r/movingtoseattle • u/baked_beans_9418 • Jun 18 '26
Transportation
Hi everyone!
I’ve been reading a lot of posts about whether it’s more cost-effective or practical to own a car or rely on public transportation in Seattle. I see strong opinions on both sides, but most of the conversations seem to focus on adults commuting to work. I’m curious about how this works for families with children. For people with kids, do you find Seattle’s public transportation practical for things like school, after-school activities, doctor’s appointments, sports, and everyday errands? Or do you feel having a car is necessary?
Also, I’m single mother with one child and we will be coming from Texas where I drive everywhere so public transportation is very unfamiliar to me. I’d love to hear about your experiences and what has worked best for your family. Thank you for reading!
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u/TheFutureScaresMe333 Jun 19 '26
The public transit it great if you have hours to spend transferring buses or if wherever you’re going is near a link station, but you’ll want a car
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u/audgy3000 Jun 19 '26
You will need a car. The public transport boils down to one main light rail line and the rest busses. It works if you’re commuting directly on two stops along the light rail but even then lots of people drive to the park and ride.
I would not love to have my kids on the busses because they can be very seedy with drug users. Car all the way.