Mix & Match Your Commute – Multimodality in Bellevue

June is Ride Transit Month, and if you’ve been curious about commuting differently, this is a great time to experiment. Even if you don’t live somewhere easily accessible by transit routes, commuting sustainably can still be an option for you. For many people in Bellevue, the best sustainable commute is actually a combination of modes.  

That’s the idea behind multimodal commuting. Mix a bus ride with a short bike, pair light rail with vanshare, or drive to a Park & Ride and let transit handle the rest. The goal is to find a combination that works for your schedule, your neighborhood, and your life.  

Your Mode Menu

Lightrail: The 2 Line connects Bellevue with Seattle and Redmond, making it one of the fastest and most reliable options for commuting across Lake Washington. Skip the parking and traffic stress.  

Bus: The Bellevue Transit Center serves as a regional hub with routes from across the Eastside and beyond. A solid option whether you’re commuting downtown or connecting to another mode.  

Bike: Great for short distances and first/last mile trips. Ride to your nearest station, lock your bike up in a locker, and let transit handle the longer stretch.  

Walk: The simplest sustainable mode of all. If you’re within a reasonable distance to a transit stop, walking is often the easiest place to start.  

Vanpool: Ideal for longer commutes with a regular group. Vanpool costs are shared, and many employers offer subsidies that bring the price down further.  

Carpool: Share the ride with a neighbor, coworker, or roommate, and split the cost.  

Park & Ride: Not ready to leave your car behind entirely? Drive to a Park & Ride, then let transit do the rest. It’s a low-barrier way to cut down on solo driving without changing your whole routine.  

See It in Action

Here are four common combinations that work well in the Bellevue area:  

Drive + Transit: Park at a Park & Ride, then take a lightrail or bus the rest of the way. You still get the convenience of starting from your driveway without sitting in traffic the whole way.  

Walk + Transit: Walk to your nearest stop and let transit do the rest. Simple and often faster than you’d expect during peak commute hours.  

Transit + Micromobility: Bike or scooter to a transit station and let the bus or lightrail take you the rest of the way. This is especially useful if your workplace is close to a transit station, but your home might not be.  

Transit + Vanshare: Take transit most of the way, then connect with a vanshare for the final leg. A solid option to cover the first or last mile of your commute.  

The Numbers Make a Case

Beyond the environmental benefits, multimodal commuting makes financial sense. A household that takes public transportation and lives with one less car can save more than $13,000 annually. Even taking public transit just a few days a week or for just the first/last mile, adds up over time. By reducing reliance on a personal vehicle and choosing transit more often, a commuter can cut household carbon emissions by as much as 30 percent.

Public transit is also significantly safer than driving. A person can reduce their chances of being in an accident by more than 90% simply by taking public transit instead of commuting by car.  

Earn Rewards for Travelling Sustainably  

When you log non-drive-alone trips to, from, and around Bellevue through the Choose Your Way Bellevue Rewards Program, you can earn local gift cards ($10, $50, or $150) just for commuting sustainably. Whether you're riding the 2 Line, biking to your bus stop, or carpooling with a coworker, those trips count. Log your trips and start earning.

Ride Transit Month is a good excuse to try something new. Pick one combination from the list above, give it a week, and see how it fits. You might be surprised how well it works, and how quickly the rewards add up.