Is it possible to live in Washington without driving a motor vehicle? (Seattle: apartment)

[CamelJoe101]

Hi. For years I've had a pretty bad case of driving phobia/anxiety, and would like to avoid it altogether, but living in Miami, Fl, it's really difficult to achieve this. I've always been drawn to the northwest, and was wondering if it is possible to survive somewhere in Washington (perhaps Seattle) without having to drive. I've heard some good things about your public transportation, but I'm not sure if it's more of a convenience than a plausible way of life. Any insight will be beneficial. Thanks.

[cdelena]

Maybe in Seattle or in Portland but most other places it will be more difficult (but not impossible) to get around.

[Bill Loney]

No we shoot people who don't drive.

[CamelJoe101]

Thanks for posting. Now I have to decide what's worse, driving or getting shot. I could purchase body armor.........

[Dendrite]

You could probably get by without a car in any of the major metro areas- Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia. Perhaps even on the eastside to a degree. The tough part would be carry things with you from point A to point B: such as handling bags of groceries while on the metro bus. It's not impossible, just not convenient-

Why not compromise? Call around to the various Seattle driving schools and tell them of your phobia. When you find one that sounds sympathetic to your plight, sign up and overcome the anxiety as much as you can. Then have a small car that you drive from time to time as needed but ride the metro the rest of the time!

[scirocco22]

I would think it would depend on where you have to go, i.e., where you'll live, work, or shop.

Many smaller towns in Washington have excellent transit systems but again, it will all depend on the above.

In the metropolitan Seattle area, I know many who don't drive and take public transportation exclusively ...even on the Eastside.

If you could narrow it down a bit more on what you're looking for, perhaps we can give more specific places, etc.

[Wolf14016]

It would depend on the town, as others have said.

Seattle and Portland would work.

From personal experience, Bellingham has an excellent transit system (The WTA, or Whatcom Transit Authority). I had a vehicle but still used WTA to get to class and back, just because it was easier and cheaper.

[odie91]

The folks in Seattle drive slower than snails. You'll be fine.

Originally Posted by CamelJoe101

Hi. For years I've had a pretty bad case of driving phobia/anxiety, and would like to avoid it altogether, but living in Miami, Fl, it's really difficult to achieve this. I've always been drawn to the northwest, and was wondering if it is possible to survive somewhere in Washington (perhaps Seattle) without having to drive. I've heard some good things about your public transportation, but I'm not sure if it's more of a convenience than a plausible way of life. Any insight will be beneficial. Thanks.

[skinem]

You definitely can in Seattle--one of my sisters lived there for 10 years and didn't even own a car. She lived in a downtown apartment, worked in a downtown highrise and either walked, rode a bike or called a cab when needed. She'd rent a car to visit us in the dry side of the state.

Seattle's traffic is the worst that the state has to offer...and it doesn't hold a candle to Miami's...

[M3 Mitch]

Agreed, you can get by without a car in Seattle, but I know at least a few people who get by without a car in Tri-Cities and/or Prosser. Prosser itself is quite walkable, there is a decent grocery store, several restaurants, a decent gym, at least a few places one could work - plus bus service to/from the Tri-Cities. It could be done but one would have rather limited horizons without a car. In Seattle it's in some ways easier *not* to have a car. Pasco, Yakima, and Ellensburg have Greyhound stops if that matters to you. As does, of course, Seattle.