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?

Community Transit "Moves" Me, for Good!

"Transit helps me help the environment." Did you know that each year cars spew 1.5 tons of pollution into the air around Puget Sound? Getting vehicles off the road dramatically improves our air quality. And combining a bike trip with a Community Transit bus is a smart way to commute. Not only does it feel great, you know you're doing your part to help our environment by reducing car emissions.

Many of us, especially in more urban areas, live only a short bike ride from a bus route. In just a few minutes, you could be hopping on one of our buses and on your way to work or school. Every Community Transit bus is equipped with a bike rack to hold at least two bikes. If you've worried that it's hard to use a bike rack, don't be. It's easy! Whether you use a rack on the front of a bus, or load your bike onboard a Swift bus, it only takes a moment or two to secure your bike before you're on your way.

While the weather is nice, get out there and give bikes and buses a go. It's a chance to do right by your body and the environment. We're there for you. Let Community Transit move you, for good!


Transit moves me, for good! 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.

Spring into Gear: Tips for New Bike Commuters

Today marks the first day of national Bike Month and now is a great time to pull your bicycle out of the garage and give biking to work or school a try.  Biking is a great way to avoid traffic stress and the costs of driving.  It’s also a great way to combine your commute with your workout!

For a new bike commuter, here are just a few tips to help you get started:

1.    Plan your route in advance. Usually there are several ways to get from your house to the office. Consider taking the easiest route with the least amount of traffic even if it is longer.  

• Download the newly updated Snohomish County Bike Map to find bike friendly routes from your home or work.
• Visit Google Maps biking feature to input your starting point and destination and get suggested routes.

2.    Try a practice run on the weekend and pay attention to how much time it takes so you can avoid being late to work.

3.    Know the proper turn signals so that you can alert drivers, pedestrians and other bikers of your actions:

• Right turn signal - either hold your right arm out, or hold your left arm up, with bent elbow. You don’t have to keep your arm out through the turn – you may need both hands on the handlebars to keep control of your bicycle.
• Left turn signal - left hand straight out
• Brake signal - left hand pointed down bend at the elbow at a 45 degree angle

4.    Get a light.  A simple headlight or flashing light on your bike or person can make you more visible to drivers.  Bike lights can be purchased at most bicycle shops and sports stores for as little as $5.

5.    Wear a helmet.  Not only is it the law in Washington State, but a helmet can protect you if something unexpected happens.

6.    Be prepared for weather.  Be sure to check out the forecast before you leave the house and make sure you have the right gear with you including sunglasses (hopefully!), rain gear or gloves.

7.    Bring in clothes, lunches and other items you need to bring from home to work for the week in on the weekend so you don’t have to worry about them on your ride.  If you need to bring items with you each day, consider purchasing a bike bag or rack which can be purchased at most bicycle shops and sport stores.

8.    Find out ahead of time where you can park your bike at your workplace and where you can store any bike gear.

9.    Keep up on bike maintenance and cleaning for a smoother ride and to make sure you catch any problems early.

10.  Remember, if you have a long commute to work you don’t have to bike the whole way.  Check out if there are transit routes that can get you near work or home and you can bike the rest of the way.  All regional buses and trains are equipped with bike racks and many transit centers and park & rides have bike lockers or racks for you to park your bike.

• Visit our website for more information on biking and busing.

Community Transit is supporting bike activities all month long throughout Snohomish County. To learn more about Bike Month events and resources, visit our Bike Month webpage.  

Spring Into Gear, Bike Month Is Here

Today marks the first day of national Bike Month and Community Transit is encouraging people to get out there and ride a bike to work, to a transit center or just for fun. Whether it is your first time on a bike or you have a closet full of padded shorts and spandex, there are many benefits you can get from riding a bike. Here are a few good reasons to spring into gear this month and get riding.


"Oxy Gene supports bikes and buses. "Oh yeaahh!"

  

It is cheaper than driving.

According to AAA, the average cost of operating a car in 2012 was 58.5 cents per mile. For many drivers that can add up to thousands of dollars each year. An article in Forbes Magazine in 2012 stated the annual cost of operating a bike was just $308 – accounting for a huge savings over driving each day.

 

For people with longer trips, combining biking with transit is another great way to keep costs down. Check out our cost calculator to see what your savings could be.

It supports a healthy lifestyle.
Biking is one of the best activities for improving your overall health, including:
• Improved cardiovascular health and a decrease in coronary heart diseases
• Increased coordination, balance and flexibility
• Improved muscle tone and strength
• Increased endurance and stamina
• Decreased obesity and weight-related diseases
• Strengthened  immune system

It gets you out of traffic.
Americans spend more than 25 minutes driving to work each day according to the 2010 U.S Census. By avoiding congestion, cycling could help you get there faster and avoid sitting in traffic.

It connects you to transit.
Biking is a great way to connect to local and regional transit near your home or work. Community Transit encourages bus riders to incorporate bikes into their daily commute. Every Community Transit bus is equipped with a two-bike rack in the front. Swift buses have three interior bike racks so riders can quickly roll their bikes right onto the buses. Bus riders can also store their bikes at bike lockers located at park & rides throughout the county. Learn more at www.communitytransit.org/bikes.

It is a free gym on wheels.
By combining your daily workout with your commute or errands, you can save yourself a trip to the gym and free up more time to do other things you enjoy. 

It makes your community better.
There are many benefits to the community when people choose to ride their bikes regularly:
• It reduces congestion on roadways by removing cars
• It removes greenhouse gas emissions
• The more bicycles on the road, the safer it becomes because drivers are more aware of their surroundings
• It encourages local spending and engagement

And the last reason to ride your bike this May and all year long: It’s Fun!

Community Transit is supporting bike activities all month long throughout Snohomish County. To learn more, visit Cascade Bicycle Club’s Bike Month website.