I’m a fan of Everett Transit. Weird to say, but true. I see riding the bus as being a way to buy into my community.

I’ve been riding the city buses since 2007, back when fare was 50 cents and I had to go to Safeway to get rolls of quarters that I broke open and stuffed into Ziplock bags.

Yes, I own a car. Yes, I own a bike. I just sometimes like to ride the bus. I like it because it’s unstructured time in my day when I can read a book or listen to music and space out. Bus riding is passive (and thus, meditative) in a way that driving a car can never be.

The bus is a social hotspot. I bump into people in my neighborhood. The interesting people, too—the ones with stories.

Like the public library, ET is a hyperlocal service within Snohomish County. It exists and operates within city limits—independent of the main county public transportation service, Community Transit.

Everett Transit bus drivers are paid good union dues. Their services help to reduce traffic and pollution in our city and free up parking. And bus fare is affordable, making it easy to access, even for people in lower-income neighborhoods.

Sometimes I’m surprised by the scope of Everett. Far-reaching bus routes connect people in outlying areas to the downtown core, acting as a circulatory system for the pulse of our city.

Public transit—like the fire department or the library—is subsidized by the people and for the people. The strength of these civic institutions depends not only on our tax dollars, but also how frequently we use them.

I take my kids on the bus all the time. In part for convenience (no parking, no traffic), but also to make a point.

The more you participate in the city, the more it’s yours.

If you go:

Rates: Adults (ages 19-64) $1. Youth (ages 6-18) 75¢. Reduced fare 25¢.

If you pay with an ORCA pass you can transfer to other ET buses or Community Transit buses for no additional charge.

Edited by Christa Porter

Richard Porter is a musician and Live in Everett's content magician. He lives in North Everett and enjoys running, bicycling, and endless cups of coffee.