Seattle City Guide - Getting Around

Seattle has an excellent bus system operated by Metro Transit (tel: (206) 553 3000; website: http://transit.metrokc.gov), with wheelchair and bicycle lifts and drivers trained to announce significant stops and help with directions. An underground bus tunnel operates through Downtown from Chinatown/International District to the Convention Center, with stops at Pioneer Square, the downtown financial district and Westlake Center. There is free transport in the downtown area everyday until 1900. In other locations, adult tickets cost more during peak hours (Mon-Fri 0600-0900 and 1500-1800) but between 1000 and 1800 travel is free between Pioneer Square and the Westlake Center. Tickets are available on the bus (exact change is required).

Metro Transit also operates the Waterfront Streetcar, which features historic green and yellow trams that roll along the Waterfront, linking Pier 70 and the International District/King Street Station, stopping near the Seattle Aquarium and Pioneer Square along the way.

A day pass for Metro Transit is available on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Standard fares depend on zones and time of travel.

There is also a high-speed elevated monorail, operated by Seattle Monorail Services (tel: (206) 905 2620; website: www.seattlemonorail.com), which links the downtown area to the Seattle Center in less than two minutes, with views of the harbour and the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains beyond. Trains depart from stations at Seattle Center (across from the Space Needle) and Westlake Center Mall, Fifth Avenue and Pine Street.

Washington State Ferries (tel: (206) 464 6400 or 1 888 808 7977; website: www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries) operates the largest ferry system in the USA, with 20 terminals linking Seattle with the Olympic Peninsula, Bainbridge Island and other points in the region, now considered part of ‘Greater Seattle'. This is one of the most attractive ways for visitors to see the region. Ferries depart from Piers 50 and 52, 801 Alaskan Way, in the city centre. Schedules vary, although ferries to Bainbridge Island and Bremerton operate an extensive service daily. Tickets are available at the piers, before boarding.

You can hail taxis from the few designated ranks in front of hotels and the airport or by telephone. A tip of 10 to15% is expected. Seattle taxi drivers are almost always polite and reliable, although you may have to wait up to 20 minutes for a cab.

Providers include Redtop (tel: (206) 789 4949; website: www.yellowtaxi.net), Orange Cab Corporation (tel: (206) 522 8800), Farwest (tel: (253) 863 2930) and Yellow Cabs (tel: (206) 622 6500; website: www.yellowtaxi.net).

Except for rush-hour motorway traffic, Seattle driving conditions are excellent and motorists are extremely law abiding. The city is fairly easy for newcomers to navigate, based on a simple grid system - numbered roads are north-south avenues and named roads are east-west streets. However, visitors should be aware of the specially designated lanes for buses, bicycles and ‘HOV' or High Occupancy Vehicles - those carrying more than one person. Highways and highway exit bridges (Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and the Ship Canal Bridge) are very congested during rush hours (0700-0900 and 1500-1800), because of the number of commuters heading to and from the suburbs.

Parking in downtown Seattle was expensive until city retailers teamed up with car park operators for incentives that would revitalise the city centre. In general, parking costs around US$3 for two hours, although weekend parking costs approximately US$5 for the entire day. On-street parking varies from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Most downtown businesses give customers a CityPark token worth US$1 with purchases of US$20 and over. Tokens are redeemable at CityPark lots and garages, including Ampco System Parking, 420 East Pike Street, CPS Parking, 1200 Western Avenue and Diamond Parking, at Macy's, Third Avenue and Stewart Street. Other central car parking lots include Sound Parking, 901 Boren Avenue, Pioneer Square Garage, 721 First Avenue, and Public Market Garage, 1531 Western Park, near Pike Place Market. Shopping malls and hotels have their own parking lots.

Most car hire companies require a credit card for the deposit and payment. The minimum age to hire a car is 25 years. Basic insurance is usually included but can be insufficient, as it offers only a limited coverage of damage. Car hire companies offer additional collision or complete loss damage insurance. Hire rates vary widely during the week. A valid driving licence is usually acceptable but an International Driving Permit is preferred.

Providers include Alamo (tel: 1 800 327 9633; website: www.alamo.com), Avis (tel: 1 800 331 1212; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: 1 800 527 0700; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: 1 800 800 4000; website: www.dollarcar.com), Hertz (tel: 1 800 654 3131; website: www.hertz.com) and National Car Rental (tel: 1 800 227 7368; website: www.nationalcar.com).

Seattle is a great city for cyclists, with designated bicycle lanes throughout the city. Most shops hire out bicycles by the hour, day, week or even month. Lights and helmets are mandatory. Major providers include Aaron's Bicycle Repair, 6521 California Avenue (tel: (206) 938 9795; website: www.rideyourbike.com), and The Montlake Bicycle Shop, 2223 24th Avenue East (tel: (206) 329 7333; website: www.montlakebike.com). A photo ID and cash or credit card deposit is required.