I want a metro map
I’ve lived here my whole life (29 years) and want a map like that [“Lost, Again, in Seattle,” Aug. 30]. Everyone I know wants a map like that. Metro is deaf to its customers.
Gary Manca
Seattle
stop complaining—walk
I think the article written about Metro and the route maps is stupid, opinionated, and indicative of one person’s lack of ability to realize that Metro may not go everywhere he wants to go [“Lost, Again, in Seattle,” Aug. 30]. Metro can get you close to where you need to go and then you need to get off and “walk” or ride a bike to explore different neighborhoods.
Why should Metro include streets that they do not travel on? One would think the streets they do travel on are more important. For a transit system that provides free route maps, free schedules (which include a map of the route), a free phone line to call for route information, and free online help . . . what more can you ask for?
San Francisco couldn’t possibly have more to offer for a transit company in a far more confusing city than Seattle.
David Jacobs
Seattle
Method to metro madness
After riding the bus as my nearly sole means of getting around for over 16 years, it finally occurred to me that there is some method to the Metro numbering system. Double-digit routes stay within the city limits. 100 routes go south of Seattle. . . .
Does Metro train their drivers on this? Judging by the amazingly bad directions drivers give to potential passengers, not at all.
Nor are drivers required to know their routes when they start driving them. I even had a No. 10 driver tell a passenger he did not know where Volunteer Park was although he drove by it coming and going every time he drove the route for the past two months.
Metro needs to better train their drivers in where things are and which buses go where if they truly want a world-class system.
Don Carter
Seattle
befuddlement is sop
Jonathan Kauffman was right on about his quest to find a bus map showing the relation of routes to actual metropolitan terrain [“Lost, Again, in Seattle,” Aug. 30]. The elaborate pretense of acting “befuddled by . . . befuddlement” is standard operating procedure for any Seattle bureaucrat faced by an unanswerable pointed critique about doing things wrong instead of right.
John Hoff
Appleton, MN
it’s really confusing
Hahahaha. I moved to Seattle from Portland in 1995 (and before that San Francisco) and within the first three months asked for a decent bus map [“Lost, Again, in Seattle,” Aug. 30].
The customer service people told me that they couldn’t do a map that wouldn’t confuse people. Let me get this straight: Not only San Francisco, a far more confusing mesh of streets and bus routes than Seattle, but even Manhattan have bus maps that are easy to read and understand, but Seattle can’t?
I eventually learned through trial and error, keeping my eyes open and asking the drivers most of the routes I really needed to know, but even after 12 years, the “system” still doesn’t work for some places I’ve never had a need to go to before.
A few months ago, I moved back to Portland where, thankfully, Tri-Met understands transit usability and decent maps are easy to find (and its online systems are better than Metro’s too).
Tim Spofford
Portland
children’s area?
Thanks so much for your piece on the lack of “real” activities for children at Bumbershoot [“Major Fun for Minors,” Aug. 30]. I am a professional children’s performer. In the past, I have performed often on what was then called the “Children’s Stage.” I believe the city requires all events at the Seattle Center to have a “children’s area.” It’s been quite a few years since Bumbershoot has had this.They continue to reduce the activities to a bare minimum. I am not sure who to contact in the city government, but I do think it may be worth investigating.
Al Hirsch
aka Alleyoop
Mission is organic
At Horizon Organic, we have a long- standing and valued relationship with co-op stores across the country. Co-ops represent what is best in America’s growing understanding of the importance of good health and sustainable food production. That is why we are so disappointed by PCC’s decision to no longer provide its customers access to our 100 percent organic dairy products [Voracious, “Spilling the Milk,” Aug. 16].
PCC’s decision is particularly disappointing because it is based on misinformation. We actively support strengthening and clarifying the organic regulations:
•Pasture—We fully support a change that would require active grazing for all ruminants for at least 120 days during the growing season.
•Origin of Livestock—We believe it is preferable for animals born on an organic farm to be continuously raised as organic, and we believe it is best that any animals purchased as replacement animals be organic from birth.
We currently raise our own organic calves at our farm in Maryland, and in September, we will be raising our own organic calves at our farm in Idaho.
Our commitment to organic has guided our company since Horizon Organic was founded 15 years ago.
At Horizon Organic, organic is all we do. And doing it right is all we will ever do.
Sara Unrue
Spokeswoman, WhiteWave Foods
Broomfield, CO
that’s all
I’ve been reading the Weekly since it first hit the stands years ago. I’ve watched the changes, some OK, some not. Where you’ve taken this paper is to a new low. Pretty thin gruel. You have nothing more to read. I’ve nothing more to add.
Roger Soder
Seattle
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