I’m in a quandary
Help me out here. There is a large bus cruising around downtown these days that acts as a shuttle between downtown and the Woodburn factory stores. I see it often and it never appears to have anyone on board. Further, it seems to circle the block a lot as if it doesn’t have a place to park.
I am in a quandary here. While I don’t like the big bus rolling around downtown impacting noise levels, pollution levels and traffic levels just to get people to a shopping center, I would rather see 1 bus than 30 cars heading to Woodburn. Then again, who is using this service at $20 a person? People who wouldn’t drive there anyway? Oy, the things I think about on Tuesdays.
This will die a quick death… what do they think portland cyclists are itching to go and cruise the outlet mall for some deals (that actually don’t really equate significant savings… so you spent $120 and got an extra pair of boxers, how thrifty!)
Who is their target rider?
Downtown bums? No cash.
Downtown residents? no cash and or enough cash.
Suburban people? Huh, are they going to drive downtown, park, and ride on some clunky bus? Not likely.
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SE’sters… many seem to disdain such things.
NE’sters… they seem to fit the mold best, but I still doubt it… more likely just take the Subaru out there themselves.
NW’sters… none that I know.
Help me out, I can’t really identify the first time or repeat rider, except possibly a tourist. A lame tourist at that (hey honey, guess what we’re going to the outlet mall on a bus!!! tell the kids!!)
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this out – of course it’s for tourists. Native Oregonians forget how much visiting shoppers love to take advantage of the no-sales-tax status here.
Visitors staying in downtown Portland often don’t rent a car, so I bet the concierges down here set them up with trips to places like the outlet center.
Woodburn Company Stores actually ranks as one of the state’s top tourist destinations. From an older article:
The mall, on the west side of Interstate 5, has about 80 stores occupying 300,000 square feet of retail space. Each year, the mall draws more than 3 million visitors.
Only Spirit Mountain Casino attracts more tourists.
Here’s the link to the full text: http://news.statesmanjournal.com/sp_section_article.cfm?i=89161&s=2712
I remember reading something about this when they started the bus service. IIRC they were aiming at tourists — especially foreign tourists. Since the dollar is pretty much in the toilet overseas, shopping here is a big bargain, especially for people from Japan. Seems like most Japanese tour groups go to the Bay Area though, rather than Oregon.