Long distance on Local Transit

[BreannaF]

Background -- back in the days of yore around 30 years ago, when I was 13-14-15-16 y/o, and before the Internet and computers, about the time that dinosaurs roamed the Earth, I would go out and get a complete set of Metro Transit (Seattle) schedules, then amuse myself for hours by taking "trips" all over the Seattle area using the schedules. Occasionally, I'd even get to really take the trip. Later, I'd deconstruct how many buses it would physically take to cover all the routes and times in the transit system.

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Anyway --

I was going around snooping on the Internet, and found that one of my childhood dreams has almost come true. I would always wonder whether at some point it would be possible to travel from Seattle to Portland entirely on local transit buses. That has not actually happened. But it is possible to travel from the US-Canada border to Astoria, Oregon entirely on local transit buses.

The trip would take in 10 different transit systems and go from Blaine down through Seattle to Tacoma and Olympia, then turn toward the coast to Shelton and Aberdeen, then south through South Bend and Ilwaco across the Columbia River into Astoria.

I imagine that the trip, if taken, would take at least a few days, since in a couple of cases, the trips rely on commuter routes that may only serve their routes once or a few times per day. But I find it to be truly interesting that such a thing, at least on paper, is even possible. One of these days, I'll actually time it all out.

Just wondering if anyone out there cares, or perhaps even shares my mental illness enthusiasm.

[Political Incorrectness]

You got two people, me and Retro. I am tired of how it takes 11 transit systems to get from point A to B and takes a matter of days to do it via transit. I would like something that could do it with around 2 systems. A train and then a few buses and that is it. On the Kitsap Penninsula, it would not make sense to do any sort of major transit system because of how spread out our populous is and our current population.

[ruddernut]

Starting September 4th, the gap between Abbotsford and Greater Vancouver will finally be closed with the addition of ValleyMax's new #21 route.

www.bctransit.com/regions/cfv/schedules/map.cfm?p=map.rname&v=u&line=21

Since the Abbotsford and Whatcom County transit systems are already within short walking distance of each other on opposite sides of the Huntingdon/Sumas border crossing, that technically makes Vancouver and Seattle (and places beyond) contiguously connected by transit.

Now, if only they would extend Translink's #321 route 8 more blocks south to the Peace Arch crossing, there would be a more direct connection.

[BreannaF]

ruddernut said:

Since the Abbotsford and Whatcom County transit systems are already within short walking distance of each other on opposite sides of the Huntingdon/Sumas border crossing, that technically makes Vancouver and Seattle (and places beyond) contiguously connected by transit.

Now, if only they would extend Translink's #321 route 8 more blocks south to the Peace Arch crossing, there would be a more direct connection.

Very interesting! That would extend the network quite a ways to the north.

It almost makes me want to try something I have not done before -- walking across the border. Legally at a border crossing, of course.

ferrymaniac101 said:

You got two people, me and Retro. I am tired of how it takes 11 transit systems to get from point A to B and takes a matter of days to do it via transit. I would like something that could do it with around 2 systems. A train and then a few buses and that is it. On the Kitsap Penninsula, it would not make sense to do any sort of major transit system because of how spread out our populous is and our current population.

I'm not suggestion that this is the ONLY way to make the trip, just an intersting way that might be a fun exercise some day. But I WAS rather upset a few years ago when Greyhound decided to stop serving a lot of smaller communities in favour of only serving larger cities. Sure, from the economic standpoint of the company, it makes sense to only serve the most profitable destinations. On the other hand, it left a lot of people in some smaller places without any transportation options. There have been some companies that have come in to meet the demand, but it is a difficult to use patchwork of companies.

[ruddernut]

There is actually a more scenic route to Vancouver through Port Angeles and Victoria, if the Coho and BC Ferries are allowed.