Transit geeks call it “the last mile problem.” If you don’t live within easy walking distance of a bus stop or light rail station, you’re much less likely to use those services and opt to drive or hitch a ride with Uber or Lyft instead.

But King County Metro has a new solution: Via to Transit. The pilot program is a sort of hybrid between transit and rideshare that’s operating in southeast Seattle and Tukwila. Transit riders use the Via app to hail a ride from one of five light rail stations to their final destination (or vice versa) and pay for the transfer with their Orca cards.

Our friends at Grist, the Seattle-based environmental publication, recently took the service for a spin. Three staffers raced from downtown to Seward Park during rush hour using light rail and Via, light rail and the bus, and a Lyft.

We won’t spoil the finish-line ending, but the video includes lots of interesting insights about the advantages of a hybrid service like Via. Because it’s based on a carpool model, Via generates less congestion and lower carbon emissions relative to solo ridesharing or driving.

Ready to nerd out some more about transportation and mobility in Seattle? Our next Setting the Table dinner is coming up next Wednesday, and we’ve got a great panel of local experts ready to answer all your burning questions.

In other news…

Speaking of new transportation technology, package thieves appear to be using another version of it to their advantage. Police say free-floating carsharing vehicles like the Fiats owned and operated by Lime are an easy getaway car for criminals, and that’s raising some questions about the level of screening that companies do before renting out their vehicles. (GeekWire)

The number of sockeye salmon returning to Lake Washington this summer is at an all-time low, and researchers say global warming and loss of habitat are to blame. Chinook return rates are also below average right now, but that season continues into September. (KUOW)

Chants of ‘Eddddgarrrrrr’ erupted in Seattle once again over the weekend, as new Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Edgar Martínez was celebrated at T-Mobile Park on Saturday. Mariners chairman John Stanton used the occasion to announce that a statue of Martínez will be unveiled at the stadium next season. (The Seattle Times)

Seattle isn’t just gum walls and sweeping Puget Sound vistas. When it comes to exploring the Emerald City’s nooks and crannies, it seems fair to say that no one has uncovered more hidden gems than the woman behind Seattle Walk Report.

Susanna Ryan has walked more than 5,000 miles in Seattle over the past few years, using hand-drawn comics to document all the quirky, mundane, and extraordinary things she’s seen along the way. Anonymous on social media for two years, Susanna is revealing her identity today to coincide with the release of her new book, also titled “Seattle Walk Report.”

The book is far more than a compilation of repurposed comics. Alongside maps that detail neighborhood-specific walks, it dives into the stories of historic figures, geological artifacts, and presents some seriously delightful random facts — like the origins of Seattle’s manhole covers.

We recently sat down with Susanna to learn more about what inspires her to keep walking and to hear more about her journey as an artist and author. Check out the Q&A over on our website.

Want to meet Susanna IRL? She’s speaking tonight at 7 p.m. at the Seattle Central Library.

🤗 Looking to make some new friends? If so, we have the perfect event for you tomorrow night. Speed Friending is your chance to meet a bunch of other locals. Secure your spot today, and come ready to connect! (Belltown)

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We’ll see you tomorrow. ✌️

— The Evergrey