Don’t you mean the South Lake Union Trolley?

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/332081_slut18.html

Lets not start patting Seattlites on the back just yet for being champions of public space and urban transit.

In the mid-90’s, the city voted down a proposition to build a massive park in the neighborhood called The Seattle Commons. Seattle had (and has) one of the country’s lowest percentage of public green spaces for a large city. The park would have of course reversed this, but voters chose to keep the manufacturing businesses and car friendly roads (especially Mercer Street). In an ironic twist of fate, Paul Allen and a handful of developers have closed many of the neighborhood businesses that voters fought so hard to preserve.

Seattle voted to approave an elevated, rapid transit extension of the Monorail SIX TIMES before parking garage lobbyists and suburban developers finally convinced the city that mass transit was not viable and sustainable mode of transportation. The Monorail was taken to the voters a seventh time and failed. Seattle still has some of the worst congestion in America and no public rail service (SLUT is privately owned).

Although SLUT is a flashy, eco-friendly way to get around it only covers a few blocks, is privately owned, and hardly an option for the majority of Seattle’s commuters.

you need your bike to go 1.3 miles?
Not saying that is a bad thing and it didn’t look full, but wow.

Bike Dude,

Hey, we didn’t say anywhere that Seattle is a champion of public space and urban transit. From friends there I certainly know that it has been a tough struggle with lots of delays and battles over transit plans. But that said current momentum does seem to point to better things to come, it seems just a question of funding. As you know since a lot of the support for the Seattle’s transit system is based upon a functioning economy, there is a huge transit crisis booming like there is going on in NYC – fare hike, canceling of some bus routes, etc. – so let’s hope Seattle’s leaders can remedy that.

I have always loathed the word “trolley”–it’s meaningless.

“Trolley” has a lot more meaning than “light rail.” My mom used to ride the trolley to go shopping when she was a kid. People know what trolleys are.

“Let’s not start patting Seattlites on the back just yet for being champions of public space and urban transit.”

———————

There has been a sea change in public opinion.

As a native Seattlite I hear the difference when I go home for the holidays.

Seattle and King County voted for light rail expansion last November (as did Honolulu).

I think they do deserve a pat on the back for that. I am looking forward to taking light rail from the airport over Christmas.

A “trolley” is not always a “streetcar,” but a streetcar is always a trolley.

A trolley is a trolley, because it “trolls” the overhead power line to get its power. That’s why that pole that extends up from the roof of the car to the power line is called a “trolley pole.”

Therefore, a “light rail” is also a trolley, but, it is never a “streetcar,” even if does run on the street for some portion of its route. A light rail will always run on a private rail right of way for at least part of its route. A streetcar runs on a street for all of its route.

Have I alienated all the non transit nerds yet?

Jeremy: There are bike lanes and bike routes throughout the city. Nowhere near the number you find in a city like Portland or Davis, California, but they are certainly there.

The trouble is, however, that you have to get people to use them. I see the random scuffle between pedestrians and cyclists where the cyclist insists the bike lane is dangerous (ignoring other cyclists whizzing by) and they should therefore be able to take priority on sidewalks. Pedestrians disagree, of course. And rightfully so.

Very strange culture up here.