Name: Alex Meacham
Occupation: Development and Communications Manager
Employer: Downtown On the Go
Gets around by: Car, Bus, and a little walking!
Where do you live and where do you work?
Right now, I live in Gig Harbor and commute across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to downtown Tacoma through multi-modal transit options!
How do you get there?
I drive to the TCC Transit Center, which has a commuter parking lot, and leave my hybrid car there for the workday, while I take the 1, 2, or 28 bus lines into downtown!
It’s then just a crosswalk and an elevator to work! No parking garages or parallel parking required.
How does it all add up? How much money and time do you save?
Only driving partway to work means saving on gas and saving on parking fees. My ORCA card is provided by my work, so I don’t even need to pay bus fares!
It costs me ~$1.22 each way in gas to go all the way to work. By stopping at TCC, I save 53 cents every trip, as well as ~$8-10 in parking fees.
I also intend to either move to this side, or start taking the bus across the bridge too, which will cut out another $5 toll.
What’s in it for you?
Commuting to work means that I come out of the pandemic with a good routine, to an area I’m relatively new to, and get to explore on foot every day.
I also don’t have to spend as much on my car, and I lessen my carbon footprint a little! (Plus, I’m a very slow parallel parker, and I know folks would rather me not hold up the whole street!)
Do you have any tips for people who might be trying this mode for the first time?
Don’t be afraid to try it out! The bus system might seem a little scary for a first-time rider, but the drivers are helpful, and courteous, and always happy to help you find your way!