One spare tire begets another

Looking to regain (or hang on to) the trim figure you had in your teens? Forget about Atkins and South Beach. Don’t sign up for costly gym memberships or trendy exercise classes you don’t have time to attend. Instead, try Bus Chick’s Diet Plan.

My plan is simple (no counting of carbs, fats, calories, or “points”), effective (judging from all the sexy bus riders I know), and best of all, free. You can still eat ice cream, and you never even have to look at a treadmill–unless, of course, you happen to like them. All you have to do, folks, is drop that other dead weight: your car.

Here’s why the plan works (it’s not rocket science, but indulge me):

1. You will exercise more.
You will walk to and from bus stops and run to catch buses when you are late. You will walk with grocery bags and shopping bags. (On Saturday, my car-free fiancé walked from his house to mine–about half a mile–with a coffee table.) You will walk up hills. You will walk up stairs. When you get a late-evening craving, you will be forced to walk to the corner store to find that food you are ahankerin’ for.

2. You will eat less.
More often than not, you will decide that your late-night craving is not worth the effort of walking to that corner store. Your desire for fast food will also be significantly reduced, since you will no longer have the option of drive throughs. (Does anyone actually sit in those places to eat?) You are less likely to have a lot of junk food in your house, as grocery shopping trips require effort and planning (making them rare), and each item purchased must be carried–and therefore carefully considered.

People of Seattle, stop spending so much money, time, and effort on diets that don’t work and try my plan. While I can’t promise that you’ll end up with the body of Beyonce or The Rock, I can guarantee that you’ll lose at least a ton.

Some bus routes I like

Despite the fact that the 4 stops right in front of my house; despite the fact that it takes me to downtown, the Seattle Center (basketball!), and Queen Anne (home of 5 Spot); despite the fact that Smooth Jazz is one of the regular drivers, the 4 is one of my least favorite routes–especially in the middle of the day. I can deal with the fact that it is crowded and noisy (can’t be mad at a lot of people riding), but crowded+noisy+angry+slow is a combination I can’t work with. Because of all the folks (many committing multiple bus fouls), it crawls along at a pace I could beat walking, and at least when I’m walking, there isn’t someone cursing his head off in my ear. Well, at least not usually.

After a particularly excruciating ride on the 4 yesterday, I got to thinking about what makes a bus route “good.” Here are the factors that I consider:

• Destination: If a bus goes somewhere I need to go frequently–or somewhere I like to go frequently–it gets extra points.
• Speed: A little meandering can make a ride pleasant, but if I can walk faster than the bus can get me there, it ain’t my kind of ride.
• Flavor: This has to do with the culture of the bus (Who rides it? Are they all quiet and boring? Do they talk to each other? Do they yell? Do they fight? Do they commit bus fouls?) and the “vibe” (Is it generally negative or positive?).

With these criteria in mind, here are some of my favorites:

27: In contrast to the slow, noisy 4 is the speedy, efficient 27. This bus also stops right in front of my house and also takes me downtown. It doesn’t go to Queen Anne or Seattle Center, but to make up for that, the east-bound route takes me straight to the lake. The 27 still has flavor, but it’s missing the negative energy (I’d call it “4 light”), and though it’s sometimes crowded, it always makes good time.

48: This is the longest bus route in the city. It goes all the way from Rainier Beach to the north end without once getting on the freeway. I take it both ways–to Columbia City, to the U District, to Greenlake, and, if I’m going to the Eastside, to Montlake. I also take it to church, which is just a few stops north of my house. Because of the length of the route and the neighborhoods it travels through, the 48 has an interesting mix of people, and the flavor of the bus continues to change as people get on and off.

545: OK, so this route is not very useful unless you live in Seattle and work in Redmond (or vice versa, I suppose), and even though this is no longer true for me (I get to stay in Seattle all day now!), I still love the 545. It is fast, always packed, and (if you can find a seat) comfortable. On a clear day, you can’t beat the view on the way across the lake, and I gotta say: I love the Capitol-Hill-hipster-meets-supernerd flavor.

194: The 194 goes from downtown to the airport (and then, I think, to Federal Way). If you live in or near downtown, it’s just as fast as a shuttle or a cab, and you can’t beat the price. There’s a good mix of “regulars” (south-end dwellers) and newbies (airport types), and it’s fun to make up destinations for all the folks with luggage.

I’m running out of time, so I’ll end my list there. Maybe we could add up all the route numbers and create the perfect route: the 814.

But enough about what I think. It’s more fun for readers (and me) to know what lots of people think. What are your favorite routes? Why?

Fidelity not getting you the results you want?

Try Metro!

We bus chicks aren’t just sexy; we also have big bank accounts.

“Terry Bassett, head of the Yolo County bus system, sent us some calculations he had done that show a person could save $500,000 over the next 25 years if that person took the bus rather than a car and invested all monthly savings conservatively in a pre-tax 401(k) plan.” – Sacramento Bee

Taxi!

Yesterday, I took the Elliott Bay Water Taxi (aka “the foot ferry”) to visit my parents. Considering the crappy bus service to their new place, it was reasonably convenient. But convenient, shmonvenient. It was also a lot of fun!

The ride takes about 15 minutes–long enough to settle in and enjoy the view (and what a view–I am jealous of all those West Seattle commuters), but not so long that it becomes tedious. The main part of the boat is enclosed (with lots of windows, of course), but there is also an open deck upstairs.

The good:
• The price. The Water Taxi costs $3.00, but it is totally free if you have a bus pass of any denomination.
• The convenience. Drop-off and pick-up locations (Seacrest Park and Pier 55) are easy to get to, and there is a free shuttle van (DART route 773) that takes riders from Seacrest Park to other destinations in West Seattle, including Alki Beach and Alaska Junction.

The bad:
• The timing. Schedules are, apparently, approximations. The ferry on the way over there was a bit late, but there’s only one boat, so it’s easy to see how that could happen. The ferry on the way back (the last one of the evening, mind) left a full four minutes early. We (me, my parents, my aunt, and some friends of my parents) were eating fish and chips at the restaurant right next to the boarding dock as my ride home pulled away.
• The limited availability. Of course I would like to see the hours expanded, but I have no idea whether that makes sense, given ridership, costs, etc. My mother told me that the boat does run late on Mariner nights, so for now, I’ll try to time my visits to coincide with home games.

April Golden Transfer award

Golden Transfer (designed by Zach Tucker) Golden Transfers are monthly awards that are granted–by yours truly–to bus riders of distinction. In the future, I hope to give the winners lots of cash and fabulous prizes (including, of course, a sexy t-shirt). For now, all I can offer is a thank you–and five minutes of fame on the Internets.

And so, without further ado, I announce the winners of the inaugural BCTA Golden Transfer award:

Juantonio (aka Tony) and Anita Rush

Tony and Anita moved to the Seattle area from Detroit three years ago. They got jobs at Microsoft (Anita as an FTE, Tony for a different company that initially placed him at MS as a vendor) and, like many ‘Softies who are new to the area, bought a place on the Eastside–in this case, Sammamish. As two young professionals with busy lives (two young professionals from the Motor City, no less), they settled into a two-car lifestyle.

About a year ago, Tony decided to go back to school (he’s working toward a master’s in public affairs) and started attending classes at Seattle U. Lucky for Tony, the 216 stops right in front of their house. He quickly learned that taking the bus across the bridge was easier than driving and started taking the bus (216 + 12) to school. Recently, Tony’s job transferred him to their main office downtown, and he started taking the 216 to work.

Picture Being the intelligent and wise (did I mention cool?) couple they are, Tony and Anita have decided that it doesn’t make sense for them to continue to own two cars. Only Anita uses a car to commute, and on the weekends, they are either together or their schedules are flexible enough for them to share a vehicle. And so, they have decided to sell their 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and make a go at life as a one-car family.

Not only are they looking forward to the financial benefits (I’m thinking they even qualify for the city’s One Less Car Challenge), but they are also enjoying the changes to their lives. Here’s what Tony had to say about his new life as a (nearly) full-time bus rider:

“…I really love it. I’m finding more free time to relax, prepare for class, sleep or just chill out listing to some tunes. I’m really excited about this whole process, as it not only saves money but allows me the opportunity to experience Seattle for the little intricacies that we take for granted while driving. Trees, flowers, skylines–all these sorts of things kind of put you in awe when you are able to sit back and embrace them. This will definitely be a lifestyle change but it is one that is worthwhile and I totally embrace this opportunity.”

Congratulations, guys. Here’s hoping that Transit Now passes, and the 216 starts running more often.

Considering a career change?

If only driving the bus were this easy!
Yesterday was, apparently, take your daughter/son (or nephew) to work day. This young man (cheeks? check!) was learning how to be a bus driver. Unfortunately, according to his aunt, the lovely (and fortunate–see today’s earlier post) woman at the wheel of the 39, there’s a bit more to it than taking a nap in the sunniest seat on the bus.

Bus fouls

Last week’s Real Change column was all about bus fouls. (What can I say? It’s playoff season, and I’ve got basketball on the brain. Go Pistons!) In case you forgot to buy a Real Change last week, here’s the entry:

In the NBA, a player who commits six personal fouls is ejected from the game. A player who accumulates16 technical fouls in a season is suspended (without pay) for a game and then suspended for every other technical foul he commits (the 18th, the 20th, and so on) thereafter. If only Metro would institute similar rules for those who consistently commit bus fouls!

For those who don’t know, a bus foul is an action or behavior that negatively impacts other riders. Think of it as the bus equivalent of a party foul.

Here are some examples:

• Not having your fare ready when you get on or off. Ladies and gentlemen, don’t wait until you get to the fare box to dig through your pockets for your transfer or ask your fellow passengers for change. Get yourself together before it’s time to pay.

• Asking the bus driver for a free ride while carrying any of the following items: a four-dollar Starbucks extravaganza, an iPod, or a handbag that comes with its own registration form. It takes money to buy gas and pay drivers. If you have some, give it up.

• Getting personal with your SO. Let’s keep this simple: Hands to yourself.

• Performing beauty rituals. OK, so using a compact to touch up your lipstick ain’t exactly a crime against humanity, but since when did it become acceptable to get ready for work on the bus? If you regularly ride with a head full of hot rollers and a carry-on-sized make-up bag, you need to start getting up earlier.

• Holding personal conversations. For those of you who seem not to mind sharing your personal business with 30 strangers, please trust me on this: The rest of us would prefer not to know about the three women you got pregnant last year or the amount of money you need to borrow from your mother.

• Turning up your music loud enough to turn your headphones into speakers. Ever think you might be the only one on the bus who’s “into” Yanni? Please start.

• Opening windows without asking the permission of your fellow riders. Those of us not raised in Siberia would prefer that the bus remain at a comfortable temperature.

• Stopping the bus at a green light to interrogate the driver. Please note: The bus driver has probably not memorized the schedule of every route operated by Metro. He or she might know which bus you take to get to Federal Way, but that’s what maps, bus schedules, Web sites (transit.metrokc.gov), and rider information lines (206.553.3000) are for. Don’t have access to a computer or a cell phone? Ask someone else who’s waiting at your stop.

Too many of my fellow riders are committing bus fouls — sometimes multiple offenses in a single ride. If conditions don’t improve soon, I’ll be forced to start riding with a striped shirt and a whistle.

I was expecting to get tons of e-mail from Real Change readers about the fouls I neglected to mention, but I haven’t received even one. Luckily, I have this blog, which is all about conversation. So, all you bus-riding PI readers, I’m counting on you. Tell me about all the bus fouls I forgot. If I get enough good ones, I’ll write “Bus Fouls, Part II.”

Thanks, Brian!

Brian Nussbaum, a mechanic from Atlantic Base, is Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year.

“…the vehicle maintenance group plays an important role is attracting riders to Metro’s routes by making the system reliable, efficient, and clean. It’s not only having clean seats, windows and floors inside the bus, but also running buses that operate with clean-burning fuels and the latest technologies.”