Rider Tools
Commute Calculator
Have you ever wondered what your commute really costs?
Find out with our quick and easy commute calculator! Just enter a few details about your trip and let our calculator do its thing. You might be surprised by the cost of your ride!
What would it cost you to pick another method?
| Method | Monthly Cost |
| Walking | $0 |
|
Biking |
$25 |
|
Transit ORCA PugetPass allows access to Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro Transit, King County Water Taxi, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, Seattle Streetcar, and Sound Transit) |
$80 |
|
Vanpool for 6 passengers commuting 25 miles roundtrip in King County |
$81 |
Reasons Why
Want a good reason to take the bus, ride your bike, catch a train, or walk? We have plenty! From saving money to saving the planet, these transportation options can help.
Be Green
- Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State, averaging around 50% for the last several years.
- Seventy percent of cancers caused by airborne pollutants come from diesel exhaust.
- At least 14 million pounds of toxic chemicals flow into Puget Sound every year including motor oil spill, drop, or runoff from paved-over areas.
- In Washington, driving accounts for almost 60% of air pollution.
- Each light rail train can carry 200 people in the space of 3 moving cars.
Save Time
- Work, read, or even nap on bus or train.
- Biking, walking, or taking transit avoids wasted time finding parking, dealing with parking tickets, or being towed.
- Trains and streetcars ar the safest and most reliable forms of transportation during inclement weather.
Be More Active
- One in three Washingtonians doesn’t get enough physical activity. .
- Walking and biking are good exercise and good for your health. They burn calories, build muscle tissue, strengthen the cardiovascular system and help control weight.
- People who take the bus or train are more likely to get their 30 minutes of recommended physical activity each day.
- 3.6 million americans 65 or older stay at home and are less mobile because they lack transportation options.
Be Safe
- In the US, riding a train is 20-30 times safer than driving, and riding the bus is about 60 times safer.
- Walking or biking is about 4 times safer than driving.
- Air pollution from cars has been linked with childhood asthma and stunted lung growth, along with cancer and other health impacts.
Save Money
- Transportation is the second largest household expense, only behind housing.
- Households that live further away from transit spend more than 45% of their budget on housing and transportation costs than households that have transit access.
- The percentage of a family’s income that is spent on transportation is highest for the lowest income earners: 8.2% for high-income and 15.7% for low-income.
- The annual economic impact of car crashes in the US is $277 billlion.
Transportation Resources by County
Select a County
King
Pacific
Whatcom
Skagit
Kitsap
Jefferson
Mason
Grays Harbor
Thurston
Wahkiakum
Cowlitz
Lewis
Clark
Skamania
Okanogan
Chelan
Walla Walla
Spokane
Pend Oreille
Stevens
Ferry
Lincoln
Adams
Franklin
Benton
Grant
Yakima
King (6)
Pacific (1)
Whatcom (1)
Skagit (1)
Snohomish (3)
Pierce (2)
Kitsap (1)
King (2)
Clallam (2)
Jefferson (1)
Mason (1)
Grays Harbor (1)
Thurston (1)
Wahkiakum (1)
Cowlitz (1)
Lewis (1)
Clark (1)
Skamania (1)
Okanogan (1)
Chelan (1)
Kittitas (2)
Asotin (1)
Columbia (1)
Walla Walla (1)
Whitman (2)
Spokane (1)
Pend Oreille (1)
Stevens (1)
Ferry (1)
Lincoln (1)
Adams (1)
Franklin (1)
Benton (1)
Grant (1)
Yakima (1)
Ways to Explore Washington State
You don’t need a car to explore the state! You can get from Seattle to the coast by taking public transportation. Here are some testimonials from people who’ve tried it and resources for you to start your own adventure.
News & Updates
Live Car-Free Tip #2: Ride Your Bike
This is the second post of our Live Car-Free blog series by Alison Turner. Do you have a bike that you bought for recreation lying around collecting dust? Tune it up and get on it! You don’t need a fancy ride decked out with all the latest gadgets, or a wardrobe of...
Vote For Your 2014 Transit Hero
We asked and you nominated your Transit Heroes. Now it's time to vote for the People's Choice Transit Hero! The nominees are (in alphabetical order): Claudia Balducci, Mayor of Bellevue and Sound Transit Board member has worked for more than a decade to connect...
Pierce County Passes Complete Streets Ordinance
The Pierce County Council voted Tuesday to adopt a Complete Streets Ordinance. Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all everyone, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Following the...
100 Ways To Live Car-Free
This is a guest post by our star volunteer Alison Turner We are bringing back our 100 Ways to Live Car-Free blog series. Ever wondered what life could look like without a car? How we get around has a huge impact on our lives. Whether it is getting to work, or to...
We Need You! Yes For Seattle Transit.
This may be our last chance to save bus service in Seattle. The Seattle City Council voted last week to place a Seattle-only, transit-only measure on the November 4th general election ballot. The plan will preserve transit service within the city of Seattle limits and...
The Bus Is A Pathway To Educational Opportunity
Whether making cuts or expanding routes and hours, the way in which Metro allocates bus service in King County has a huge impact not only on how we get around town day to day, but on access to education and the economic vitality of communities for generations to come....
An Update On Seattle Bus Service
Bus cuts are coming. But, there is something the City of Seattle can do about it. The failure of King County Prop 1 means that devastating cuts are on the horizon. But there is some hope. Seattle voters approved the measure overwhelmingly. And, last month, Metro set...
Constantine: Transit Champion For Common Sense
Late last week, King County Executive Dow Constantine signed an executive order to further integrate regional transit planning and operations in the Puget Sound. Transportation Choices welcomes this news and continues to appreciate Executive Constantine’s leadership...
A Sustainable Metro: Our Top Priority
Yesterday, the King County Council passed a proposal by Councilmember Rod Dembowski that would delay the Metro bus cuts made necessary by the great recession and the failure of Prop 1 last April. Under Dembowski’s proposal, which was supported by councilmembers Hague,...
More, Better, Safer Transit — Now!
You probably already know that May is Bike Month. (We hope you've been riding!) But did you know that this May is also Transit Action Month? The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) has organized a month of “rallies, leafleting events, ride-alongs with elected officials,...
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