i wonder:

why don’t we at least expand monorail up queen anne to make it useful?

why couldn’t we benefit from a more comprehensive streetcar system while we wait for light rail to link us better?

having lived in japanese cities and seeing the benefits and quality of life from good public transport, i know that this is exactly what we need to make seattle an even better place to call home.

Nickb, I’ve posted a response to your question here.

The people you meet, the girls on the bus (I’m not kidding) and the things on the street that you simply cannot see when you are driving.

I myself would be doing exactly what you did if not for the fact that my employer requires me to have a vehicle for occasional trips.

Personally, when I lived in Ballard my car was equivalent to my perceived freedom. Although, I enjoy driving for sport, after two years in Ballard I no longer enjoyed commuting. Living in the U-District for the past six years, I cherish being able to do most anything *conveniently* without a car.

Just as you described, I have also finished several books on the bus to work in the morning AND learned a bit of another language. Every time I drive into work (rarely) I essentially lose the entire commute time that I could have been reading or concentrating on something other than attempting to beat the bus I would have taken downtown.

Also, the way that population density creates cultural opportunities is right-on. In addition to the lack of diverse options, car-dependent environments encourage things like chain-stores to become dominant. These businesses use the leverage of television commercials to get people into their stores, as otherwise they would likely just drive right by. In more dense communities, chain stores still exist, but they tend to have smaller floor areas, and local shops thrive.

Great first post!