U-PASS Profiles
Mix it Up Profile
(originally published in the December 2004 U-Commute News)
Jennifer Summers. Graphic Designer, Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs
Jennifer Summers takes a “mix-it-up” approach to her commute from Lake Forest Park to the Seattle Campus. Some days she relies on her car—a hybrid—to help her carry the tools of her trade. Nothing beats a backseat for transporting poster board and foam core. She uses her U-PASS to purchase Individual Commuter Tickets for the days she drives and shares the ride in a carpool when she can connect with other commuters.
Also, Jennifer has found biking and busing to be a combo that works. She and her husband Mike like to bike around Lake Washington on weekends. And they have taken some bike adventures--—including riding the STP twice, and taking a weeklong ride to the Salt Spring Islands and Vancouver, Canada. On that trip when they reached a section without a good bike route, they loaded up their bikes and took them with them on the train.
That was a fun experience and it seemed to make so much sense. Now, for days when weather, appointments, or other commitments make riding her bike to or from work impractical, she has added bike/bus riding to her commute options.
On most days, time is tight in the morning, so Jennifer drives her car and parks it near her bus stop. Then she puts her bike on the bus for the ride to work and bicycles home in the evening on the Burke Gilman Trail.
One thing Jennifer likes about taking her bike on the bus and bicycling home is that it works exercise into her day without having to go to a gym. She also finds that riding at the end of the day provides a good transition between work and home.
“I get to ride on the Burke Gilman Trail along Lake Washington. It is gorgeous and really relaxing. I get my exercise done so I can feel good about that, and I can go home and take a shower. It adds only about 10 minutes to my day’s commute.”
Putting her bike on the bus also adds flexibility to her commute.
“Some days I come out after work and I just don’t want to ride my bike home. I can put the bike back on the bus or leave it at my office. Then I take the bus home and I can ride home the next day.”
Riding her bike also adds interest to her day and gives her things to look forward to.
“I always like riding in the spring. It is interesting to me to see the bike riders training for the STP (Seattle to Portland) ride. I try to stay far over to the right as they go whizzing by me, but I really like seeing them in their team clothes.”
On Jennifer’s wish list?
A three-bike rack on the buses. (And guess what? Metro has a demo program underway now.)
JENNIFER'S TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR BIKE ON A BUS
- Practice loading your bike on an empty bus before you have to do it with everybody waiting on you. There is a certain knack to using the rack. Once you get the hang of it it’s okay, but the first few times it can be nerve-wracking. So, before I even started commuting on the bus, I went to a vacant bus and practiced with advice from a friendly bus driver.
- Organize so you don’t have your stuff scattered about. Put your helmet, your panniers, and your pack together on the ground while you load your bike up, then you can grab them quickly and get on the bus.
- Get good rain gear & take it with you.
- Always have good lights.
