Bringing You Home with Bikes and Buses: Real People. Real Stories.

Kelvin shares his story on the benefits of combining bikes and buses on his commute.

Bringing You Home with Bikes and Buses from Community Transit on Vimeo.

Do you want to commute by bus, but think that getting to and from the bus is just too much trouble? We get it. That first or last mile of the commute is always the hardest part of the trip to figure out. Instead of being dependent on your car, and being stuck in traffic, think beyond four wheels.

Remember how much fun it was to ride a bike as a kid? It's still fun! Adding a bike to your trip can make all the difference to having a commute you enjoy, without having to sacrifice your independence or flexibility. Meet Kelvin, who has found that combining bikes and buses shortens his commute and keeps his body healthy.

Kelvin used to commute exclusively by bike for many years from his home in Edmonds to his job at Edmonds Community College. A move to Stanwood several years ago transformed his commute into one that is truly multimodal. Each morning Kelvin drives his car to Stanwood Park & Ride and takes Route 422 to Lynnwood Park & Ride where he keeps his bike in a secure bike locker. From there he bikes to the college. Kelvin says by combining bikes and buses, he saves a significant amount of time, "In the morning it's about a 45 minute commute, a little longer heading home. If I was driving it would be an hour in the morning, and probably closer to two hours at night."

Wondering how Kelvin gets around if he needs to attend a meeting or run an errand? Why by bike and bus, of course! Only this time, he uses Swift Bus Rapid Transit. "If I have a meeting in Mukilteo, I can take the Swift bus up to Lincoln Station and from Lincoln Station hop on my bike and ride pretty quickly down Mukilteo Speedway. It's a very effective and efficient ride." Kelvin loves the innovative bike racks on the Swift, too, "You just roll the front wheel up this ramp and there's a shock absorber holder that comes down on the top of the wheel and it automatically locks it in place as you roll your front tire up the rack. They are quick and easy to use."

Using a bike locker means you won't have to worry about the bike racks being full. Kelvin says, "Community Transit has these beautiful, stainless steel lockers, they're very secure, it puts your bike out of the weather, it gives you a place to store your wet rain gear, your helmet and stuff that you need daily. Lockers are $60 a year which is very reasonable and it guarantees you a place to safely store your bike on a daily basis and that's given me flexibility."

Combining bikes and buses gives Kelvin 20 minutes of a great workout each day, without having to hit the gym, "I got into biking because I felt motivated to get healthier and wanted a little more exercise and biking is great exercise from the standpoint of cardio and just building energy, strength, and endurance. Incorporating it into the commute is a way of getting that daily without extending a day. I love having that as part of my commute."

Let us help make your commute happier and healthier by bringing you home with bikes and buses. For resources on how to use our bike racks, how to secure a bike locker, and trail maps of the area, visit www.communitytransit.org/bikes.

What part of your commute is holding you back? Are you excited to see if a bike may be the ticket to fun and flexibility?

Bringing You Home: Community Transit Riders Share Their Stories

"I'm Community Transit. And I ride it."

For over 40 years, Community Transit has been honored to provide safe, reliable and friendly service to Snohomish County. We've come a long way in four decades! Our fleet has grown to include the Swift Blue Line, Washington State's first bus rapid transit line, Double Tall buses with big views and a small footprint, DART (Dial-a-Ride Transit), and Vanpool vehicles. Thank you to the people who make it possible for us to serve our community ... our riders. We are honored with the responsibility you have entrusted in us to take you out in the world each day, and to bring you home again.

We talked with some of our riders recently, and they had great stories about the surprising benefits of using our services. From commuters to students to seniors, they shared their stories of connection, empowerment and freedom. We're excited to share them with you. Look for these stories here on our blog, on our website, and on our social channels over the next few months. And feel free to share your stories with us, too! We'd love to hear them.

Bringing You Home from Community Transit on Vimeo.

Biking and Busing: It's Easy!

Thinking about biking to work, school, or play but it's just too long of a commute? Consider combining biking and busing! Many of us, especially in more urban areas, live only a short bike ride from a bus route. In five, ten, fifteen minutes, you and your bike could be whizzing to your destination on a Community Transit bus. It's easy, convenient, and feels great! Plus you know you're doing your part to help our environment by reducing car emissions.

Every bus in our fleet is equipped with a bike rack to hold at least two bikes. You've probably seen them on the front of most buses and wondered how they worked, or if they'd be intimidating to use. They're really as easy as 1-2-3!

1. When the bus comes to a complete stop, make sure the driver sees you before stepping in front of the bus.
2. Unlatch the bike rack at the center handle and fold it down toward you.
3. Load your bike into the labeled slots and raise the spring-loaded support arm over the front tire to secure the bike.

Our Swift buses hold three bikes, and are even easier to use. Just enter through the rear door and simply push your bike onto the rack in front of you. Ensure the front wheel is centered and secure under the roller. And you're off!

For more information on using bike racks on buses, check out our video, or visit our website.


How to use Bike Racks from Community Transit on Vimeo.

May is Bike Everywhere Month!

It's that time again! Time to dust off those bikes and get back on the road. Whether you're new to biking, or a seasoned bike commuter, Bike Everywhere Month is a great time to get on your bike and enjoy the spring weather. Bike to work, bike to school, bike to errands, or bike to explore your city. It's easy, helps the environment, and feels great!

This year, we are proud to partner with Cascade Bicycle Club to bring 2016 Bike Everywhere Month festivities to Snohomish County City of Bothell with the Bike Everywhere Challenge and Bike Everywhere Day.

• Washington Bikes Bike Everywhere Challenge runs May 1 - May 31. Register your team, join a team or sign up solo 
• F5 Bike Everywhere Day takes place on Friday, May 20. Find a celebration station near you.

For more information on Bike Everywhere Day and the Bike Everywhere Month Challenge, please visit: https://www.cascade.org/connect/bike-everywhere-month.

Team VeloCeeTee

Did you know Community Transit has its own bike team? Team VeloCee Tee loves the freedom and flexibility of biking so much, that many of its members bike year round. One team member and year-round bike commuter who is passionate about the benefits of biking is Roland Behee, our Strategic Planning Unit Manager. Roland bikes or combines biking with Swift for easy commutes to and from work. "I like keeping our air clean, I save a lot of money, and it's fun! I always look forward to my commute. How many people can say that?"

For Roland, who has been biking for thirty years, working in our Planning and Development Department presents a unique opportunity where his personal life as a cyclist and his professional life as a planner intersect. Between 20,000 - 22,000 bikes are loaded on and off bus bike racks each month. Half of those are on Swift (6-7% of overall riders, or 400 people per day) where easy bike loading and the ability to carry more cargo add convenience. Roland often wears his planning hat while in bike shorts. "I observe how customers react to and move around with bikes. Sometimes I'll ask questions and get a great open dialogue with passengers."

There has been a lot of progress in recent years by communities in downtown Seattle and Everett to make bicycles feel just like any other vehicle. From sharrow bike lanes (where bikes share the space with automobiles) to dedicated bike lanes to signalized intersections, it's getting easier and easier to get around on your bike. Community Transit is mindful of its impact in this landscape. As someone who both plans bus routes and is an avid cyclist, Roland represents the balance Community Transit seeks when designing routes, "We're aware that as a bus company that we are operating in bike space all the time. We strive to design our routes effectively to create positive experiences for both busing and biking. We try to come up with the best possible solutions for both modes of transportation."

Do you plan to get on your bike for Bike Everywhere Month? Do you utilize transit as part of your bicycling plan? Let us know in the comments!