Category Archives: cool stuff

Speaking of strollers…

For a variety of reasons, Bus Nerd and I are not especially big on baby gear. Most of what we do have we either borrowed from friends or purchased used. So it is particularly ironic that the one piece of baby gear we bought brand, spanking new–and paid a small fortune for, I might add–is the one we almost never use: Chicklet’s car seat.

Like all parents, we wanted our kid’s seat to be safe, and we were concerned about buying a used one. (When an environmentalist tells you it’s not a good idea, it gives you pause.) But here’s the thing: In order to use the seat, which weighs 15 pounds and is big enough for me to fit in, I have to get it–and Chicket–to an actual car. Let’s just say that renting a Zipcar (the nearest one’s a quarter of a mile from our house) without the help of Bus Nerd is less than enjoyable.

Ah, but if I’d done my homework, I would have known that there is a better option. Car-free parents, behold:

A car seat/stroller combo

A car seat with wheels?! Who knew?

I learned about this fabulous invention from fellow TAC member–and fellow parent–Tina, who uses it on those occasions when her family takes a cab to the airport, and when they travel to places where they’ll need a car. Tina says the seat’s not especially comfortable, but, given that Chicklet rides in a car an average of once a month, that’s hardly a deal breaker. Did I mention that both of the brands I researched got high marks in the safety department?

Anyone in the market for a (gently) used Britax?

My kind of president, part II

Yes, please:

President Obama unveiled his administration’s blueprint for a new national network of high-speed passenger rail lines Thursday, saying such an investment is necessary to reduce traffic congestion, cut dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment.

The president’s plan identifies 10 potential high-speed intercity corridors for federal funding, including California, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Southeast, the Gulf Coast, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York and New England.

[…]

“My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the way we travel in America. We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come,” Obama said at an event near the White House.

(Source: CNN)

More Seattle on Streetfilms

A cool (and much needed) crosswalk on Alaskan Way:

Transit tees

Spring is around the corner (theoretically, at least). In honor, some transit-boosting t-shirts y’all might take a shine to.

This LA Metro shirt, sent to me by Clarence from NYC (aka “Streefilms Guy”), gave me a chuckle.

The back has a Metro symbol and the word “Nice.” Nice.

This one was designed a little closer to home– by Sarah U., a bus chick from Olympia who is all about showing her transit pride.

As you might already know, I’m a sucker for anything with a picture of a bus on it.

If the right person (read: a really hot person) rocked either of these shirts, I think we could increase ridership–or at least increase the bus sexy around here. Sexy Seattle bus riders: Get to ordering!

Oh, Santa…

As you know, I ain’t one to hawk products [ahem], but this might just be the answer to my chick/chicklet bag dilemma.

A “bus geek” messenger bag

The description even says it can be used as a “hip alternative diaper bag,” whatever that means. (You know you’re desperate to regain your cool when you’re willing to believe there’s such a thing.)

If only it came in other colors. I love buses and all, but school-bus yellow isn’t really my flavor.

Station art (or, Guess I won’t be the only one dancing around the train)

Augusta Asberry‘s piece, Come Dance with Me, was installed at MLK & Othello on Friday as part of Sound Transit’s public art program.

Come Dance with Me, by Augusta Asberry

Sadly, Ms. Asberry died of breast cancer last September. (According to ST, “Her family and friends rallied together and found an artist, Keith Haynes, who could finish the hand-painted details in a way that would best reflect her style, palette and ability to bring life and movement to her art.”) I am grateful for the amazing body of work she left behind–and I look forward to admiring this piece in person every time I ride the train.

Transit planning from the bottom up

Streetfilms recently posted a cool piece about the bus system in Boulder, Colorado. The city’s residents helped to plan–and even brand–the routes, and now they ride them in very high numbers. (The film‘s about six minutes and worth watching if you have the time.)

I’ve never ridden a bus in Boulder, but I have ridden in Aspen, where my bestest friend in the whole world now lives. The buses in Aspen are reasonably useful (at least they were to me, a visitor with limited needs) and FREE. I appreciate free transit for many reasons, but especially for its ease of use.

To the taxpaying gazillionaires in Pitkin County: I thank you.

Where to stop for a pre-56 hot chocolate

A coffee, et cetera (actually, more like et cetera and coffee) shop on Admiral Way, west of California:

Alki Mail & Dispatch, on Admiral & 47th

A “walk-up” window

How could I not stop? It had a door–actually, window–bell–and a very friendly owner. That figures. Anyone who designs his business for pedestrians has got to be good people.

SPL + Metro = one happy bus chick

If you’re a library geek like me (libraries might actually beat out buses on my list of favorite things), you surely already know about the Seattle Public Library’s passport program. For everyone else:

The library is issuing passports with a page for every library in the SPL system. The goal is for patrons to bring their passports to each branch to have them stamped, and in the process, to check out our new and improved community resources.

An SPL passport

The Douglass-Truth page and stamp

Cool idea, no? It gets better. Every entry in the passport includes a list of Metro routes that stop at that branch.

Routes 2 & 3 serve Sally Goldmark

This might seem like a small thing, but to this bus chick, it is huge. Every effort to challenge the assumption that one must drive to get around this town is worth recognizing. And since Chicklet and I are participating , the passports can serve as our travel cheat sheet.

So far, we’ve hit up Douglass-Truth (no bus ride necessary), Sally Goldmark (3), West Seattle (55), and Greenlake (48).* Montlake (48) is next on the list, followed by all of the other branches that are served by Metro’s heavyweight.** After that–who knows? I’ve never been to the ID branch, or Ballard, or South Park…

My plan is to coordinate our visits with individual branch story times–to make it worth Chicklet’s while. Then again, she hardly needs encouragement to visit a library. Twenty minutes in the children’s section reading books about farm animals and/or big vehicles, and she’s good.

Participants in the challenge have until January 2nd to turn in their completed passports. And, “…there will be a prize drawing on January 7th for booklover’s baskets full of goodies and lunch with the new city librarian.”

Shoot. That almost rivals partying with Busfather.

* Note that the Greenlake branch is currently closed due to a mold problem.
** Six total: Rainier Beach, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, Montlake, Greenlake, Greenwood

Tourism for transit geeks

Our bus family spent the weekend (and then some) in Nerd’s hometown of Detroit, Michigan. (Yes, folks, the Motor City managed to grow at least one bus nerd.) We spent some of our visit downtown, checking out the new and improved Riverwalk, eating coneys and enjoying the fountain at Campus Martius Park, and (best of all) visiting the construction site of the soon-to-be-completed Rosa Parks Transit Center.

Here’s what it will look like when it’s finished:

Future Rosa Parks Transit Center (Photo credit: Model D)

The transit center is planned as a 24-hour multi-modal transfer facility connecting passengers to DDOT, SMART and Transit Windsor Tunnel buses as well as to the Detroit People Mover. It consists of a 25,700 square foot three-level building and a central island with 12 bus bays. The building will host a cashier, retail, DDOT police and passenger seating as well as an AVL system that will show route schedules in real time.

(Source: Model D)

I wouldn’t exactly call what I’m feeling transit envy (I’ll take our bus system over Detroit’s any day), but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to a few pangs–and not just because they get a transit center named after my shero.

24 hours? Indoor waiting area? Retail (which could be used to fund more service)? Must be nice.