After many months of anticipation I finally got a chance to "Ride the Wave" - which was a little less than what I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong - I think that it will do wonders to help Seattle grow in the future, but after this ride it gives me the feeling of the Seattle Center Monorail - it doesn't really serve an incredibly practical purpose. Apparently once they start the other lines and extensions this will be the way to travel, but I am a little iffy about it right now. It was $2.50 per way from the Westlake station to the airport which really isn't that bad, I suppose. I did a round trip pass today because I was only going to drop my partner and puppy off at the airport - and I suppose for five dollars this is a pretty cheap way to go - but I just felt like I was missing something.

The rides were comfortable and - pretty empty - which is great, for me, but how is this going to last being less than a quarter full? Some of the stops were nice, "colorful" places but I am not sure really needed to be there. How many people would be taking the light rail to or from Beacon Hill (for example)? That stop was a ghost town - although it was very 90's movie futuristic looking - which was fun, but not practical. I also wondered about the little images of cards show up in one of the tunnels - that's neat - there went probably tens of thousands of dollars - for a glimpse of cards. Is the light rail trying to tell us that it is a house of cards? I guess I'm on the fence about that.

I think part of the problem is I had this grand idea in my head about how I was going to be zip-zooming to the airport in style - which I admit was a little naive. It was certainly a little faster than taking the 194 (which has since been retired) and way faster than the terrifying 174. Don't even get me started on the 174 - and don't ride it at night - it is all "hoods", I seriously had a sandwich, forks, and other random items thrown at me while being harassed on that bus one time. Another time there was a fist fight in the back and the driver had to stop and got punched in the face. It was scary. Oh the thought gives me shivers. The only bus option to the airport (that I know of) is totally tragic.

Anyway, the Seattle Link Light Rail was an OK experience - better than the 174, and cheaper than a cab (yeah F you cabbies - this is what you get for ripping everyone off for YEARS) - but it definitely needs a little more substance to be taken seriously - at least that's how I feel about it - your experience may differ.