Seattle public transit (Federal Way, Maple Valley, Issaquah: home, purchases, live in)

[UrbanLover]

I was wondering if you guys could give me details about the Seattle transit system. Mainly, I was wondering how established and extensive the transit system is as a whole and the amount of ground it covers through the city.

Pretty much..... is Seattle livable/convenient without a car?

Thanks

[azoria]

Has public transportation improved?

This thread also contains links to other Seattle CD threads where Seattle public transportation has been extensively discussed.

[UrbanLover]

Originally Posted by azoria

Has public transportation improved?

This thread also contains links to other Seattle CD threads where Seattle public transportation has been extensively discussed.

I tried the "search" feature for old threads on this subject and the only hit was a argument of Atlanta vs Seattle. The responses were not too helpful. Thanks for the link.

[azoria]

S'ok.

*Seattle* is liveable without a car. However once you need to go beyond the city limit you soon find out how badly transit here does not work. Including never seeing the ocean or the mountains which are just....right.....here, but virtually impossible to access without a car.

I've been here almost two years and have never been to most places that comprise the 'Seattle area'. I'm not spending 2 1/2 hours on the bus each way to find out what Issaquah looks like, or Maple Valley, or Federal Way. Meh. I'm already pretty sure they don't justify a days ride on the bus.

[jessicazi]

Originally Posted by azoria

S'ok.

I've been here almost two years and have never been to most places that comprise the 'Seattle area'. I'm not spending 2 1/2 hours on the bus each way to find out what Issaquah looks like, or Maple Valley, or Federal Way. Meh. I'm already pretty sure they don't justify a days ride on the bus.

I took the bus from Federal Way to Seattle M-F a year ago for work. So getting to FW is easy and only about a 30 minute bus ride on the express bus. However, once you get to FW, you have to rely on their bus system and it's nothing near as good as Seattle's, which is to be expected. But there isn't much to see in FW anyways.

The point still remains, you can live in Seattle and enjoy it without a car, but to see the greater area would be difficult without a car, just like any other city.

[azoria]

Originally Posted by jessicazi

I took the bus from Federal Way to Seattle M-F a year ago for work. So getting to FW is easy and only about a 30 minute bus ride on the express bus.

That's brilliant, it's all good as long as you're commuting (with a car) from some farflung park-and-ride to downtown Seattle--but I don't live in downtown Seattle--and the trip to Federal Way from where I live in Seattle and back, would easily take 4+ hours and at least 3 buses each way.

See the difference?

[UnusualSuspect]

Originally Posted by azoria

That's brilliant, it's all good as long as you're commuting (with a car) from some farflung park-and-ride to downtown Seattle--but I don't live in downtown Seattle--and the trip to Federal Way from where I live in Seattle and back, would easily take 4+ hours and at least 3 buses each way.

Exactly. The bus system is great if you're going to and from downtown Seattle, especially if you're going there in the morning and leaving in the evening. You could live anywhere in the metro area if you work downtown.

It is possible in other areas to get around via bus, but you have to choose your home carefully. If you live near a bus stop and within walking distance of a grocery store and other amenities, you'd might do okay. But although that's possible, as others have mentioned, it's not super easy in the suburbs (and parts of Seattle once you get further away from the core).

[iskray917]

It's just fine if you're traveling around the city. But if you're looking to go somewhere outside it's not very convenient. But that's the way it is everywhere.

[godhead]

I use Zipcar for this exact reason.
I also use it for bigger shopping purchases (12 roll paper towels, etc.) about once a month.

[jessicazi]

Originally Posted by azoria

That's brilliant, it's all good as long as you're commuting (with a car) from some farflung park-and-ride to downtown Seattle--but I don't live in downtown Seattle--and the trip to Federal Way from where I live in Seattle and back, would easily take 4+ hours and at least 3 buses each way.

See the difference?

That's strange. I can't imagine it taking 4 hours, even with 3 different buses, to get to Seattle. What part of the city are you in? Once you get downtown, it's easy to get to any part of Seattle, though you are on a bus, so it does stop and can take awhile, but more than an hour?