1 post tagged “bus”

At work last night one of the kids, probably in junior high or so, was -shocked- that I didn't have a car. That used to happen a lot, but ironically slowed down once I actually got a license. (Not having -that- was just over the top, I guess, especially as I wore on towards my late 20s.)  Furthermore, this one argued with me.

"They're expensive!" says I.
"But you could get a used one!" says she.
"But then I'd have to pay to get it repaired!" says I. "Plus gas, and insurance, and parking."

I mean, on one hand I am cognizant of the fact that I'm lucky. for all we bitch about the bus system in Seattle, it -exists- and is not ridiculous for getting me to and from work, even though I work far outside of the downtown core. (I finally got my license at the age of 27 precisely because I was living in the suburbs of a town without decent transit.)

But on the other, part of this is me being -conscious- of things, of choosing to live in the city, at an apartment with good bus service, and furthermore, one with an excellent walkshed. I mean, not only can I walk to the library, bank, grocery store, restaurants, bookstores, & movie theater in ten minutes or less, in another ten I'm in the downtown core. That was a decision I made. I find it bizarre that it is so shocking.

Earlier this year I worked out how much I paid in transportation. A bus pass every month, six bus tickets to Vancouver, and two plane tickets to Spokane totaled just under $1100. That's as high as my transportation costs could possibly go, and you certainly can't drive for that. I overestimated on the out-of-town portion, probably, as so far this year I've only been up to BC twice. But I have been to Spokane once already, and all of those trips are ones where I would have at least considered driving if I had a car.

I don't know. I know there are many great reasons why people choose to never use transportation alternatives, why people live in their cars. But I am tired of it being shocking that I made a different choice.