Does mass transit make you nervous (or give you the heebie-jeebies?)

“It’s dirty, smelly, hot, and slow, and the only people who do it are the people, like me, who have to. The overwhelming majority of us, I believe, would rather ride in peace—not in a gold-plated private jet, not on a flying carpet. All we want is a regular bus. We just don’t want to be harassed, offered drugs, crushed against people who smell like booze and piss, or sucked into confrontations we didn’t ask for.”

That’s The Stranger writer Erica C. Barnett’s description of riding the public bus.

And if you’ve ridden a bus, you’ve probably been there, too: being asked for a cigarette multiple times while waiting at the stop, fumbling for exact change while boarding, guessing which stop is closest to your final destination, missing your stop and having to backtrack…not to mention the potential of experiencing everything Barnett journaled in the above excerpt.

If you’re not a regular bus rider, the challenges the Puget Sound region’s mass transit system poses (what I wouldn’t give for a fast, reliable subway or light rail) can make leaving your car at home more of a rarity than it should be.

Community Transit leaders say they know the unknown is one of the biggest hurdles to getting people on the bus. That’s why they’re hosting a “Learn How to Ride” forum.

From 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tue., June 10 at Willis Tucker Community Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive in Snohomish, those who want to know exactly what to expect when they realize gas prices are simply too high to drive to work can get all their questions answered. Anyone who attends will get information on vanpools, a welcome packet with an overview of all of CT’s services, and a pair of free tickets.

If you’re busy that night, don’t fear: another workshop will be offered at the same place, same time, on Thur., Aug. 7.

Call 425-388-6600 to register.

How often do you leave your car at home? Do you think a workshop like this one will help convince anyone to do otherwise? Comment below!