Name: Trudy Sprinkle
Occupation: Administrative Assistant / Employee Trip Coordinator
Employer: CHI Franciscan
Gets around by: Bus / Walk / bike
Where do you live and where do you work? I live in University Place and work in downtown Tacoma.
How do you get there? Primarily transit but I like to walk and bike as much as possible. I take the bus most of the way to work but will get off a distance from work so I can incorporate walking into my morning commute which is a great way to clear your mind before starting work. On the weekends, I generally walk everywhere but will also use transit and bike if it makes sense.
How does it all add up? How much money or time do you save? I save quite a bit! My only transportation costs are my monthly bus pass which is $72. I don’t have to worry about car payments, insurance, or maintenance problems. In fact, since I started taking transit, I have been able to go on multiple vacations which is something I was not able to do when I had to pay to drive and maintain a car.
What’s in it for you? Besides saving money, my primary reason for choosing not to drive is the fact that I really wanted to make positive changes in my life to benefit the environment. This was an easy way to make an impact in addition to the other things I was already doing. Additionally, I never have to look for or pay for parking which is a huge benefit especially when traveling to downtown Tacoma or Seattle.
Do you have any tips for people who may be trying these modes for the first time? Plan ahead and allow extra time to get to work. You will be more successful if you prepare for your commute. The other thing to remember is that you can combine these modes with driving to work alone on days that driving is necessary. Lastly, sit back and relax 🙂 Riding the bus gives you time on the way to and from work to do what you like; catch up on social media, watch movies or TV, listen to music, sleep, or nothing. It’s entirely up to you which is not the case when you drive.