Project / community game
Transit Treks
A recurring public-transit game series across Puget Sound: part scavenger hunt, part game of skill and strategy, and part dumb luck.
Simplified shape, not an actual route sheet. The game is less about puzzle solving than choosing transit moves under shared constraints.
My Role
I did not write the code for Transit Treks, but this is still a project I work on from time to time. I helped create the event and help organize the human side of it: teams, signups, rules, logistics, and day-of coordination.
Game Shape
Transit Treks are team-based games played on foot and by public transit. The premise changes from game to game, but the constant is that teams have a few hours to complete challenges while making good route decisions across Seattle and the surrounding transit network.
The FAQ describes the game as deliberately not a puzzle hunt. The travel is the challenge: teams are navigating constraints, boundaries, transfers, timing, and incomplete information while keeping the whole thing light enough to remain fun.
How I Help
- Co-creation Helping turn the idea into a repeatable format. Transit Trek started after Jeffrey and I played a transit-based Trek and wanted a version with more dynamic, task-oriented game mechanics.
- Logistics Keeping the team side organized. My lane is team logistics: signups, team formation, participant flow, and the practical coordination that keeps a game with dozens of people moving.
- Operations Helping with the day-of details. The game needs boundaries, permitted travel modes, accessibility choices, late signups, and day-of rulings that are clear enough for people to keep playing.
What I Like About It
- Rules Clear rules make the game easier to enjoy. The rules are not the point of the game, but they matter because they keep the game fair without needing an organizer to resolve every edge case live.
- Game design Constraints create the fun. Banning cars, bikes, ferries, and long-distance running makes the public-transit network the actual playing field.
- Community It is fun because people keep showing up. Teams, registration, supplies, accessibility, timing, and feedback loops are the boring parts that make the fun part possible.
Credit
Jeffrey Wang co-created the game with me. Michael Xing came on and built the website and the tech stack. Jeffrey is the primary author of most games. I usually help out with day-of help, team logistics, and other miscellaneous stuff. A key contribution of mine was doubting that Michael would ever make the Transit Trek website, which he did out of spite and will never let me forget.