My driving or not driving solutions in Thurston County

Kathleen Anderson

As a younger woman I was often seen driving around town with a coffee cup on the roof of my car.

I no longer drink and drive.

I also had many honks, waves, finger pointing and untellable remarks directed in my direction because my coat belt was caught in the car door, dragging on the road below.

I no longer wear anything that requires a belt.

Some problems are more easily solved than others.

The problem that lingers deals with my behavior as a passenger in a car. I have been known to white-knuckle grab onto the dashboard while frantically pumping my non-existent brake, scaring the actual driver to death.

Or hanging tightly to the grab bar over the door while yelling, “Slow down, there are brake lights on the tenth car ahead of us!”

In short, no one in my immediate circle wants to drive me anywhere…nor do they want me to drive them. While I am happiest driving myself, it is not always feasible. And because I live in the country, there is no bus service available for me.

So, I have decided the time has come to evaluate the possibility of giving up my car altogether versus finding a way to ride peacefully with other drivers.

COVID provided us country folk with some helpful options, such as grocery and meal deliveries. Prescriptions can be delivered by mail, which is very helpful, and you can get almost anything under the sun from Amazon.

But who wants to sit at home every day forever?

Not I. And I recently discovered something that proved to be both helpful and sanity saving for me and my drivers. I have realized I only have these panic attacks when I am sitting on the right side of the car. I know it sounds crazy but when I sit in the back seat, behind the driver, I am calm.

I discovered this a while back when I called a taxi for a doctor’s appointment. I sat in his back seat behind him and had a peaceful, uneventful ride. When my daughter came to pick me up, I was in the front right side clutching the grab bar all the way home.

I think, (although without any medical diagnosis), it may have something to do with my peripheral vision. My eye exams have never shown any such problem, but I have long suspected those little machines don’t know everything.

If indeed this is the problem, all I need is a back seat to ride in. And my driver of choice when a family member or friend is not available, is our very own Yellow Cab driver – the one that brings his dog along…who sits in the front seat and guards us on the way to our destination.

If, however, you prefer other options, here are a few for you to choose from:

The Intercity Transit offers the following services:

Van Pooling/Dial A Lift:

If you are still working or have volunteer commitments on a regular schedule you might be interested in the Van Pool option. Click here for email link

If you need a ride from Dial A Lift, prior applications are required and you can find the application, instructions and eligibility requirements at this website.

Bus Buddy: Recognizing 10 Years!

The Bus Buddy Program celebrated its 10th anniversary of assisting bus riders in Thurston County! The program provides free, one-on-one assistance for people who want a little extra help riding the bus. We have many dedicated Bus Buddies who volunteer their time and share their knowledge of riding the fixed-route bus system while providing excellent customer assistance skills to riders.

The Bus Buddy program also schedules fun bus trips for groups. Options include restaurants or other locations in Olympia and Tacoma and Seattle for an array of community events, including concerts, bazaars, museums, and more. Each trip is led by one of our volunteer Bus Buddies. All you need to do is decide where and when you want to go and give us a call with three to five days-notice. We'll match you with a bus buddy or two. Click here for Bus Buddy website.

The Community Vans Program:

The Community Vans program helps nonprofit groups and government agencies with their transportation needs by providing a ready-to-go van for up to 12 people. We currently have a fleet of eight vans for this purpose. Once your organization is set up as a Community Vans customer, simply contact us to reserve a vehicle for your outing. Click here for email link. Click here for email link.

Surplus Van Grant Program:

Each year, if qualified vans are available, Intercity Transit grants retired vehicles to nonprofit or community organizations in our service district (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and Yelm) through a competitive review and award process. Our next anticipated Surplus Van Grant will open in the fall of 2024. Let us know your interest and we will email an application packet when the process begins. For questions about this program, please contact Click here for email link.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia. Contact her at kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comments.