[UPDATE: I buried the lede here. Judging from the comments, people are watching the video and not reading and offering suggestions on the STB visitor guide.]

The Seattle Channel recently produced this transit-oriented users guide to the City in 2005. It’s a little more focused on attractions than getting around.

Last week I threw together this visitor guide for people visiting Seattle and trying to get around using public transit. It’ll remain on the right sidebar for reference.

17 Replies to “Seattle Visitor Guide”

  1. Waterfront trolley? Elliott Bay Bookstore in Pioneer Square? Gold and white Metro buses? How “recently produced” was this?

  2. Yeah, was “recently produced” tongue in cheek? Maybe the producers don’t live in Seattle… :)

    1. Looks like it’s from 2005:

      http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3101

      Visiting Seattle by Bus, Boat, Rail and Foot 5/5/2005 12:19
      This segment demonstrates how easy it is to expose out of town guests to Seattle’s many sights, without the hassle of driving, traffic and parking. Using public transportation guests can see the Seattle Center, central business district sights, Pioneer Square, Waterfront, International District and Pike Place Market. Also included in the segment are little known bits of Seattle history and folklore. Please Note: Improvements to Seattle’s waterfront have temporarily suspended waterfront trolley service. The line has been replaced by a free bus service.

  3. be nice to local techies if you say things like google transit and bing maps offer better way route planning than metro. Also you should mention onebusaway web site and mobile apps etc if you are standing at a stop and don’t know whats going on!

    2. We just did! The post must be very unclear, but there is a visitor guide that we’ve produced, and I’d appreciate comments.

  5. This video is also full of inaccuracies such as saying that Sounder arrives at Union Station, and that Pioneer Square is considered a “National Park” (it’s a Historic Park, that’s not the same category as Olympic or Yellowstone, for example)

    1. There is Klondike Gold Rush National Park within Pioneer Square (I think that’s what they were referring to)

      Very worth it (and it’s free!)

    2. That caught me by surprise too. While minor, he also states that you can take the Washington State Ferry with a one-way ticket and remain onboard. Yes, there isn’t a charge for the return trip, but all passengers must disembark and reboard the boat.

  6. Okay, I’ll leave a comment on Martin’s little thing (though really, I must wonder what the original thought process behind both this post and the Guide was):

    I know Metro’s downtown map is redundant with the frequent map outside of the inclusion of the 16, but would it still be useful to a tourist? (If not, Metro needs to hire Oran NOW.)

    Is the RFA really that hard to understand (or even to make understandable) for tourists? I know you kinda sorta addressed this point, but I’m just wondering if there’s a way to make the same point in a more accurate way without being any more confusing.

    You also indirectly point out several serious shortcomings in our system for tourists, especially where ORCA is concerned.

  7. How about a map with DSTT entrances? I lived in the area for a couple years before I actually found some of them.

  8. Nice guide. I’d especially emphasize the utility of Google Maps; even after I’d been in town for a year it was the only way I really had of reliably working out public transit to parts of the city I hadn’t been before. (The official site is terrible.)

    Probably the most useful thing for a newcomer is to know that the light rail goes directly from the airport to downtown, and it’s only $2.25. I found that out by accident the day I arrived, and was very grateful to do so, but it’s definitely something more folks should know about.

    Maybe also mention the Ride Free Area?

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