How We Roll celebrates Metro Transit employees who regularly ride transit and other forms of sustainable transportation. Read more How We Roll Q&As here.
How long have you been riding transit?
I grew up in an area with extremely limited transit access but would try out other systems when traveling to places like Washington, D.C. or New York. I've been riding transit regularly since I moved to the Twin Cities in 2016. Route 2 was my first regular route and it's stayed a favorite, although I now ride the 22, 9, and METRO Blue Line on a more regular basis.
How do you get to work?
Usually I bike to the office using Hiawatha and the new 2nd Street bikeway or West River Parkway. If it's raining or I want a more relaxed commute, I'll take the bus or light rail. I live near the Franklin Avenue Station so I have my choice of a train ride or one of many local routes.
What do you enjoy most about your commute?
I like that I have the flexibility to choose whatever mode fits my mood on a given day. If I want to get a little exercise and some fresh air -- especially now that it's cooling off -- I'll bike. If I want to read or catch up on my phone, or even just if my legs are tired, I'll take transit. It's also a short enough commute that it would be silly to drive, which is nice because if you're driving that's all you can do. If you pick another mode, you can fit some leisure time or exercise in on your way to work.
How do you get around outside of your commute?
In general, my partner and I prefer to get around by bike whether we're checking out a new restaurant or hanging out at a favorite brewery, running errands, or meeting up with friends. I'll often combine biking and transit if I'm not up for the full mileage of an outing. As a relatively recent fat tire bike adopter, I'm thrilled Metro Transit is piloting new fat tire bike-friendly racks. It takes a lot more work to move a fat tire bike around than a typical commuter bike. It'll be a gamechanger to be able to take the bus to trails at Theodore Wirth and the River Bottoms instead of adding a lot of miles to a ride or resorting to driving, or just sticking to destinations that are accessible via light rail.
A bike rack that can accommodate fat bikes is currently being piloted on bus 1771. Track the location of this bus using Pantograph. To provide feedback, email [email protected].