Taking the Bus

Seattle buses are not the most punctual. They’re a far cry from my hometown’s inconsistencies, but I have been known to miss a crucial connection because a bus was running late. However, I have lived in London, where the buses always run on time and they could care less if you’re sprinting after the bus or if you are disabled and need an extra second to get on. The trade-off for Seattle bus driver kindness is occasional tardiness.

In addition, I’m not saving a ton of time taking the bus. It’s usually faster to drive, especially if you’re like me and you like to show up to the stop early in case the bus is running ahead of time.

If you can afford a bus pass and take the bus twice a day, you usually save money compared to what you spend on gas sitting in traffic. Bus passes also work a lot like Amazon Prime, except they’re not as evil in that by investing in a pass, you’re more likely to take the bus to get your money’s worth. That habit leads to all the pros discussed in this blog.

I like riding the bus because I interact with real people from all walks of life. It boosts empathy more than dealing with faceless cars. Plus, without a car you only have to deal with Seattle drivers as a pedestrian, in which case you always have the right of way.

Next to time, dealing with people is the biggest reason I hear for why people don’t ride the bus. People can smell. They can have a mental illness that causes them to make you uncomfortable (in which case, I’d argue that you check your privilege, suck it up, and deal with it).

However, sometimes dealing with people can be downright hazardous. They can be creepy or harass you. In this case, I’m lucky to live in a city where Seattle bus drivers are the sheriffs of their transport. Seattle bus drivers have the right to kick anyone off the bus who is disturbing the peace; I’ve seen it happen. In my experience, they’re kind when everything is running smoothly and no-nonsense when it’s not.

I lost twenty pounds when I moved to Seattle. It was a combination of working at a job where I stood and walked all day as opposed to a desk job, walking to and from work every day, and not having the budget for anything other than oatmeal, pasta, and soup.

Since I’ve achieved full-time status at my job, I’ve been able to eat (and drink) more and walk less and have since put some of the weight back on. Still, I am generally healthier because I avoid driving when I can. Between walking to and from the bus stop, waiting for the bus, and occasionally having to stand on the bus once it arrives, I am working my body far more than if I drove everywhere.

The fewer people in cars, the less traffic there will be. Less traffic means fewer accidents and fewer carbon emissions. Safer, happier cities for all!

How many exciting stories happen sitting alone in your car? Getting into the hustle and bustle of the city is far more likely to stimulate a boring routine. Whether it’s tracking a new route or navigating my way from stop to stop, I’ve discovered dozens of hidden nooks, street art, restaurants, and cafes that I never would have found stuck in my car. Here are a few examples of things I never would have found if I hadn’t gone on a city bus adventure.

Pro: Jobs

Due to the first R or Zero Waste, “Reduce,” creating jobs can seem counter-intuitive at first glance. Our economy has come to focus on purchasing needless or shoddy items, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stimulate the job market and reduce your waste. By taking the bus, you’re supporting an entire industry that provides stable jobs and decreases waste on a city-wide scale.

In the end, I’m going to choose the bus over driving because it’s more eco-conscious. If you were to skim this blog, it may seem like the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to riding the bus. Yet no matter how beneficial public transportation is, the convenience and privacy of cars are difficult to argue against. These cons are especially applicable if you have kids or pets, are sick, don’t live near a bus stop, or are just anything other than a single middle class person like me.

However, if you are willing in able, I urge you to consider giving public transportation a try. You may be surprised at how much you like it.

P.S. I’m still not getting rid of my car.

As I’ve said before, there’s no such thing as zero waste. My car is yet another wasteful thing I can’t currently live without. While Seattle does have decent public transportation, I need my car to move anything larger than I can carry onto a bus or if a dog sitting gig isn’t bus accessible or if I (ironically) need to drive outside of the city for a nice nature hike. At this time in my life, I’m lucky enough to afford both my car payment and a bus pass. I will however, try to only drive if it is absolutely necessary.