[soleri]

It's going to be interesting to see how this ultimately all works out. Increasingly, people want to be in central Portland. They also want to avoid the hassle and expense of parking. Buses may be downscale but they actually move fairly quickly (compare and contrast to the MAX). Over time, service may improve as ridership necessarily grows.

Riding the bus is a bit like going to a dive bar and drinking PBR. You want authentic? That's the bus. By contrast, the streetcar is like going to a pleasant coffee bar in the Pearl. I know why people prefer it but they're really missing something, too. Gentrification is inevitable and Portland is benefiting in tangible ways from it. But once all the grit is scrubbed away, Portland will seem much more sanitized and boring. Enjoy the bus while you still can.