Bicycle
While Seattle shut down its municipal bikeshare system, Pronto, in early 2017, it had the lasting side benefit of exponentially improving bike lanes in the city. They are painted green and usually separated from traffic lanes. Pick up a copy of the Seattle Bicycling Guide Map, published by the City of Seattle’s Transportation Bicycle & Pedestrian Program (www.cityofseattle.net/transportation/bikemaps.htm) and available at bike shops (or downloadable from the website). The website also has options for ordering delivery of the printed map (free of charge).
The best non-motor traffic route is the scenic Burke-Gilman Trail, which passes through the northern neighborhoods of the U District, Wallingford, Fremont and Ballard. Other handy bike paths are the Ship Canal Trail on the north side of Queen Anne, Myrtle Edwards Park, Green Lake Park and the Cheshiahud Loop around Lake Union.
Boat
The most useful inter-neighborhood boat route is the water taxi that connects the downtown waterfront (Pier 50) with West Seattle (Seacrest Park). The water taxi runs hourly every day in the summer and weekdays only in the winter. The fare is $5.25 for the 10-minute crossing.
Bus
Buses are operated by King County Metro Transit, part of the King County Department of Transportation. The website prints schedules and maps and has a trip planner.
To make things simple, all bus fares within Seattle city limits are a flat $2.75 at peak hours (6am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm weekdays). Off-peak rates are $2.50. Those aged six to 18 pay $1.50, kids under six are free, and seniors and travelers with disabilities pay $1. Most of the time you pay or show your transfer when you board. Your transfer ticket is valid for three hours from time of purchase. Most buses can carry two to three bikes.
Car & Motorcycle
Seattle traffic is disproportionately heavy and chaotic for a city of its size, and parking is scarce and expensive. Add to that the city’s bizarrely cobbled-together mishmash of skewed grids, the hilly terrain and the preponderance of one-way streets and it’s easy to see why driving downtown is best avoided if at all possible.
Rental
To rent a car, you need a valid driver’s license and a major credit card.
There are rental agencies in Sea-Tac airport, located in the baggage-claim area, with pickup and drop-off service from the 1st floor of the garage. Car-rental agencies within Seattle include the following:
Avis
Budget
Dollar
Enterprise
Hertz
Another good option for those who need only limited use of a vehicle is Zipcar. Membership gives you access to a number of car-sharing vehicles distributed throughout the city. Members can make reservations online or by phone for as long as they need the car, then return it to the parking place where they picked it up when they’re done. Rules for gas and mileage charges vary depending on which plan you choose.
Light Rail
Sound Transit operates Link light rail. The first – and, as yet, only – Seattle line, Central Link, runs from Sea-Tac airport to the University of Washington via Westlake Station in downtown. There are 15 stations including stops in SoDo, the International District, Pioneer Square and Capitol Hill. Fares within the city limits are $2.25. From downtown to the airport costs $3. Trains run between 5am and 12:30am.
Streetcar
The revival of the Seattle Streetcar was initiated in 2007 with the opening of the 2.6-mile South Lake Union line that runs between the Westlake Center and Lake Union. There are 11 stops and fares cost a standard $2.25/1.50 per adult/child. Streetcars breeze by every 15 minutes from 6am to 9pm (slightly later on Friday and Saturday). A second 10-stop line opened in 2016 running from Pioneer Square via the International District and First Hill to Capitol Hill.
Taxi
You can hail a cab from the street, but it’s a safer bet to call and order one. All Seattle taxi cabs operate at the same rate, set by King County. At the time of research the rate was $2.60 at meter drop, then $2.70 per mile. There may be an additional charge for extra passengers and baggage. Any of the following offer reliable taxi services:
Seattle Orange Cab
Seattle Yellow Cab
STITA Taxi
Train
Sound Transit operates trains connecting Seattle to outlying communities to the north and south. It’s set up more for commuters than travelers, but if you happen to want to visit, for example, Everett ($5, 40 minutes, several daily), Mukilteo ($4.50, one hour, several daily) or, more realistically, Tacoma ($5.25 to $5.50, one hour, several daily), the trains are new and clean and schedules run smoothly. Sound Transit also runs the light-rail service to Sea-Tac airport.
Although it doesn’t exactly count as a train, the Monorail was originally intended as public transportation. It only goes one mile, from Westlake Center straight to Seattle Center and back every 10 minutes, but it’s a fun if kitschy way to get between these two places.
