by Marlene Farrell
Living in Leavenworth and working part-time in Wenatchee means there’s miles to travel, 26 one way, to be precise. Like you, I want to balance my values–the environment, economics and convenience–when deciding how to get where I need to go.
Did you know that convenience doesn’t have to be at odds with financial and environmental benefits? Not when there’s Link Transit; it costs me nothing to ride and has frequent trips from which to choose.
I became a new Link Transit bus rider when I started my job at SNCW in January 2024. Now I ride the Express or the #22 most days. I’m especially pleased with the Express; without detours into Olds Station, Cashmere or Peshastin, I get home quickly after a long day.
My office hours are flexible and structured around meetings, so you’ll catch me taking an early or mid-morning bus south and an afternoon or evening bus home.
I park at Wilkommen Park & Ride with only a minute or two to spare. Armed with my computer pack and lunch bag, I hop on the bus, share a quick hello with the driver, and take a seat, usually a double for myself and my stuff. The bus is warm and clean, the other passengers each on their own earnest journey, the big picture windows revealing the valley opening up before me.
Depending on the day, I settle into that calm or I dive back into a chapter of a good audiobook, work on a few Spanish language app lessons, or get a jump start on work emails. Few of these would be an option if I were driving, and I’m learning to love the variety and the freedom to do nothing.
The learning curve has been gentle. I’ve gotten on and off at different stops, including in Cashmere and Peshastin. I’ve ridden my bike to the bus stop, and the bike rack at the front of the bus opened and closed smoothly, locking my bike in place and relieving me of worries that I’d do it wrong or take too long.
There’s a helpful My Stop app, and I also like to use Google maps, which can sync bus riding and walking to a destination.
In my family, we juggle two cars for three drivers. We drive older cars and haven’t budgeted for EVs, so I’m aware of the carbon footprint of driving. Riding the bus makes sense. In Wenatchee, electric buses cover two thirds of the bus routes. Link Transit plans to expand its electric fleet, helping our community have less reliance on fossil fuels.
Still, I have the luxury of making a conscious decision to ride the bus most days, and I have to break the habit of assuming I should drive. As a bus rider, I have to do a bit more planning if I have multiple places I need to be in a day. Sometimes, I get home a little later. I am with other people, strangers mostly, on full or mostly empty buses, instead of in my autonomous little plastic, metal and glass realm. Solo driving is so weirdly American, while riding a bus is so very human. I do both, and I recommend you try the latter if you haven’t in a while.
We’re lucky to have extensive, dependable and free public transit in our spread-out region. Lukas Meeker, Link Transit’s Outreach Specialist, shared more with me.
On a quarterly basis, Link Transit staff, led by a data analyst and planner, combine ridership data and community feedback to make small and impactful changes to the bus schedules to improve efficiency and meet the needs of the community. For instance, Link Transit is currently researching expanding routes in East Wenatchee. They’re reviewing community survey data, and are planning more engagement to best direct the expansion.
In addition to their standard routes, Link Transit offers innovative services to serve more people. LinkPlus serves qualified passengers who have needs based on disability. DART stands for Dial a Ride Transportation and adds public transit options beyond the routes in Leavenworth and Chelan via reservation, which can become a regular booking.
I was thrilled to learn that on the #3, you can let the driver know you want to be dropped off at the Saddle Rock trailhead. After a hike, you use the call box to alert Link Transit that you’re ready for the next pick up. What a fantastic way to make outdoor recreation more accessible.
Finally, if fear of the unknown is keeping you from trying Link Transit, not only can you rely on the knowledgeable bus drivers (and, often, fellow passengers), but Travel Trainer Pete is available to meet with you at your convenience to help you plan your routes and can even ride with you to help you get familiar with a new routine.
Hope I see you on a Link Transit bus sometime soon!
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