This post is a fast account of several phases of transit adventure disguised partly as elderliving quest..
5+ years ago, RantMom came into money enough to afford to move to a retirement community. This is reflects both DEEP affection of a longtime family friend and a HUGE relief for RantWoman.
RantMom chose well, in terms of excellent garden and landscaping, in terms of helpful staff and in terms of transportation. In particular, at the time, the location was one bus away from Little Sister's house and two frequent buses or various other permutations away from RantWoman. Unlike RantMom's previous abode, it was too far for RantWoman to walk but transit access was great and there was staff to deal with some times when RantWoman would previously have had to spend the night after some medical experience!
Then North Link opened. Sigh.
Bus service hours, probably appropriately, got reallocated. The one bus option went to Little Sister's apartment went away and RantMom spent a lot of time dealing with paratransit scheduling hassles. Eventually, quite a while later, Rant Family collaboration figured out an easy two-bus routing between RantMom and Little Sister. This worked fine though RantMom also sometimes assessed energy levels and opted for ACCESS instead.
Along came the #pandemic, assorted old building concerns, and a company decision to tear down RantMom's community and rebuild. This news has lingered for quite awhile with considerations about options to move to other communities operated by the same company. The GO Please move phase finally landed this spring. Residents scattered among the choices. Staff moved on. There were lots of good-byes and recognitions and time to reminisce.
The choices:
Across Lake Washington? Hands down, too far for the transit-dependent RantFamily.
Location in Wallingford: no question the best transit connections but not a fit for multiple reasons.
Location in Greenwood. Still two frequent bus legs but a longer ride. Also not feasible.
Option where RantMom landed: beautiful. on the edge of Lake Washington, right where Seattle and Renton street numbers intermingle. At first glance, oh good. A bus route that goes about 3 blocks away...
We WILL make the transportation work.
Visit 1:
a bright sunny day routing by Google maps. Several options presented. One option selected without looking at route maps or thinking through pieces. This routing had one transfer. RantWoman and Thwack spent a couple moments at the transfer intersection while RantWoman fumbled with her phone. It was a bright sunny day. The intersection has a stoplight. A lovely woman came along and offered "ask a human assistance. RantWoman found the transfer stop, rode to the recommended stop and discovered no sidewalks and no curbs.
RantWoman guessed at the direction down the street and chose the side closest to the bus stop. There was a pitiful asphalt path with SEVERAL discontinuities. The grade was WAY too steep for any wheelchair user without one of those super-duper climbing chairs to consider.
Visit accomplished. Little Sister had come on ACCESS and went home that way. A staffperson who commutes from Capital Hill and uses rideshare from the Renton Transit Center walked RantWoman back up the very steep hill on the other side of the street. The asphalt path was in a little better condition, but RantWoman did not really enjoy the hike.
At the top of the hill RantWoman naively assumed that she should catch the bus on the opposite side of the street, but RantWoman did not really pay attention to the stops once she got on the bus. Turned out, thanks to the magic of Metro through routing, the 107 bus turned into the 148, a point RantWoman learned when last stop was called. Driver was apologetic about needing a break. It was a lovely day. RantWoman opted not even to fuss, but just to hang out at the bus stop until the driver was ready to make his run back.This time RantWoman paid enough attention to transfer to the 101 at the S Renton Park and Ride, a stop RantWoman knows well from a long ago work commute. Route 101 goes straight to downtown and RantWoman did fine from there.
MetroFlex?
Muddle around with MetroFlex and the evolving Find a Ride routing. RantWoman thinks she has email that might help about a couple nuances. The Metro Flex app told RantWoman to use the same bus stop as before. RantWoman has other grumbles about the MetroFlex app and will write separately.
Visit # 2.
Review the routing options, take to heart the Renton Transit Center option, and again get off at the same stop as before. It was a gray day and cool enough to justify RantWoman's hi-vis yellow raincoat. It also dawned on RantWoman that she can easily catch the 106 right near home and have a much easier transfer to the 107.
Off at the same stop as before. The same steep walk down the hill. RantWoman checked out the better side of the street but finally decided just to walk in the street. Thank you bright yellow hi-vis raincoat. Thank you cars who appropriately just went around RantWoman. Thank you minimal traffic going up the hill, but still not an approach RantWoman is going to want to do in bad weather.
RantMom insisted RantWoman just take a ride-share ride back to the transit center. RantWoman opted for the 107 back home, partly because there is a grocery store next to the last stop.
Trip #3.
106 to the Renton Transit Center. MetroFlex by phone. Meh. More separately. Try one Rideshare option: glad to serve in an hour for a price RantWoman did not want to deal with. Other rideshare option wanted booking only half an hour in advance. Fine. Transfer to the 107. Get one stop before the recommended stop and see what the walking route looks like. of course no curbs and nothing but some intermittent asphalt paths here either, but Eureka! It too two tries to fine a street that led to workable cross streets and a short less than ideal walk along Rainier Ave S. By this time RantMom was starting to fuss. She was thrilled that RantWoman arrived safely, and we had a lovely spell of opening and unpacking enough boxes to find a few things that had gotten misplaced in the move.
Then it was time to book a ride before RantMom went off to dinner. This time the rideshare ride had LEGROOM! RantWoman opted for the 106 for a one-bus ride home or at least to things she might do on the way.
Coming next?
Tonight RantWoman spent some time looking at Google maps. The distance from the transit center is less than 2 miles, a good walk if the weather is nice and the pedestrian options are reasonable. STAY TUNED.
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