U-PASS Profiles

Riding the Bus: Profile

(originally published in the Winter 2001 U-Commute News)

Weldon Ihrig, Executive Vice President

More than 50 bus routes from all over King and Snohomish counties serve the University District: about 30 buses come right to campus.  In the Fall       U-PASS News we asked you to tell us about your bus commute. 

In August of 1999 Weldon Ihrig and his wife, Susan switched to using transit on a regular basis. As a way to avoid garage space costs, they traded in their two cars for one. By choosing to live downtown, they have the conveniences of getting around without needing to drive a car. As he puts it, "If we have to get in our car to do an errand on the weekend, I think the weekend has been a failure." Before they traded in their car, he began riding the bus more frequently, "I kept questioning why we needed two cars."  Weldon finds the bus, "an easy low risk option. I got used to it [the bus] with an urban lifestyle."

Weldon rides the bus to work almost everyday. He only drives to work when he has off campus meetings which require him to drive. He has made a few minor changes to his schedule and is now more aware of his time in order to make it to functions after work. "I make sure to check the MyBus web site to find out when my bus is to arrive." 

Weldon, who maintains a busy schedule, enjoys his time on the bus to get caught up and finished for the day. He finds riding the bus more relaxing than driving. "Once I tried riding the bus, I found my stress level went way down and I became more relaxed." There are times when he finds crowded buses make reading difficult. Additionally, the jerkiness of the stops and goes can make his writing illegible. However, he does manage to make the best use of his time, and on occasion has conducted impromtu meetings on the bus. 

During nearly a year and half riding transit, Weldon has come to understand why commute choices are important. "Of all the campuses I have [been] involved with, the UW is the most urban campus that I have seen. Because of this I understand why we need to have alternative commute options, which get people off the roads so they are not competing with car traffic." 

Transportation choices are important to the vitality of Seattle. Weldon feels it's important to develop commute alternative options, as well as, "[creating] a surrounding environment to become a better place to live for faculty, staff and students." By enjoying Puget Sound's beauty as well as its restrictions: water and hills, Weldon takes advantage of the opportunities afforded to him and chooses to travel by bus instead of by car.