King County Metro Transit Bus

I’ve ridden many busses across the U.S. as a part of travel. I know the reviews of Seattle’s bus line aren’t completely stellar, but it is SO MUCH BETTER THAN ATLANTA.
No one was speaking loudly on their phone, and I didn’t see a homeless person’s penis. I have to give it 5 stars for that alone.

Oh the good olé 44. I have rode this route most of my excistence. I recall a time that when the flow of ave rat/​teens would depart and old folks and blue collar/​flannel wearing men would start to board, you were halfway to Ballard from the U district. It’s a long bus ride because 45^th is typically a congested parking lot.

A friend of mine, when he went to the UW Law School, used this approach to riding the #44: he started walking from the UW down 45^th. If the #44 came before he got to Dick’s (at about 2^nd Ave NE), he’d ride the rest of the way to Ballard. If he reached Dick’s before the #44, he’d grab a burger and walk the rest of the way. He said he frequently got to Dick’s before the bus.
This has got to be the slowest route in the city, and it makes no sense at all. The route goes from Ballard to the UW Medical Center, making it one of the shortest routes in the city. Be warned if you try to catch it in Wallingford on the way to the UW in the morning. Often the bus is completely packed and the driver passes the stops at Corliss and at Latona. If you have to be on campus at a certain time, catch the bus that comes before the one you thought you would take. Trust me. You’ll be on time that way.
Most of the drivers are pretty cool, and if the bus is packed coming from the UW, will let you hop out the back and walk to the front to show your UPASS.

ended up in the u-​district by accident (got excited and jumped on the wrong bus downtown) and took the 44 to the QFC in wallingford and then again to phinney. both buses were clean, didn’t smell like piss or BO, and the drivers actually announced the stops!

If Metro Transit decided to name bus stops, and if they chose to name each bus stop after the activity that most resembles waiting for the bus at that stop, the route 44 stops from the U-​District to Ballard would all be called «Watching Paint Dry.»
Except paint probably dries faster. And unlike the buses (and some of the stops), doesn’t smell like urine.