This Couple Is Riding Every Bus in King County
Image: Mike Kane
Pat and Don Janssen are on a quest. It all started when they retired from their positions at the University of Washington, Pat as a research scientist in genetic toxicology and Don as a civil engineering professor.
“When we retired, I told Pat we should ride all the metro lines, from route 1 all the way through,” Don says.
Image: MIKE KANE
The idea of riding every bus in King County seemed ridiculous at first—and Pat said so. But the Janssens, who live in Northeast Seattle, have always been metro riders.
When they moved to the city in 1985, they didn’t have a car. For those first few months, they were either riding bikes or taking the bus. In fact, when they did buy a car, Pat and Don took a bus to the dealership.
Even with a car, they lived close to bus routes and took public transportation when they worked at UW. The car mostly stayed in the garage.
Now it definitely stays in the garage on Wednesdays. That’s the day when Pat and Don try a new route. At the end of each line, they get lunch. (That was Pat’s idea.)
Image: Mike Kane
The quest began in 2021, and the couple have now ridden over 90 routes. Doing so has given them a new appreciation for Seattle. “It’s been a great way to get to know the city better,” Pat says. “It’s surprising how much I’ve enjoyed it.”
As of press time, the pair are only two routes away from completing their quest. (They aren’t counting commuter routes that only run at peak hours and don’t allow for lunch and a return trip home.) Among their favorite “new” discoveries: Madison Park (11), which took them to eat at McGilvra’s Irish pub, and Richmond Beach (348), which whisked them to the Blackbird Café.
“On the Eastside, we took a winding road outside Bellevue, riding the Lake Hills Connector,” Pat says of their trip on the 271. “I felt like I was miles from a city.”
They also discovered a fondness for Elliott Bay Brewing outposts, dining at its pubs in Burien, Lake City, and West Seattle.
Image: Mike Kane
“We’ve lived here 40 years, but the first 36 were spent in familiar parts of the city connected with work or friends,” Don says. “This activity has allowed us to see so much more of Seattle.”
Their next adventure? Visiting all of the city’s libraries.
