Written by Michael Lis-Sette
It may receive the occasional negative comment, but the mass transit system in Seattle is an extremely efficient means for traveling about the city. The buses are buses, but they are generally clean and comfortable, and several routes run right by the school. They will take you basically anywhere you could want to go, from the UW to the Woodland Park Zoo, and they almost always arrive on time. The Sounder Commuter Rail system links up Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, and Lakewood via the existing rail network, and though it doesn’t run nearly as frequently as the buses, it is an option if you want to live outside of Seattle itself and are willing to get up very early and get home very late. An expanded Light Rail system is set to begin operation in 2009 in Seattle itself, but Capitol Hill won’t be getting a station until 2016, so you’ll have to be willing to walk a bit further south if you want to take a ride down to SeaTac.
Walking is also an option, but First Hill is called a hill for a reason, so be ready to get a bit tired if you have to walk a long distance. Weather can also be a pain, but it isn’t as big a problem as it’s made out to be, so just grab a jacket or a hoodie, and you’ll be fine (locals never use umbrellas). Bicycling is another option, and one that’s extremely popular not just with Seattle U students but with locals across Seattle. Seattle is a bike crazy city, and bikers have even organized into political advocacy groups for expanded access to the roads. Of course, plenty of people just love the chance to strap on a helmet, hop on their bike, and take a leisurely ride down to the Waterfront with their friends.