It will be interesting to see how the new light rail turns out. Trains seem to be doing quite well in other cities.

I like to work on the bus so I’m done with the mundane and can be more effective when I get to the office. I have a sprint card that even has good enough transmission for video feed. I do my checkbook balancing, junk email, answer emails all the while I’m day trading. I usually get one trade in while on the bus!
This morning I drove and it took me over 45 mintues, I didn’t get my email, banking or trading done. 99 was packed and that’s how I get to Belltown by car. Grrrr.

I love the bus and my route. Since I use it as a good working time, and have for 3 years, it’s the only way to fly!

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

We moved from Portland which has always had a very efficient bus system… not to speak of light rail that really works and now streetcars down town in the residential areas. Too bad Vancouver opted out of light rail early on, now they waste time and money sitting in traffic going too and from Portland.

Yes, Seattle Metro needs to get real about mass transit. There is no way we will be able to build enough highways to accommodate all our travel needs by auto.

My wife and I also live in Redmond, but I work in Monroe, while my wife works in Carnation. Ever tried taking a bus to do either of those commutes? Ha! Sure, it’s possible, but only if you have 2-4 hours per day to wait, ride, transfer, wait some more, ride, transfer, etc. My wife and I both can get to and from work in less than 30 minutes (reverse commute both directions). It’s a no-brainer.

You want to know why most people take their cars instead of the bus? Several reasons:

1) Even driving their own car in rush-hour traffic, they can get to and from work faster than if they were on the bus.

2) Even if it takes slightly longer than the bus would, it’s still preferable to drive one’s own car due to the convenience and comforts not available if using the bus (can make trips to the store after work, more comfortable seat, not too hot or cold, can choose radio station, etc).

3) No standing outside in wet, cold, windy weather.

I’m personally all for buses and use them whenever it’s convenient (like when I had jury duty downtown Seattle, or need to get the airport in the early morning and don’t want my wife to be stuck in northbound 405 traffic after dropping me off). But let’s get real–if you’re not close to a main line, or have to take a 1.5 hour multi-transfer tortuous path to get from point A to point B (very common on the Eastside, e.g. Bothell > Bellevue > Woodinville) that would take you maybe 20-30 minutes in a car even in traffic, why bother?

We need to get real about mass-transit. Let’s use it when and where it makes sense, and ditch it when and where it doesn’t. I’m tired of seeing dozens (probably hundreds around the greater Puget Sound area) of 99% empty buses driving around on the Eastside every night of the week between 7pm and midnight–what an incredible waste of resources (not to mention all of the diesel exhaust pollution created). It would be far less expensive to give people free cab rides during these hours (I think Dori Monson of Kiro 710 AM discussed this idea) and bill Metro, than it would to pay to drive empty buses around during these off-peak hours.