Bainbridge to Kent Commute (Seattle, Burien: apartment, house, school districts)

[Tulkas]

Is the commute from Bainbridge to Kent doable? At the kent side the destination is in walking distance to the bus terminal. It says the ride from the bus station near the ferry terminal is about a half an hour and the ferry is about 35 minutes with some slack between the ferry and the bus. Am I right about this? Thanks much.

[pw72]

That sounds pretty horrid to me, but then again, I've never done it. The "slack between ferry and bus" is a bit disconcerting...I think they mean that if the bus or ferry is delayed, the connections might be tough. As I understand it, the Bainbridge Ferry runs about every hour during the day, so a missed boat could easily add that time on to the commute.

[nfdsouza2001]

Where are you going to in Kent. The Ferry comes into the Coleman Dock area. The walk is doable. I worked in Bainbridge for a while and found the ride to the terminal pretty painful through Poulsbo. I drove most of the time and it took me about the same time considering the loading/unloading and waits for the ferry. Hope it helps.

[Ira500]

It's going to be a painful commute. Here's why:
1. You're not going to be living inside the Bainbridge ferry terminal. Even if you live very close, you still need to be there 10 or 15 minutes or more prior to departure. So let's say you live 5 minutes from the terminal and get there 15 minutes before departure, and then take the 35 minute ride. So 55 minutes after you've left home you reach the downtown Seattle Colman dock. Then you have to walk up to the bus stop for Kent, maybe another 5 minutes if you're fast. Then you have to wait for the Kent bus, which could arrive anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. Let's call it 15, then the 30 minute bus ride, and another 5 minute walk to your destination in Kent.
This is more like a best case scenario, and it's 110 minutes one way. I wouldn't do it.
Yes, Bainbridge is nice, but there are also nice areas much closer to Kent, pretty places with good school districts or places on the water.

[Tulkas]

IRA5000, thanks for the info. Any thoughts on best places to live if you like quiet rural and want to use mass transit to get to Kent? The quiet rural yet close to Seattle is what I like about bainbridge. Also looking at close access to water for my dogs. My commute tolerance is pretty high as I am in dc area. All thoughts welcome.

[xcalgal]

I have seen vanpools on the Bainbridge Ferry. Any possibility there? Send me an email if you end up here as we have a newcomer's group.

[LongDawson]

No this commute is impossible unless you want to live a life in transit 15-20 hours per week, and that is no life. It's nonsense. Get a house on Scenic Hill in Kent or apartment nearby. Bainbridge is expensive so if you can afford that you can stay in a nice area of Kent.

Redfin

[iskray917]

That is one gnarly commute.

[nfdsouza2001]

There is a decent selection around Burien, and South park which is close to water. Kent's East hill is also good.

[Ira500]

Via public transit to Kent from rural, pretty, or interesting areas, places include Des Moines ( town on Puget Sound) Burien ( town on Puget Sound with a revitalized cool old downtown and a huge park with trails), Redondo ( beach), or Black Diamond (cool old town in the woods with a 100 year old bakery).