11 minutes 32 seconds across Tacoma

From 15th & Geiger (just a block up from Jackson) to 4th & St. Helens in 11:32. That's counting one yellow I squeaked by on at 12th & Cedar, and an illegal right turn at 6th & Sprague. It is a really dumb place for an illegal right turn and where there aren't any cars, I'll take it. I'm dangerous like that.

Anyway, 12 minutes across Tacoma is pretty good. It can only be done when there's no traffic because doing it doesn't actually mean you did it that fast: it means you hit the lights. And when you don't get much cross traffic on 12th, the lights are wide open for you.

I've been making the drive back and forth to my parents from downtown Tacoma since I moved here in 2002 and I keep coming back to the same route. 12th both ways (11th up the hill in downtown, to be specific) and you're made. Even during rush hour traffic it's still the fastest way across Tacoma, I think.

Although I will mention that coming back from work, the left hand turn across 11th is nearly impossible. I've taken to following Union to 6th and riding 6th all the way home. It's not the quickest, but it's the best drive after work.