Update: Organizers have provided the following information about boarding:
The bus pickup stops for REGISTERED PASSENGERS:
* Bus barn, First 5-6 buses begin leaving at 7:55 (that means you start boarding 20 minutes before) with a few moments’ spacing, last 1-2 at 8:50)
* 204th Park & Ride
* Bank Road Metro stop
* Ober Park Park & Ride
NO FERRY DOCK BOARDING:
In kindness to the ferry workers, who are already putting up with a possibly unprecedented number of buses boarding, there is no official load-on at the ferry dock! If you have a reservation and show up there, it is very likely your seat will be gone!
The first 3 (maybe 4) buses will catch the 8:55 ferry (there is a ski school bus trip that may be on that ferry, and 4 is the maximum bus capacity of the ferry due to the number of life jackets). The second group of buses will be on the 9:35.
A local effort to charter buses for the Seattle Womxn’s March has grown exponentially in recent days with seven school buses slated to take more than 350 islanders to and from the march.
On Wednesday afternoon, organizer Craig Berry, who manages the First Student buses, said he has closed the registration proccess, as he was running out of drivers.
“I think we will keep it at seven,” he said.
The idea to charter buses began with fellow organizer Emmett Pickerel, who wanted to charter a small bus for about 20 people. Via social media, Pickerel asked how many people would hypothetically be interested in group transportation. As of Sunday evening, Berry said he was planning on making one bus available, two if necessary. And then the idea really took hold.
“It immediately exploded into what it is now,” he said on Wednesday.
Pickerel, who works full time and is writing a web app for each bus manager while managing people’s many requests, put out revised pick-up plans on Wednesday: Those with reservations should board at their choice of the bus barn, the 204th Street park & ride or the Bank Road Metro bus stop. Those on the backlog will board at Ober Park so that reserved seats are filled first. Then the bus will fill up the rest of the way with standby riders at the Episcopal church park and ride. He is asking people not to meet the buses at the ferry dock, as he would like to arrive at the dock ready, and boarding will take a little while.
Pickerel noted that as soon as he is able, he will post updated rosters in the Vashon Transport for Womxn’s March on Seattle Facebook page so that people can confirm what list they are on.
Berry said he is working with Washington State Ferries to accomodate the Saturday morning trips. The plan is to take the 8:55 a.m. boat from Fauntleroy, but some buses may need to catch the one that follows it at 9:35 a.m. Both should make it to the march, which begins at 11 a.m., though a later bus might not be there in time for the opening rally. The march will end at the Seattle Center, with buses returning about 5 p.m. The suggested donation to ride — either one way or round trip — is $10. Ferry fare is also required; ferry tickets that do not need to be scanned are recommended.
Pickerel, who was thinking of something much smaller initially, noted good naturedly that he would have preferred a month to plan all the details, instead of a few days. And Berry said while he is nervous about the details all working out, many people have been appreciative and thanked him for his efforts.
“How can you knock that?” he said, adding, “I’d like to say it is just another day at the bus barn, but it isn’t that.”
