By Karl Otterstrom, Interim Co-CEO and Chief Planning and Development Officer

In 1987, Spokane Transit Authority (STA) achieved something monumental. It won Bloomsday! At least, that’s what the newspaper proclaimed with the jubilant headline: “Buses big winners on Bloomsday.” The article began in this way, “One of the biggest winners this Bloomsday was not a runner or a wheelchair participant. It was the Spokane Transit Authority.”

The legendary employees of STA are poised to win Bloomsday once again this coming weekend, marking our 37th triumph! During my time at STA, I’ve come to deeply appreciate the immense value our Bloomsday shuttle service brings to the community. Thousands of residents and visitors experience STA firsthand once a year, around the first Sunday of May. This includes delightful interactions with enthusiastic volunteers at the trade show, who not only sell passes but guide prospective riders on the best routes to and from the race. It’s interactions with operators and other volunteers on race day, ensuring buses are loaded to a safe, reasonable maximum for a smooth journey downtown. Many will undoubtedly take a moment to marvel at the behind-the-scenes efforts, from dispatch to road supervisors, vehicle maintenance, and security.

Although I haven’t run Bloomsday on the actual event day, this past weekend I embarked on my third “virtual” Bloomsday, running the 12 kilometers solo, sans the pageantry and crowds. This time, I aimed to make my experience a bit less virtual by running the actual course. Naturally, that meant taking the bus! I hopped on the first northbound 4 to the Plaza and began my run at 6:22am, heading westbound on Riverside Avenue. A City Line bus whizzed past me just west of the overpass above Maple Street Bridge. The inbound 20 was halted at the light on Whistalks Way at Government Way as I reached the intersection. As I ran past SFCC, I waved a cheerful hello to the westbound 36. The 21 was in layover at West Central Community Center a few paces beyond my conquest of Doomsday Hill. I wrapped up my run at Monroe and Summit Parkway, with a few minutes to cool down before catching the bus home.

I might have been the only person who rode the bus to run Bloomsday last Saturday, but just like in 1987, and every in-person Bloomsday since then, STA emerged victorious. Moreover, STA wins each time we foster community through our service to major events. I truly believe STA offers a winning solution every day of the year, connecting people to countless opportunities, and fostering pride in community and the place we value dearly.

So, to all of you who will proudly participate in any capacity with this weekend’s Bloomsday service, thank you for the win!