Comments on: TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Seattle’s Sexy New SLUT Streetcar

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:23:12 +0000

Brian and others who say it’s faster to walk – please realize that it’s faster for YOU to walk. Unfortunately, in society, there are many people who have mobility issues that public transport systems might benefit. So, just because you can walk it faster doesn’t mean everyone can.

By: brian

brian — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:15:16 +0000

don’t get me wrong, I love the technology and I hope it prospers and grows…but with a 15 minute headway it’s certainly faster just to walk

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:06:50 +0000

You are right on all accounts Scott, except it’s the SLUT not the SLUS? as everyone around the Old Cascade neighbohood knows. For those of you new to the story, the Cascade is the real name for the 100 year old neighborhood that Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc.and the City of Seattle have recently renamed South Lake Union. They have also backtracked on the original and real name they gave to the South lake Union Trolley and now after figurining out the unfortunate acronym this creates are calling it a streetcar. Everyone in Seattle still calls it the S.L.U.T.

By: Scott Mercer

Scott Mercer — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:33:22 +0000

Typical complaints by train-hating elitist snobs.

“It doesn’t GO ANYWHERE!” (Translation: it doesn’t go everywhere.)

“It’s an abomination” (Translation: Just because thousands will ride it, it is a waste because I will never ride it.)

“It’s just a bus contained to a set of rails.” NO. It is an urban AMENITY, like a library, museum, or a sports stadium. The fact that it is planted in one place is an ADVANTAGE, not a hindrance.

You people have been proved wrong before with the trolley in Portland, and you will be proved wrong, ONCE AGAIN, with the SLUS. The system will be expanded eventually, and it will go to plenty of places. It will be an invaluable addtion to the Seattle cityscape and most people will wonder how the city ever got along without it.

Mark my words.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:28:54 +0000

$65 million (with favorable interest rates) wasted to do what 5% of that would do by updating bus service.
A tribute to megalomaniacs Paulie A and Mayor Dimwit, neither of whom contributed a penny!

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:12:43 +0000

You can get the origianl shirts that started the worldwide uproar exclusively at Kapow! Coffee in Seattle or at http://www.ridetheslut.com

By: brendan

brendan — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:45:12 +0000

what a step backwards! first off, this does nothing to improve on the existing bus system (it is simply a bus contained to a set of rails)

and don’t even get me started on the rails. as a cyclist, the rails spell disaster for bicycles whose tires can easily be swallowed by the conveniently wide gap in the pavement. don’t worry, i have already confirmed this by wrecking my bike in front of fred hutchison research center — thanks paul

the money would have been better spent improving the bus system or better yet, funding the light rail system which will NOT be subject to the daily gridlock traffic of downtown seattle.

i, for one, and extremely dissapointed in this waste money.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:38:33 +0000

Someone/something has to be “the first on the dance floor”, right? Perhaps even with the controversy, this will be the begining of an expanded public transit network for Seattle. But first, it seems, there has to be an expansion of the public’s imagination. That’s where these initial efforts can play a role, I think. Not perfect, maybe… but it’s a start.

-Naomi

By: Kat

Kat — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:05:06 +0000

wow, lots of fellow seattlites, it seems. save the world, ride a slut? why haven’t i heard about this? how embarassing.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:36:45 +0000

Too bad it doesn’t GO anywhere. It would be great if Seattle could get public transportation that didn’t suck. But even when we adopt a great idea, like Portland’s light rail system, we still screw it up.

By: kormmandos

kormmandos — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:20:06 +0000

I can’t help but think of this pun.
“You’ve gotta ride a SLUT to go places in Seattle.”
hur, hur, hur…
Sorry.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:04:14 +0000

Well, on the topic of new mass transit systems, Charlotte opened its new light rail line – LYNX – on November 24. It has averaged 12,000 daily riders (over the projected 9,100 daily ridership), which follows its blockbuster opening free-fare weekend ridership of over 100,000 people. It’s the first piece of Charlotte’s 2030 plan, which includes more light rail, commuter rail, and streetcars.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:35:33 +0000

I rode it last week and think it will be a nice addition to the city. I wish it offered access to more of the Seattle (like Portland’s great system). Perhaps that will come in time.

By: bv

bv — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:02:01 +0000

having lived in seattle and hated the lack of mass-transit… its great to see this. i’m pretty sure, if my memory serves me correctly, this was funded at least in part by paul allen (?) either way. nice job!
cheers. bv.

By: chelsea

chelsea — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:40:22 +0000

I WANT to love the streetcar, but I cannot.

There is only one loop, and it serves the “up and coming” south lake union area, which is predominantly owned by Vulcan. Coincidence? I think not.

At such an expense, it seems like the money would be better suited to improve the existing bus system. Without grade separation, the trolley system has the potential to get stuck in the same snarled traffic as all of the existing buses and cars on the road, with the added hazard to bicyclists of rails embedded in the road. No extra lanes were added for the trolley, so any “dedicated” lane is simply cutting existing capacity in half.

What Seattle needs is grade separated public transit which can rush past those traffic snarls, the number one reason to ride public transit in many minds. Like the doomed, single-loop monorail, I suspect the trolley is going to become a one-off novelty ride.