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In Seattle, street names are often followed by North, South, East, or West, which means that it can be somewhat tricky figuring out directions for the first time. Also, Seattle is very hilly, so routes are not always obvious. Feel free to stop and ask someone for directions—Seattleites are typically very friendly and helpful.
A U-PASS is a bus pass – plus a lot more. A low quarterly fee on your tuition statement gives you:
- Full fare coverage on Metro Transit, Community Transit, and Sound Transit buses
- Full fare covered on Sounder commuter train service
- Reduced parking fees when you carpool (ride or drive with someone else) www.rideshareonline.com
- Free rides on the Night Ride Shuttle
- Subsidized vanpool fares
- Discounts at businesses
- Discounted occasional parking
You will receive your U-PASS sticker with your tuition statement. Affix the sticker to the back of your Husky Card (student ID) and you’re all set. Simply show your U-Pass sticker to the bus driver as you either get on or get off the bus. If you don’t want the sticker, return it in the provided blue envelope for a refund or credit.
For more information about all the benefits visit: www.washington.edu/commuterservices
Metro Transit (Bus)
Over 30 buses come to or near campus from all over Seattle and King and Snohomish counties. Sometimes it may not be clear when to pay, or what to pay (if you do not have a U-Pass). A good source of information is the “Your Guide to the Ride” brochure. The guide and bus route timetables are available around campus at Parking Services, the HUB, Schmitz Hall, Health Sciences, By George Café, and the Visitor’s Information Center. Also, contact Metro directly for information:
King Country Metro Transit
(206) 553-3000
http://transit.metrokc.gov/
Check out the Metro’s online “Trip Planner” (http://tripplanner.metrokc.gov/) for an easy way to find the right bus routes and make travel plans. Just enter the departure and destination addresses, and the time you want to leave or arrive, and it will show you which buses to take for your trip, and give you the location of bus stops. Also MapQuest (http://www.mapquest.com) and Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) are very helpful in understanding the layout of the city, so that you that you know exactly where you are going, and where to get on and off the bus (in relation to various streets).
Sound Transit is a regional network of express buses, commuter rail, light rail, and transit facilities that connects communities in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Sounder Commuter Train offers commuter rail service between Tacoma and downtown Seattle with stops in Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent, and Tukwila. It also runs between Everett and Seattle, with a stop in Edmonds.
For more information:
(888) 889-6368
http://www.soundtransit.org/
If you live more than a 10-minute walk from campus, riding a bike is a healthy and quick transportation solution. Many good bike paths lead to campus, such as the Burke-Gilman trail. You can use a bike locker or rack to lock up your bike on campus. Keep in mind that wearing a bicycle helmet is the law. Hall Health offers students helmets at a discounted rate. You can also take your bike with you while you ride the bus — use the bus’ easy-to-load racks. To learn more about biking, pick up a “Bicycling Guide” available at campus information centers. Also, visit these shops for discounts and information:
ASUW Bike Shop
HUB 103
(206) 543-2742
http://depts.washington.edu/asuwbike/
BikeSport
5601 24th Ave NW
(206) 706-4700
http://ilovemybike.com/
Bike Works Community Bike Shop
3709 S. Ferdinand
(206) 725-9408
http://www.bikeworks.org/
Recycled Cycles
1007 NE Boat Street
(206) 547-4481
www.recycledcycles.com
Going out late? Drinking? Call a cab. They are metered and payment information is posted on the window. Downtown or Capitol Hill to the U-district runs about $15.
Drivers do not negotiate fares. Generally, you will pay in cash (some do accept credit cards) and tip your driver 15-20% of the fare cost. If you have a problem with a driver, take down their badge number, which should be posted on the dashboard.
Farwest Taxi (206) 622-1717
Graytop Cab (206) 282-8222
Orange Cab Company (206) 522-8800
Yellow Cab (206) 622-6500
Automobiles
While convenient, owning a car can be costly and hard to maintain. You must have a license to drive legally. You can use your home country’s license or an international driver license for a period of time; however, it will be much easier for law enforcement and rental car agencies if you use a Washington Driver License. Washington State requires car owners to purchase and maintain automobile insurance. Also, you will need to register and license your vehicle. For the most up-to-date information, go to the Washington State Department of Licensing’s website at http://www.dol.wa.gov/
To get a license you will need to:
1) Obtain and study the Washington State Driver Guide. The Guide is free at any Licensing Services Office or you can find it on the Department of Licensing’s website. The guide has been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Russian.
2) Go to a Licensing Services Office and apply for a license. You will need to take a knowledge test on traffic safety laws and bring two valid documents that will prove your age and identity. A list of acceptable documents is provided in the Driver Guide. You will pay for the examination and also for the license itself. Only cash or check are accepted. The Greenwood location is the closet to UW.
3) Schedule an appointment to take the driving test after completing the written exam at the same licensing office. You will need to borrow or rent a car with proof of current automobile insurance, and current license plates. The car also needs to be in good working condition (i.e. all of the lights — brake, signal, etc. — work without problems.)
Greenwood Licensing Services Office
320 N 85th St
(206) 706-4269
Washington State Identification Card
The Department of Licensing issues photo identification cards to non-drivers for a small fee. You must show the same identification as required for a driver’s license.
To cross the Puget Sound, visit any of the islands, or go to the Olympic Peninsula, your main option is to take the ferry. For schedule, fare, or route information:
Washington State Ferries
(206) 464-6400 or (888) 808-7977
www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
With inexpensive interstate bus service you can travel to over 3,700 locations in the U.S. via:
Greyhound (check out the student rates)
811 Stewart St.
(206) 628-5526
www.greyhound.com
Train travel, unfortunately, is a little more expensive than bus travel. While cleaner and a bit safer, you can still get good deals with a student discount and the online Rail Sales.
Buy train tickets through:
Amtrak
303 S. Jackson St. (King St. Station)
(800)-USA-RAIL
www.amtrak.com
To rent a car, most companies require the driver to be 25 or older due to insurance. However, some companies allow younger drivers at a more expensive rate. Check around for the least expensive options and student discounts. The following are a few options:
Budget www.budget.com (800) 527-0700
Avis www.avis.com (800) 331-1212
Enterprise www.enterprise.com (800) 261-7331
Flexcar www.flexcar.com (206) 332-0330
Sea-Tac Airport
The Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport is located 13 miles south of downtown Seattle. The airport serves 29 airlines, 29,979,097 passengers a year and carries international flights to over 25 countries.
(206) 433-5388
http://www.portseattle.org/seatac | 
