It is easy to get around without a car. Credit: JAMES OLSTEIN

It is easy to get around without a car.

It is easy to get around without a car. JAMES OLSTEIN

First, say these words: “Seattle’s transit system sucks!” With that, you’ve become just like a lot of people who tangle with Seattle’s public trains, buses, and streetcars. And while you’re not totally wrong about it sucking, you also need to know that Seattle’s transit system has been getting a lot better in recent years—and that you, yourself, can do some things to make it suck less for you and me and everyone we know. Here’s how.

Light Rail

Seattle’s light rail network is definitely not the New York City Subway. It doesn’t even compare to Chicago’s L or the Portland MAX. But it is useful, growing, and crowded with people who (hooray!) are not riding in gas-guzzling, planet-warming, road-crowding cars. It’s formally called “Link,” but the Legend of Zelda kinda already has that one, and everyone here just calls it light rail.

Eli Sanders was The Stranger's associate editor. His book, "While the City Slept," was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He once did this and once won...