Suudy
Active member
When I lived in the Seattle area (Kirkland), I used to take the bus to downtown. It would drop me off at the corner of Stewart and Denny, then I would walk down to SoDo (near where Amazon is). I’d usually get off the bus about 7am, and begin my trek. I’d listen to my iPod as I strolled along.
Even then (this was about '04), there were druggies everywhere. There were people sleeping on the streets. It was pretty bad, but I never felt unsafe. But then there was a mugging one morning on the exact route I had taken, where a man was beaten and his wallet, phone, and laptop were stolen. He was knocked unconscious and left to lie on the sidewalk until he woke. I’m trying to find the article, but it was all the buzz in our office. The guy doesn’t know how many people walked by him, but he was out for about an hour, then stumbled to a business and asked them to call 911.
My wife forbad me from taking the bus. But I couldn’t drive, as parking was $20 in the lots, and street parking was limited to 2 hrs/day. So, I took the bus to Westlake Center (which today is far worse than it was then) and rode the SLUT to work–another extra cost. After a couple of years of that I abandoned it.
So, not only is Seattle proper unsafe. It’s expensive. Not only do I have to risk harassment and possible violence, but I have the privilege of paying for it too.
Even then (this was about '04), there were druggies everywhere. There were people sleeping on the streets. It was pretty bad, but I never felt unsafe. But then there was a mugging one morning on the exact route I had taken, where a man was beaten and his wallet, phone, and laptop were stolen. He was knocked unconscious and left to lie on the sidewalk until he woke. I’m trying to find the article, but it was all the buzz in our office. The guy doesn’t know how many people walked by him, but he was out for about an hour, then stumbled to a business and asked them to call 911.
My wife forbad me from taking the bus. But I couldn’t drive, as parking was $20 in the lots, and street parking was limited to 2 hrs/day. So, I took the bus to Westlake Center (which today is far worse than it was then) and rode the SLUT to work–another extra cost. After a couple of years of that I abandoned it.
So, not only is Seattle proper unsafe. It’s expensive. Not only do I have to risk harassment and possible violence, but I have the privilege of paying for it too.