Big bus, little riders

The first time I braved the bus with my daughter, she was a mere three weeks old, and I had her nestled against me in a sling. A woman I'd never seen before asked to have a peek, then asked: "Whose nose does she have?"

In the year and a half since we've been busing as a family, I have fielded many other hilarious questions from strangers. Although my husband and I have a car, my daughter and I frequently take the bus around town, and I have delighted in seeing her interact with people from all walks of life.

But busing in the city with kids can be daunting if you're not familiar with King County Metro Transit -- or if you aren't accustomed to juggling children and their equipment on public transportation. I've put together some helpful information to help you and your kids safely and successfully explore Seattle via Metro.

Plan ahead
The little signs that mark Metro bus stops around town often are not accompanied by route maps or schedules, which can be frustrating to new riders. Your riding experience will go more smoothly if you check out the great trip-planning tool on Metro's Web site before you leave home.

The trip planner asks where and when you will start and end your trip, then puts together several possible itineraries, including transfer points and times, and walking distances to bus stops. With the click of a button, you can also plan your return trip. The trip planner can help you navigate through Pierce, Snohomish and King counties. Once you're out and about -- and away from your computer -- you can call 206-BUS-TIME to find out when and where to catch your next bus.

Fares and free rides
Current fares for Metro buses are $1.50 for adults age 18 and up during peak hours (6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday) and $1.25 at all other times. Up to four children age 5 and under ride free with an adult, and youth age 6-17 pay 50 cents at all times. Metro has two fare zones, one encompassing all of King County, the other encompassing only the City of Seattle. During peak hours, riding between the two zones costs an additional $0.50 per adult.

Downtown Seattle -- bordered by Battery Street to the north, South Jackson Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the east and the waterfront to the west -- is a ride-free area from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., every day of the week. Even if riding the bus across town doesn't work for you, consider parking once when you arrive downtown, then take advantage of the ride-free zone to do your errands in the city. Look for the green "Ride Free" emblems on downtown bus stops.

Travel light
Remember: If you pack it, you carry it! Trim your bag down to the essentials you will need for the day, such as snacks and warm clothes, and bring older kids a backpack so that you aren't stuck as the pack mule.

If you travel best with a stroller, consider bringing a little umbrella stroller that can fold quickly and compactly to fit under your seat. Strollers must be collapsed on the bus. While eating is not allowed on the buses, your child can use a bottle or cup during the ride.

A soft, backpack-style carrier, such as the Ergo carrier (available at local retailers, including Me 'n Moms and Again and a Gain), is very handy with toddlers who mostly walk but sometimes need to rest. It also allows you to get through the crowds downtown without worrying about losing the wandering kids or rolling strollers.

Getting to the hot spots
There are so many buses zig-zagging around town that you can hop a ride to just about anywhere. But there are a few routes that are of particular interest to families, because they serve some popular kid-friendly destinations.

• ROUTE 5 goes from downtown to Shoreline Community College and back, and it's the route with the best service to Woodland Park Zoo.
• ROUTES 15 and 18 run from Ballard to downtown, passing Seattle Center, home of the Children's Museum and Seattle Children's Theatre, on their way. They run along First Avenue, making them fairly convenient to the Seattle Aquarium.
• ROUTE 56 takes riders to Alki, where kids can play in the sand or rollerskate.
• THE ELLIOTT BAY WATER TAXI (spring through fall), which is operated by Metro, is a great way to get out on the water in good weather. It ferries passengers from Pier 55 to the Seacrest Park Dock in West Seattle. A free shuttle can transport you to the Alaska Junction, where you can find great kids' boutiques like Georgia Blu and Again and a Gain or grab an ice cream cone at Husky Deli. The Water Taxi costs $3, but your bus transfer counts toward that fare.

Safety first
Many parents are concerned about the safety of buses, especially since they don't accommodate a car seat or booster. However, Parenting magazine reported in November of 2007 that "riding the bus is 12 times safer than walking, biking or riding in a car to school." The best way to keep kids safe is to know the rules and make sure that your kids follow them.

• Stay seated. Children are often tempted to crawl on the seats of the bus, and older kids have been known to stand and "surf" while the bus is moving. Remind kids to stay in their seats. According to transit safety officer Sue Stewart, forward-facing seats are generally the safest.
• Communicate with the driver. If you know you will need extra time to get situated before the bus starts moving, politely ask the driver to wait until you are seated.
• If you're traveling with younger children who have a difficult time sitting on their bottoms, try sitting on the taller seats over the wheels. The lower window heights allow kids to see without having to sit on their knees or standing up. My toddler recently discovered the joy of watching the city go by from this seat, and each time the bus stopped she shrieked, "More bus! More bus!"
• When traveling with infants, it can be easiest to carry them in a sling or front-pack carrier. While you can bring an infant in a car-seat carrier, there is no place to secure it, and it can be unwieldy. However, it is still a great option if you are going to be driving on either end of your bus trip.
• Be sure to keep your limbs and gear out of the aisle. The aisles of the bus are narrow, and others may trip over loose straps or stroller wheels or accidentally bump into wandering arms and legs.
• Be considerate when boarding and deboarding the bus. It is easy to accidentally hit others with your gear while you are walking in the aisle.
• Be proactive. Occasionally, someone on the bus will make you uncomfortable in some way. Instead of worrying about how to talk to them about their behavior, it can be best to move. If something inappropriate is going on, inform the driver.

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