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Things to avoid in Seattle |
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Don't Call Seattle the Emerald City This name derives from Seattle's rain-soaked greenery and once heavily forested ecology. But locals certainly do not refer to their Seattle home that way, although occasionally you may hear Seattle called Jet City, a reference to Boeing's influence on the economy. Don't Jaywalk in Seattle Jaywalkers often find themselves collared by waiting Seattle police patrols on the lookout for any pedestrian crossing the street at unauthorized places or times. Seattle Police do enforce the statute that makes crossing against the light illegal. Yield to Pedestrians Seattle has a history of protecting pedestrians from collisions with automobiles. All motorized and self-powered vehicles riding the streets have an obligation to stop for pedestrians, whether or not they cross at intersections or outside of crosswalks. Unsafe Seattle Neighborhoods Most tourists never come near the edgier neighborhoods where economic disenfranchisement has helped to foster street crime. Seattle's major streets and arterials are quite safe for sightseeing during the day. Feel free to stroll Seattle at night only if you already know the area comfortably and it seems populated. Smoking in Seattle Six months after the state's smoking ban went into effect, the era of smoky restaurants and bars in Washington is receding into memory. We now know that the dire predictions of smoked profits at affected establishments were off the mark. In fact, many businesses are thriving as a result of the ban. But although diners and bar patrons in Washington state are guaranteed a smoke-free environment, most hotel guests don't have the same luxury. The state smoking ban exempts hotel rooms and the hotel industry has long fought going smoke-free for fear that a complete ban on smoking would burn hotel profits. Seattle's Driving Challenges One's patience is tested when navigating Seattle's streets and highways. Keep a lookout for turn-only lanes at busy intersections. If you need to parallel park on steep hills, turn your wheels towards the curb to help prevent a runaway car. It you use manual transmission and you're stopped in traffic mid-hill, be sure to apply the emergency brake until you engage the gears smoothly. You must obey the Seattle speed limits, 25 mph (40 kmph), unless posted otherwise. Underdressing Seattle has two main seasons, wet and dry. Regardless of the time of year, always remember to pack a jacket or sweater, and basic rain gear. Waterproof windbreaker, hats, or polypropylene shells are essential. Seattle Panhandlers & the Homeless All cities have an abundance of homeless individuals, and Seattle is no exception. Avoid contact with panhandlers and beggars and those that are obviously intoxicated. They're rarely aggressive, but it's still a good idea to ignore confrontation. Always keep your possessions firmly in hand or secure. Forgetting to Tip Almost every restaurant's management keeps wages very low and expects customers' tips to make up the difference. Your gratuity should be in the 15 percent range, more or less depending on the quality of service, and calculated on the pre-tax total. Tip your cab driver 10-15 percent, and allow about $1 per service for hotel staff. Age Restrictions & ID The legal drinking age for alcoholic beverages is 21. The law is so strictly enforced that everyone's picture identity card is checked at bars and taverns regardless of how old they may look. Be prepared to show proof of age. You must be 18 or older in order to purchase cigarettes. |
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