The Link Experience

For any of you faithfully following my rambles, I'd like to let you know that my Salsa Saturday night more than made up for the "Off" Night on Thursday. But that's not what I'm going to talk about today. (Sorry Carlette :)

So Friday afternoon, tired as a dog, after four hours of sleep and a ten hour workday, I attempted to make it to the train that would take me home 28 minutes earlier than the next one. With five minutes to spare (hypothetically), I proceeded to catch a bus that would take me to King Street Station. Here is a little-known fact about Seattle for those who don't live or work here -- we have a metro tunnel. Yes we do. Like in any other normal large city, it runs underneath a good chunk of downtown.

My introduction to Seattle Metro came about on my first day of work, when a colleague graciously agreed to show me which bus to take to the train station. To my utter amazement, she soon dove into an opening in one of the nearby buildings. I followed her down the escalator and into the tunnel, where we found... busses. UNLIKE any of the normal large cities, Seattle's tunnel does not contain a train. The structures' mystery boggled my mind for a long time, since the tunnel actually has tracks in it intended for a train or at least a tramp. But anyone I asked who has been in Seattle for a while assured me that no such things ever ran through it. It's always been just busses. After a little research I managed to find that the tracks were installed in 2005 in anticipation of the Light Rail starting its service in 2009.

Well, 2009 is here, and the funny bus situation has finally ended for Seattle. We now have the Link -- a light rail train connecting downtown and SeaTac airport. It was exciting to walk into the tunnel one day and find the Link happily running its tests. It seemed all was well. The public was hyped, and an exciting opening day awaited Seattle on July 19th. Not being a thrillseaker, I avoided the city like the plague on opening day -- therefore I know nothing about it.

Three days after opening day I was catching a bus and noticed that the service was cancelled for "technical difficulties." How typical. Cancel AFTER you start service. But the next day when i went to catch a bus the Link was running! Yay! I finally got to ride it. So with 5 minutes to spare before my train, I happily boarded the Link -- Seattle's gateway to becoming a normal city! Troubles started when the Link started spitting out nonsense on the announcer. Within a minutes ride in the ride-free zone between University Street and Pioneer Square, it announced that we are "Approaching Westlake Center," "This is the last stop" and "You Always need a valid fare while riding the train." Then we stopped completely, and to our hearty disappointment the Link delivered its first truthful announcement: "The train is experiencing technical difficulties and will be delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Seattle being the friendliest city in the U.S. (in my opinion,) Link's utterances got a conversation going. "This feels like a Disney ride!" was some people's opinion. Perhaps "Space Mountain?" Others, like me, were hoping to catch the train and nervously glanced at the clock every thirty seconds until it was crystal clear that we missed it. Still others offered stories about previous technical difficulties. All of us hoped that the electricity won't go out, and laughed at the traffic this must have been causing in the back. (What retard put a train AND a load of busses in the same tunnel?!) At least the Link was air-conditioned.

My first experience with the Link was... interesting. After 15 more minutes and another two stops, the Link dropped me off at the International District Station. I didn't make the early train, but I got a taste of Seattle growing into a real city.

You can find more information about the tunnel service at http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/tunnel/tunnel-map.html and http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/tunnel/tunnel.html

Confessions of a Commuter

Although I've complained about the commute many-a-time, it's actually not that big of a waste, considering everything goes well. If you look at it from the bright side, I've been given the gift of time. An hour each way on the bus or train, depending on when I leave, to be exact. This time has been invaluable in furthering my personal development. In one year, I've finished at least three times as many books as I've ever opened in High School and college combined!

Of course, sometimes things go terribly wrong... Here's what you need to do to be a likeable, happy commuter and avoid being hated on by an entire bus/train.

1. Smile and say good morning/day/evening to the driver. Thank them when you get off. I never realized how much it means until one driver actually commented on my "cheerful" attitude. A small courtesy goes a long way. Plus, this makes them remember you better. And the time when you forget your pass will inevitably come. Better be on a good foot with the driver then!

2. Get your pass/money/transfer ready BEFORE you get on the bus. Don't try to bargain with the driver! They're not the ones setting the rates, and all you'll get is your co-commuters and the driver annoyed. My point is, don't be holding up the line by starting to think about your fare when you're on the steps of the bus.

3. Busses and trains on the west coast are generally o.k. to chat in. However, I wouldn't advise it in the morning. That's when people catch up on sleep. But even in the afternoon -- keep your voice down. If you decide to play chess on the train, for the love of my eardrums, don't be commenting on your every move! Think to yourself. You already have a reputation for being the best: announcing it with every acquired figure just makes you look like a fifty year old idiot (who's acting five).

4. This is difficult to mention to your face but... brush your teeth in the morning. Use deodorant. People have to sit VERY close to each other...

5. If you are over thirty and hideous, please don't chat young girls up. The generous offer of personal/administrative assistant position will be laughed at and frownfully rejected. After all, we really do have the best one of THOSE already. Try CFO -- then we'll talk. Maybe.

6. If you are over thirty and hideous, and started asking questions about my bible... I WILL answer and share about Jesus with you. Please don't assume it's because I think you're cute. YOU started it. But what kind of Christianity would I be exhibiting if I just ignored your questions?

7. If planning to use the phone, once again, please be aware of how far some voices carry. Try to sit in the front -- that way only the driver will be suffering from your mindless/business blabber.

8. If you do decide to talk on the phone or to your neighbor loudly, please be aware of the fact that everyone can hear. At one point I was considering writing a book about the interesting bits of information I overheard on the train or bus. You never know who might be listening. I could be a stranger. Or I could be the best friend of that "idiot" worst boss you've ever had that you just so passionately badmouthed to YOUR best friend. In addition, dinner sounded great before you started sharing your biological problems. Oh, and I really didn't have to know that your babysitter's mother's cat gets its nails clipped at the 5th avenue groomers' that's owned by that slut who's slept with your fourth ex-husband fifteen years ago... Coincidence? You think not! (I think big time!!!)

9. If you snore, get medication. (Although that video of on youtube has been getting quite a few hits!)

10. Train is NOT a good place for excursions. Especially not the morning train. If you bring your elementary/middle school/government retirees class on board and start telling them about the history of Sound Transit... be prepared to get death stares. And yes, they are meant to make you uncomfortable. Because you just made everyone uncomfortable by waking them up!

11. Just be aware of the fact that you aren't the only person on the bus or train, and be curteous to the people riding with you. The rest is pretty much common sense.

On Parking

If you already live in Seattle and work downtown, this post is not for you, as you probably take a bus to work. But if you don't live on the bus line, your company doesn't pay for parking, or you are in the interviewing process and don't know the city very well, you are most likely wondering if people really pay $26 to park all day. And the answer to that, of course, is no. They don't. (And if they do, I officially judge them...)

For about six months this problem wasn't applicable to me. I either took a bus or train to work and never had to worry about parking. But than a colleague fell in love with Salsa and tried to get everyone in the department to sign up for it. Nobody did, except me. The irony is that she only lasted a couple months. I became addicted. If you've ever done Salsa in Seattle, you'll note that the places to go out and dance aren't exactly located in prime locale. Very soon I realized that on days I have class I better take my car, or else...

For a while I parked in the cheapest "early bird" garage that crossed my path when getting off the freeway. In before 9:30, 11 hours maximum, $12 for the day. At first I parked twice a week. Then I started spending the night at a friends' house in downtown, so parking days went up to 4. Then there was a "lazy day" when I just didn't "feel like" taking the bus. So I parked pretty much every day. The total came to $60. Not that much, if you are making anything over a starters' salary. But still pretty stupid, for parking...

A wise person I know lives by the quote "people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan." I realized I gotta plan something fast, or my budget will fail miserably. So I came up with several options to lower the parking bill.

1. The garage that's NOT on your way off the freeway costs $10 before 9:00am for 10 hours. It's located on Union, between second st. and third st. Pros: This lowers your weekly parking bill by $10. (Save $520 a year and get a pair of cute shoes!) Cons: They are downright mean. If you stay over 10 hours by even 5 minutes they WILL charge you the extra $15.00. And if you try to beg for mercy the manager will yell about how irresponsible you are. (But WILL refund the money if it's really only 5 minutes and your first time. This time around I figured $15 bucks is worth the embarrassment, but I never came back to that garage...) I'm sure that if you do your research, you will find another cheap lot. I hear the one by Pike Place Market has good prices too, but I personally have never parked there.

2. If you aren't afraid to walk a block to a bus line, or if you work closer to Capitol Hill, go ahead and park in the garage on Pike and Summit. Pros: Their early bird special is $6.50 for 12 hours as long as you're in by 10:00a.m. Walk a block to Pine to catch a bus downtown and you save $27.50 a week. ($1430 a year -- enough for two months rent on a crappy one-bedroom, or a pair of Prada boots.) Cons: it will take you slightly longer to get to work than if you parked in the garage of your office building. Waking up 10 minutes earlier might be required.

3. Use this one only if you live in Northern Queen Anne. As you might know, Queen Anne Ave. becomes residential at Smith St. Parking there is un-zoned and free! Grab a spot, and catch bus 3 or 4 downtown. This is the only place that I've figured out so far, but I am pretty positive that there are more streets like this in Seattle. You just have to do a little homework and figure out which one works for you. Pros: free parking! Cons: quite a bus ride to downtown, and probably inaccessible during winter ice and snow days.

4. This solution worked best for me. Use it if you are commuting from the south (as in way further south than Tukwila...) and have time between work and whatever activity required you to bring a car after work (like Salsa.) Instead of driving into downtown, I get off exit 156 and park at Interurban Ave. Park and Ride. It just so happens that the exact time I get there bus 161 pulls up - only runs during peak hours and stops right in front of my building. You can also catch 150 - runs more often, but takes a little longer to get to downtown. For me, there are actually no cons with this option. Parking is free. (I save $60 a week, $3120 a year...) and I actually get to work faster than I would driving, because the bus takes the carpool lane, and I can't. And if you drive from the south, you know that you are guaranteed to hit traffic at the Michigan Curves. Of course, getting your car after work might take a little longer than taking an elevator down, but I have time to kill between work and Salsa anyways. So it works out.

Let me know if you have parking tricks people should know about! Leave a comment.

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