You have probably been wondering “Who’s behind all of the useful information found on ChooseYourWayBellevue.org and the Choose Your Way Bellevue Blog“, right? Well here you have it-meet the Choose Your Way Bellevue team! Although we all have different motivations when it comes to the reasons we choose not to drive alone (most of the time!), we are unified in that we think about the impact of every trip we take. You will hear from each of us from time to time here on the Choose Your Way Bellevue Blog. So get to know us, learn from us, and share your own experiences and questions with us so we can continue to provide you with Bellevue transportation information you want.
- Caryn: Strange as it sounds, my commute home on the bus is one of my favorite parts of the day. It is a great time to unwind and get a little “me time” where I can read, sleep or just sit and do nothing! That is why it has been rewarding for me to help other commuters and employers in downtown Bellevue discover how great it is to ride the bus and use other alternative commute options.
- Debbie: As a kid, mom and I took the bus to downtown Seattle from Beacon Hill to shop for groceries and clothes (Mom never drove a car – dad tried to teach her but he gave up). I rode two buses each way to a private grade school located in Rainier Beach and learned I could finish my homework during the long trips on routes 3 and 7. My current home was chosen for convenience to the city’s core and access by bus. Those early years left an impression on me and defined my 16 year career to reduce congestion and improve air quality by assisting employers in developing commute programs. Lesson learned: Teach our young there are alternatives to driving.
- Drew: I have been a bicycle commuter since high school, and have come to realize that it’s not just a form of transportation for me – it’s also a stress reliever, a personal trainer, and way to slow down and enjoy life. My family enjoys riding together, and now that we’ve been car-less for a year, I find that I also do more errands by bike (though we do use a Zipcar for trips to Costco and rent a car for weekend getaways).
- Jordan: Working in downtown Bellevue by day and living in Seattle by night. I’m a heavy user of my employer-issued FlexPass which allows me to choose the bus whenever possible. From commuting on Sound Transit’s 550 to going to a Mariners game by a local Metro route to getting to the airport via Central Link, it’s all covered! High parking costs and my FlexPass have helped me transition to using my car less and less. When transit is not an option I choose to carpool with friends to the gym and other destinations to save gas money and time.
- Kate: After growing up in Bellevue and riding the bus a lot as a kid, I feel fortunate to work as a transportation planner making it easier for people to get around without driving along. I have settled on a year-round combined bicycle/bus commute on most days and think of myself as a “gentlewoman” bike commuter. No lycra for me; I just slap the rubber band around my pants leg (plus helmet, lights and reflective gear) and I’m good to go.
- Melissa: Vanpooling is my preferred commute mode. Why you ask? I live roughly 25 miles away from downtown Bellevue, love to drive, and hate sitting in traffic. By being in a vanpool I get to drive the van to work and back while not having to sit in traffic since we can utilize the carpool lane. I forgot to mention that I only pay $45 a month out of pocket to ride in the van. What more could a girl want?
- Mike: Growing up in Michigan, I rode my bike a lot. Cars (of course, the mainstay industry of the state) were the cultural norm but I never used one regularly nor had one of my own. Now as an adult, I do have regular access to a car but living in downtown Seattle, I only occasionally have need to use it. Daily commute trips are easy by bus and the Flexpass covers not only my daily commute, but also trips around town for errands or weekend activities, even the trip to the airport for out of town journeys (with no need to pay for parking). I still like to ride my bike, but it takes extra logistics to carry along my 3-year old daughter, so we often end up taking the bus—and now light rail—for trips that exceed walking distance.
- Sarah: As a South Carolina native who grew up without access to public transportation, but having “survived” on buses and trains during a 4-month college study abroad experience in England, I am thrilled to once again live in an area where I have a choice on how I move around. You’ll find me making use of my local park & ride options to connect with express buses to Bellevue, special event Sounder trains to Seahawks games and Link Light Rail for late night adventures in Seattle.
My daughter was able to get a job in bellevue we tried to get a bus route but it is a part time job the routes don’t pick up at the right time and its a two hour ride for a 12 min ride leave from Kirkland to Bellevue hardly time effective for college student.Now there is not even a place to park her car without paying a high garage fee.I hardly see how young people can commute with out a car when the bus routes don’t pick up or drop off at the right times.Tell me how this works well.
Thanks for your comment. I can sympathize with your situation. Since downtown Bellevue is a major urban center, parking is at a premium and typically carries a fee. Kudos to you for attempting transit; I’m sorry it doesn’t seem to be working for you. First, I would suggest that you make sure you’ve exhausted all of the transit possibilities by asking for help. You can visit the Commuter Connection store during open hours or submit a commute inquiry form to Commuter Connection staff, and they will get back to you with a commute plan. You can also contact the transit agencies directly; see contact information at the bottom of the Choose Your Way Bellevue bus page. Note that connecting to transit at a park & ride lot can often provide access to frequent bus service to downtown Bellevue. For example, from the S. Kirkland Park & Ride there is service to downtown via routes 230 and 234, which each run every half during the weekday work hours, with lesser service levels in the evenings and on weekends.
Have you thought about sharing a ride? Even with a part-time work situation, you may be able to find a ride match for at least one way and could perhaps take the bus in the other direction. Metro Rideshare Operations suggests the following for part-time workers. First, register at RideshareOnline.com and enter your exact days and scheduled hours to see what commuters match your schedule. Contact the best matches to arrange ridesharing. Then, if there are few or no matches, increase your flexibility by using the drop-down box next to your work hours. Try adjusting your hours or adding Park-and-Ride lots along your route to increase your chances of finding a match. For further ride matching assistance you can call 206-625-4500.
Finally, you can submit feedback about transit service to Metro or Sound Transit. Good luck.
-Kate