TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Holiday-countdown Thursday

(SDOT’s east-facing West Seattle Bridge cam; more WS-relevant cams here)
Back to our normal traffic/transit updates, now that the weather is back to the more-predictable showery pattern – here’s the latest forecast. Please let us know if you spot any problems – provided you’re not in the driver seat (in which case, comment or text/call when you get where you’re going, 206-293-6302).

TRANSIT NOTE FOR NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND: Reminder that Metro will be on a “reduced weekday” schedule Monday and Wednesday-Friday of next week as well as Monday of the following week, with a Sunday schedule on the next two Tuesdays (Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) – more here. Both Water Taxis (West Seattle and Vashon) will be out of service on Christmas/New Year’s Days but operating normally the other weekdays.

8 AM UPDATE: Thanks to the caller who just let us know about stalled cars causing some backup as eastbound WS Bridge leads to northbound I-5.

Here December 20, 2012 (8:04 am)

It’s kind of a pretty picture…

Fed up December 20, 2012 (8:17 am)

I wonder if the bridge will be decent this week?

wsea December 20, 2012 (8:36 am)

I was able to man up (or women up for the ladies) and bike into work this morning. The rain is not so bad after the first mile. Gear is important.

rico December 20, 2012 (10:12 am)

Good for you “wsea”.

The ride appears to make you feel good about yourself (and superior too)

Nice way to imply those driving (often for very valid reasons) are somehow “not manly”. It is “men” like yourself that make the world go around, of course you already know that.

old timer December 20, 2012 (10:28 am)

I am not reading about overcrowded busses or passengers being left behind anymore.
Nor is there reporting of overlong waiting time.
Can we assume that the RapidRide has been finally implemented to everyone’s satisfaction?
Or, have things remained the same, and do folks no longer have the energy or desire to complain anymore?

iggy December 20, 2012 (11:53 am)

For me, it’s the “new normal.” I “no longer have the….desire to complain anymore.” Seattle is a big city that is pretending its RR bus is a subway train, when it isn’t. So, it’s time for me to move on with my life and use my energy in more productive ways than complaining about the sad-excuse-for-progress RR.

G December 20, 2012 (12:35 pm)

Like light rail, there is little quantitative data that shows RR has improved, overall, public transportation. We’re simply shuffling folks around to make it seem as if progress is being made.

amalia December 20, 2012 (12:43 pm)

Yes, good for you, WSEA. Except minus the sarcasm. You certainly didn’t deserve the snark, those accusations of implications being false. Wow, defensive much?
.
The weather sucks, but it beats being stuck in a car! Well done!

Wendell December 20, 2012 (12:52 pm)

rico needs a manly hug.

rico December 20, 2012 (1:22 pm)

Sorry for being snarkish, simply trying to balance the scales relative to the conceit displayed by some bicyclists.

Not sure how a bicyclists comments about a bike commute have anything to do with the subject of traffic and transit, other than a horn tooting opportunity – something many of us are tired of reading.

WSB December 20, 2012 (1:53 pm)

Rico – bicycles are part of traffic and transit. This feature is for EVERYBODY who has to get from point A to point B, including on foot – TR

Julie December 20, 2012 (1:24 pm)

My experience with rapid ride hasn’t improved much but I do avoid it whenever possible. The evening commute buses I’ve been on have been packed with SRO starting at the Pike stop. There are no scanners at Pike and no Metro boarding helpers so most people board at the front which takes a while. Last time I counted at least 30 people got on at the front door. Overall, I think everyone has realized that this is the new normal and although I hear a lot of people complain on the bus it seems like they have given up.

Bus rider December 20, 2012 (2:00 pm)

Tuesday night I boarded the “rapid” ride at about 5:45pm from 2nd & Columbia. The bus was packed and a lot of us squeezed on anyway. Then the bus driver announced that a 2nd RR was in back and “empty”. By the time a lot of us rushed the 2nd bus,it was also packed -though not as tightly as sardines. There was a man who had an assistance dog with him. The dog had the harness like you see on dogs that help people that are blind. He also got on the 2nd bus but decided to get off. He stated that he had to get off because it wasn’t safe. Another standing rider asked out loud, “Can someone stand?” Nobody did and the man got off the bus quickly. Sad. I was going to write about it too but I feel so tired about complaining. I agree with Iggy. Things haven’t changed.

RichWSeattle December 20, 2012 (2:39 pm)

Count me as one of the ones who had grown tired of complaining and has gone silent for that reason. Now that you’ve asked, I’m still lamenting that the KC Metro bus system had gone from one of the greatest conveniences to a source of daily stress.

Stephanie December 20, 2012 (4:07 pm)

I took my complaints to Metro, complaining here is good for venting, but going to the people who can actually do something is more useful. My RR experience has not been much better. They are more frequent, but packed to the gills every time (I have only ever been on at rush hour headed to WS). I am nearly 8 months pregnant and needed to ask for a seat – it isn’t that people don’t care, it is that no one can see me because the bus is so packed. I have started busing to the bus stop at Virginia to be able to get a seat without asking.

CandrewB December 20, 2012 (5:11 pm)

It’s adequate when it’s not abysmal, which happens sometimes.

circuitous December 20, 2012 (5:37 pm)

I’ve been driving since October. It’s certainly not ideal, but it means a 1-hour commute rather than 2 hours.
Yes, 2 hours from Westwood to the northern reaches of South Lake Union. And two hours back. On unsafely-crowded, unpredictable buses.
I want to be a transit rider but don’t have 20 hours a week to spend on/waiting for/walking to buses to get to and from my full-time job. Thank goodness it pays enough that I can afford to drive. I feel lucky for that, and guilty for being part of the traffic problem. I promise to get back on my bike when the days are long enough for me to feel safe riding.

Fed up December 20, 2012 (5:52 pm)

I’m sick of snarky cyclist comments too.

WSB December 20, 2012 (5:59 pm)

Guys, I have been in transit today, all for news stories and site business (technical help for our forum spam challenges) and there just is no time to finely mediate snarking. Please stop, whomever is snarking at whom … thank you … and if anything rulebreaking made it through PLEASE e-mail to let me know so I can find it when I finally get back to HQ – TR

Jane December 20, 2012 (6:42 pm)

I can’t remember if last year the buses were on reduced schedule the week between Christmas and New Years. It seems crazy that my bus, the 56, won’t be running all week.

G December 20, 2012 (7:30 pm)

Per snarky comments, I think you all just all just need some sun on the bones….:)

Person December 22, 2012 (11:17 pm)

I’ve solved the problem by driving. Metro has succeeded in making the bus ride so miserable and stressful, and take so much longer that even though I hate to drive it is a preferable course of action.

Congrats Metro, for adding one more car to the city’s congestion problems.

Sorry, comment time is over.