers that were upset with the driver because she wasn't allowed to leave without the okay from her supervisor.
Needless to say, the bicycle was removed, and the MAX was go be on its way. We got the green to go. Thus so, the wonderful bus driver threw the bus in reverse to go around the rear of the MAX. Everyone that had been excitedly discussing their versions of the happenings were now yapping joyfully about being on the move again. And then...the bus wouldn't get out of reverse. With the supervisor still there, he checked the situation and couldn't solve it. With a mechanic called and on his way, the hearts of the passengers crushed as they mused over the days circumstances; the supervisor fiddled with the mechanics one more time. And you know what? Our fortune changed, and the bus started working properly again.
With the events behind us, commotion broke out about all the "amazing" things we witnessed first hand on the one bus that was in the right spot to witness it all. And we all lived happily ever after...
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