Commuting in a Frog Pond
Tacoma residents vent their frustration over dilapidated, rain-soaked cable cars as they await much-needed transit upgrades.
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Tacoma residents who have been forced to ride the 'pneumonia-breeding' open cars during the recent rainy days are expressing frustration. With the city's large cars out of commission, the current open-air fleet has been collecting water, creating what riders describe as 'frog ponds on wheels.' Commuters report that rain drips from the roofs directly onto their clothing, leaving them wet and risking health issues like sciatica. There is widespread anticipation that new cable equipment arriving tomorrow will resolve the situation and allow for a return to comfortable, enclosed transportation.
“The cars this morning looked like frog ponds on wheels. Water lay in puddles on the floor and the seats, and the drip from the roof fell on the clothing of those in the cars.”
This report highlights the persistent, century-long local conversation about the quality and reliability of public transit in Tacoma. Whether it is leaking roofs in 1904 or contemporary debates over Sound Transit expansion, the struggle for a dependable, weather-proof commute is a quintessential Tacoma experience.
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