Traffic in Seattle sucks, so I have been riding the bus. AMA

"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling) 06/24/2019 at 09:59 • Filed to: Public transit, Traffic Sucks, Seattle

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It’s a commuter milk run that I walk to from my house that drops me right next to where I work, so it seems pretty practical. It also gets me out of dealing with our unconscionable traffic so I can shitpost from my phone.

I still drive occasionally, when it makes sense or it’s impractical not to drive.

I love driving when it’s not commuting in terrible traffic.

They also gave me a free bus pass. How do you turn that down?

chaozbandit > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 10:19

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Busses are great

Ash78, voting early and often > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 10:22

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Mainstream buses are not bad at all. It’s places where the bus system is like “I guess we have to offer some mass transit...” that have a problem. Then it’s all a dverse selection — crackheads, homeless, people with six DUIs.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > chaozbandit 06/24/2019 at 10:23

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My dad drives them. He said that when the hybrid buses came out the old timers hated them, but he embraced them because they were really fast and he loved messing with the stupid drivers when behind the wheel of one.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 06/24/2019 at 10:31

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M y bus route only hits two transit centers (only one between my home and my destination) and runs between a bedroom community (where I live) and the main employment centers in the area, so it’s all employed people. The vast majority are probably office workers. It’s one of those routes that was clearly designed to serve people that have options.

You do have a point, though: If I didn’t live in a major metro area, it’s unlikely that my route would even exist. There are plenty of places where I’d suffer through traffic to avoid terrible public transit.

Where my dad works is one of the  worst systems in a metro area that I’ve ever used. Even if you live on a major route, it’ll take you so much longer to ride than drive that it’s clearly exclusively a last resort for those that have no other choice.

just-a-scratch > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 11:47

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Your commute sounds a LOT like mine. I walk blocks to the bus stop from my home, and blocks from the stop to the office. It’s very nice to just sit and read in traffic. Since I've been commuting into Seattle and parts nearby for about 25 years, with 25 more to go, I’m glad my commute doesn't suck too much right now. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 11:51

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When your commute is shit public transit is pretty sweet. Nothing worse than creeping in 1st or 2nd gear for 45 minutes twice a day. 

Mid Engine > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 12:56

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Where are you commuting from?  My wife takes a bus once or twice a week, I’m stubborn and insist on driving. 

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 13:14

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“AMA”

1) Wh at’s that smell?

2) Open or closed?

chaozbandit > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 15:14

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As much flack as they get from the general population, the community really has some funny stories. Some of the routes in my city are particularly hilly at times and at peak hours its not uncommon for them to be packed. There was a post on reddit about how this one driver was struggling to make it up the hill and one of the drunks at the back yelled “JUST FLOOR IT BUD” and the driver’s inner monologue was along the lines of “I AM”. This was on one of the newer diesel busses before we went part hybrid, and now fully electric, but good stories nonetheless.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 06/24/2019 at 15:27

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What neighborhoods are you commuting to/from? Just out of curiosity.

Back in the day i worked downtown and lived on the back side of capitol hill. I’d usually walk the 45 minutes home rather than take the bus, which was marginally faster but less predictable. 

just-a-scratch > feather-throttle-not-hair 06/24/2019 at 16:08

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Speculative: A bus that starts in a ‘bedroom community’, hits 2 transit centers and no local stops probably puts Eric outside the city of Seattle. I’m also guessing Eric’s bus is not the 116 or 24 pictured.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > just-a-scratch 06/26/2019 at 02:44

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Yeah, I live on the outskirts of the metro, but in King County. Where I live is exurban by my standards, even though I think most people consider it a suburb. The first ~3 miles after I get on has no stops; t he bus does  local stops, just not many. Most are clustered near the transit centers and 520.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > just-a-scratch 06/26/2019 at 02:48

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I was so happy to learn that I could do my entire commute on a single bus. It’s practically a perk to not need to drive, considering the ridiculous traffic.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: 06/26/2019 at 02:51

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1) It’s not me (okay, it’s me).

2) I don’t think our buses have windows like that, but closed since we have A/C.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 08/01/2019 at 17:28

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Hey, longtime no post!

How’s things?  

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/03/2019 at 16:36

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Busy, between the new job and the baby that is getting speedier by the day.

How have you been doing?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 08/03/2019 at 17:06

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Good, busy too. Work for my wife and I is always busy.

Are you coming to Portland?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/04/2019 at 01:46

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Strongly contemplating it. I don’t know if I’m up for the long drives on top of each other, though. Will broach the subject with my wife, since she thinks a break would be good for me and we’re finally not broke.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 08/04/2019 at 01:53

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At least it is so close (relatively ) to Seattle that you could pop down for one or just to say hi

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 08/04/2019 at 02:05

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It’s still far enough that I’d likely stay a night down there and kind of dread such a long drive involving both cities. I’d rather catch a train down there so I can relax...