Good to Go Blog

Bloomington-Normal Churches are…Good To Go!

Posted on May 8, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Registration is now open for the Good To Go Commuter Challenge. Sign up now and learn more. Thanks.

The 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge gets underway this Saturday, May 12. This friendly competition between individuals, teams, workplaces and organizations encourages you to find alternative ways to get around town other than driving alone. Not only will you save money in gas, but participants also have a chance to win a $200 Visa gift card.

This year’s Challenge is getting interesting as four twin city churches are working to drive up their participation and discussing the concept of “sustainability of creation,” or taking care of what God created. Workplaces and organizations, such as churches will be recognized based on the percentage of their members participating. Calvary United Methodist Church, The Mennonite Church of Normal, Northside Church of Christ and The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal are busy promoting the Challenge with hopes of achieving a high level of participation.

Isaac Gaff, Director of Worship Arts at Calvary United Methodist Church

Isaac Gaff, the Director of Worship Arts at Calvary United Methodist Church is inspiring his fellow church-goers to find sustainable ways to get to Sunday service. In his blog post titled Does God Really Care How I Get To Work? Gaff writes, “Driving alone in a gasoline powered car takes a larger negative toll on both creation and our bodies than we often think. We not only consume finite, non-renewable energy resources that, at the very least, contribute to the harm of our home; we also deprive our own bodies of the regular physical activity we were made to do.” Read more.

Join us at the Downtown Bloomington Farmers’ Market on May 12th for the Challenge kickoff. Register for the Challenge and claim your Good To Go water bottle, certificate for a free Carl’s Ice Cream cone and a card good for one free B-NPTS bus ride. Visit the Good To Go website to learn more about the 2012 Commuter Challenge or register now.

Mike McCurdy is WGLT Program Director and co-coordinates a community sustainable transportation project, Good To Go.

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Good To Go Commuter Profile: Isaac Gaff

Posted on April 13, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Registration is now open for the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge, May 12-18. The Challenge is a friendly competition between individuals, teams and workplaces. During the week-long challenge, participants track and report their sustainable commutes online; anything counts except driving alone. Learn more about the Challenge. Thanks to Danny Hajek and photographer Karen Hanrahan for making this series of interviews with sustainable commuters possible.

Isaac Gaff waits for the bus to take him to Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal.

Prior to the Commuter Challenge in May, GLT is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably all year long. With rising gas prices, we hope you’ll join them for at least the week of the challenge, May 12-18, to save some money on gas. And we think you’ll enjoy the ride, whether carpooling, out on the bike or on the bus. GLT’s Danny Hajek recently spoke with Isaac Gaff, the Director of Worship Arts at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal. He takes the bus almost every day to get to work.

Isaac Gaff: I’ve been commuting on the bus now for probably about six or eight months.

Danny Hajek: And have you developed a passion over these past months for sustainable transportation?

IG: I have. I used to work in Lincoln, Illinois so I drove for 30 miles and now I work in town so I get the opportunity to use public transportation and bike. It’s a great experience for me. It’s new so I really love it. The bus goes right by my house, drops me off pretty close to the church, so it’s a pretty convenient form of transportation for me anyway.

DH: I’m sure it’s nice to finally leave the car at home after having to drive 30-miles one way to work every day. What do you enjoy doing on the bus that you can’t do while driving alone?

IG: I really like to read while I’m on the bus. Sometimes I just like sitting and conversing with some of the people that are on there or just sitting and listening and not driving. You know, the town moves at a speed that’s a little bit different when you’re riding on a bus so you notice things that you really don’t notice while you’re driving. Just kind of makes you thankful for the good community that we live in.

DH: You mention that you like conversing with other riders. So have you met a lot of people during your commutes?

IG: Yeah, there’s all kinds of people that ride the bus and one of the most startling things that I found when I began riding the bus was that people talk to each other and people are actually more friendly than they are even in parking lots or grocery stores or things like that. It’s similar to if you’re walking along the trail, people just seem to be a little bit more friendly on the trail as you pass them. It’s the same thing on the bus. People say goodbye when they leave, they greet each other when they come on, there really is a sense of hospitality that is certainly present there.

DH: So you’re a B-NPTS customer, you’re an avid bike rider…this seems like a great way for you to get out in the community.

IG: Yeah, we live in a culture that promotes cocooning and promotes getting away and doing your own thing, getting inside of your own bubble whenever you can and one of the great things that I love about riding the bus is that for at least 15 minutes a day, there and back, it puts me in a situation that I couldn’t construct myself. There’s no way that I would be able to get the people that ride with me together and so it’s something that I can’t create, but it’s something that I do get to experience. And it makes me feel like I’m a part of this community in a way that I couldn’t manufacture.

DH: As someone who is fairly new to commuting sustainably, what is your best piece of advice to get others on the bus or riding their bike?

IG: You just have to try it. There are a lot of things that you just have to get over. It really is an adventure sometimes, especially those first few weeks. You know, you’re not familiar with the rhythms and the practices of commuter kinds of transportation, to pick up on that, it does take a few weeks, and that’s okay. For the most part, people are very friendly, they’re very willing to help you out. The bus drivers on B-NPTS are incredibly helpful in getting you from Place A to Place B. The people that ride public transportation, I think they really do see themselves as a community of folks who are trying to do something really good, both for our environment but also for the community of Bloomington-Normal and so, if you go in with that kind of mindset, to even do it every once in awhile, I think you’ll find that it’s a really inviting place and you’re doing some good stuff while you’re doing that. You just have to try it.

Isaac Gaff is the Director of Worship Arts at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal. Join him on the bus, on the Constitution Trail or choose the sustainable commute that works best for you and participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge, May 12-18. Everyone who logs at least one sustainable commute during the challenge is eligible for a drawing for a $200 Visa gift card. Learn more and register for the challenge today.

The Good To Go Blog is administered by Mike McCurdy, WGLT Program Director and co-coordinator of the sustainable transportation project Good To Go. The Commuter Challenge is May 12-18. Danny Hajek and photographer Karen Hanrahan helped make this series of sustainable commuter interviews possible. Hear an audio version and see a schedule of upcoming interviews at the WGLT website.

Posted in Blog | Tagged B-NPTS, Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System, Bus Commuting, Isaac Gaff, Sustainable Commuting | Leave a comment

Good To Go Commuter Profile: Noah and Bill Davison

Posted on April 5, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Prior to the Commuter Challenge in May, GLT is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably all year long. With rising gas prices, we hope you’ll join them for at least the week of the challenge to save some money and enjoy the ride. GLT’s Danny Hajek talked with Bill Davison, a salesman and bike-fitter at Vitesse Cycle Shop in Normal, and his son Noah, a third-grader at Metcalf Laboratory School. Both are regular bike and bus commuters – rain or shine.

Noah zips up before finishing up his commute home.

Danny Hajek: Noah, I understand you enjoy riding your bike to school, but what if the weather’s bad? What do you do?

Noah Davison: Well, if it’s rainy or snowy or just bad or really cold, we usually take the bus. But usually we take the bikes because it doesn’t pollute and it gives you exercise and we just go on the Constitution Trail. And on our way home, we stop at the Coffee Hound and we buy a scone or something.

DH: Sounds good! When you do decide to take the bus, is it rough waiting at the bus stop in bad weather?

ND: No, it’s only about two blocks away so I’d say the walk to get there is probably harder than the wait.

Bill Davison: We tend to cut it pretty close so we’re usually waiting only three or four minutes.

DH: Bill, how long is your commute to work?

BD: Well, we live one-and-a-half miles from Vitesse so my daily commute is using the trail to cover that distance. Takes me about six minutes and I do it almost every day.

Noah's ride.

DH: It sounds like your family is always out riding bikes or taking the bus to get around. Do you see familiar faces and meet a lot of new people during your commute?

BD: You meet a lot of people when you’re riding a bike, they tend to be friendly. And so you have more of an impact than you would think just from your immediate interactions like when we take Noah to school, we’ll see other families when we’re coming and going and they notice that we’re on bikes. Some of them have talked to us about how they’d like to do it and typically they’ll say they don’t have time to fit it into their routine but they see us and I think it prompts them to at least think about it more.

DH: You both are very passionate about sustainable transportation. What is it you enjoy most about it?

BD: I just enjoy the ride itself. I like riding the bike. I don’t like driving so it’s really nice that way, to get to do what you like. I like the exercise you get and incorporating exercise into your life. I’ll just run errands, get groceries and things like that on the bike. I feel better riding versus driving.

ND: It makes me feel good, I feel like it motivates me to do more of it. It helps me physically and mentally. So it’s like an all-around good thing.

BD: I just think it’s a great form of exercise and way to get around town.

Bill Davison works at Vitesse Cycle Shop in Normal and his son Noah is a student at Metcalf. Join the Davison family on the bus, on the Constitution Trail or choose the sustainable commute that works best for you and participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge, May 12-18. Everyone who logs at least one sustainable commute during the challenge is eligible for a drawing for a $200 Visa gift card. Learn more and register for the challenge today!

The Good To Go Blog is administered by Mike McCurdy, WGLT Program Director and co-coordinator of the sustainable transportation project Good To Go. The Commuter Challenge is May 12-18. Danny Hajek and photographer Karen Hanrahan helped make this series of sustainable commuter interviews possible. Hear an audio version and see an archive of past interviews in the series at the WGLT website.

Posted in Blog | Tagged B-NPTS, bicycles, bicycling, bike commuting, Bus Commuting, Commuter Challenge, Good To Go | Leave a comment

Student Commuters Causing Change

Posted on April 5, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Registration is now open for the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge May 12-18. Participate, save gas money and maybe put more than gas money in your pocket with a chance at winning at $200 Visa gift card.

So many students are now riding, another rack was secured.

A group of students at Normal Community High School have started bicycling to school and are using social networking tools to bring attention to their effort and the need for some improvements along their route. GLT’s Charlie Schlenker reported on this effort earlier this week.

Their dedication is as impressive as their enthusiasm. When I rode the route to meet with the students on April 4, there was northeast wind at about 20 mph. As this school is on the outskirts of Normal, it’s windy a lot of the time. This group of 20-30 riders also has to deal with a two lane Raab Rd. and a left hand turn into the school. When I rode, it was a low traffic period, but I can certainly see with lots of cars, how this might induce some white-knuckle grips on the handlebars.

These students are participating in the first ever National Bike To School Day on May 9th and are planning to participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge, May 12-18th. I’m hopeful they’ll enlist a large group of student, faculty and staff riders on May 9th…and will challenge other schools to a little friendly competition in the Commuter Challenge beginning May 12th.

WGLT’s Charlie Schlenker talked with the students about their efforts to save gas money and improve the world.

Mike McCurdy is WGLT Program Director and co-coordinates the community sustainable transportation project Good To Go. The 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge is May 12-18.

Posted in Blog | Tagged bike commuters, bike2School, National Bike To School Day, NCHS, Normal Community High School, student bikers | Leave a comment

Good To Go Commuter Profile: Rebecca Rossi

Posted on March 30, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Registration will open soon for the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge, May 12-18. The Challenge is a friendly competition between individuals, teams and workplaces. During the week-long challenge, participants track and report their sustainable commutes online; anything counts except driving alone. Learn more about the Challenge. Thanks to Danny Hajek and photographer Karen Hanrahan for making this series of interviews with sustainable commuters possible.

Rebecca Rossi gets ready for her walk to work. She also bikes, roller skates and uses the bus.

In advance of the week-long challenge this May, GLT is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably all year long. GLT’s Danny Hajek spoke with one of those commuters, Rebecca Ross. She’s the Assistant Director at Illinois State University’s Stevenson Center, working in the graduate program dedicated to community and economic development.

Rebecca Rossi: I just like to ride my bike! I was riding for exercise and distance rides for fun, and decided I could ride to work at least a few times a month. So I got a commuter bike, kind of an in-town bike that was more appropriate than a road bike and started.

Danny Hajek: You used to play on the local roller derby team, the McLean County MissFits, and now you’ve moved on to the Champaign-Urbana Twin City Derby Girls. So you roller skate, you also walk and take the bus to get around town. What’s the best part about sustainable commuting?

Rebecca headed toward the ISU campus for another day of work at the Stevenson Center.

RR: My favorite part of any of those commutes is walking through my neighborhood or moving through my neighborhood to get onto campus because there’s the school, and this time of year, there are folks outside walking their dogs and you feel like you’re part of something.

DH: And it’s great being outside in such nice weather!

RR: This year has been lovely.

DH: You’re a regular bus rider. Tell me about your experiences with the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System?

RR: One of the issues in Bloomington Normal that you hear often is that it’s not reliable. But my bus is within two minutes of when I need it to be there.

DH: What words of advice would you give someone to encourage them to start commuting sustainably?

RR: Just do it a couple times. Often people think if I’m going to bike to work, I have to bike to work every day. Or I have to make this huge commitment. But really, if it’s sunny and gorgeous and it’s a day where you would just enjoy riding your bike, then ride! The bus is a little scary for people in terms of navigating the routes and knowing when the bus is coming, but sometimes you can find someone to go with, especially if it’s someone in my area, just go with me! We’ll go together and see if that works. I think a big thing is reminding people they don’t have to commit to riding their bike every single day for the rest of their life just because they say they’re going to start riding their bike. Just do it when you can and when it works. That’s a good way to start.

DH: Is there a sense of reward and satisfaction or a sense of pride when you’re commuting sustainably?

RR: I guess to some degree. I like doing things under my own power. I ride my bike, I run, I walk, I like to skate, I just like to move. So there’s a satisfaction that comes from propelling myself. It’s just that kind of high you get from any physical activity like that. If I’m riding the bus, the times I feel particularly good about it are the times when I run into somebody that I know which happens more frequently than I would have thought. And that’s nice because you can sit and have a quick chat on your way to work and it’s a little interaction that you wouldn’t have had. So, that’s pretty satisfying.

Rebecca Rossi is with the Stevenson Center at ISU. Join Rebecca during your commute. Ride your bike, take the bus or roller-skate along the Constitution Trail and participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge May 12-18. Everyone who logs at least one sustainable commute during the challenge is eligible to win a $200 Visa gift card. Learn more and register for the challenge today.

Posted in Blog | Tagged B-NPTS, bike commuting, Bus Commuting, Constitution Trail, McLean County MissFits, Rebecca Rossi, Rollder Derby, Walking | Leave a comment

Good To Go Commuter Profile: Matt Hickman

Posted on March 22, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

In advance of the week-long challenge this May, GLT is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably all year long. GLT’s Danny Hajek spoke with one of those commuters, Matt Hickman, the Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Life at the Mennonite Church of Normal.

Matt Hickman and daughter Makyla waiting for a B-NPTS bus for a ride to Uptown Normal.

Matt Hickman: I guess I’m multi-modal. I started using the bus, ride a bike, I also do quite an extensive amount of walking. We moved here, it’s going on four years ago when I took the job at the church and I started using public transit immediately. This was a novel thing for me to live in a town that had a bus system.

DH: So you took the B-NPTS Lime I bus to get to GLT today, and you brought your 5-year-old daughter Makyla. Is traveling around town sustainably something that your family enjoys doing together?

MH: It’s part of our entertainment budget. Just because it is so delightful to get out and see so many places in the community. You can just about get anywhere on foot or on a bike or on the bus. I would say that you can get places using those forms of transportation that cars don’t allow. The things that you would normally miss, little spots here, community garden tucked in here, a little swing set park here. There are just treasures to be found all over the place. But it takes some intentionality of going slow and paying attention.

DH: What would you say to those who are unsure of taking the bus because of any misconceptions?

Matt, showing daughter Makyla, a point on the B-NPTS route map.misconceptions?

MH: We have some of the cleanest buses and the most polite riders of any public transit I have ever been on. People are so friendly.

DH: Do you ever strike up conversations with other riders?

MH: Oh yeah! I mean, I’m sort of wired that way as a pastor. I’m a people person so I like to strike up conversations. I’m interested in stories that people carry. You meet a lot of people with a lot of stories on the bus.

Maykyla on the bus

DH: Does the Mennonite Church of Normal get involved in commuting too?

MH: We have a number of commuter and distance bike riders. We have a number of people in the congregation that regularly combine bike and bus to go to work and to get around town. It’s just sort of a culture of alternative transportation that is just embedded within the congregation. It’s a lot of fun.

DH: So what’s your favorite part about taking the bus or riding your bike?

After the bus ride, walking in Uptown Normal.

MH: I think my favorite part is that you kind of slow down and you’re able to see textures in the community you wouldn’t see when you’re in that personal automobile bubble flying at speeds upwards of 35 miles-per-hour and having fits of anger at other people in cars. You can concentrate on actually enjoying the place where you live.

Matt Hickman is the Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Life at the Mennonite Church of Normal. Join Matt and his family on the bus during your commute, ride your bike, or walk along the Constitution Trail and participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge May 12-18. Everyone who logs at least one sustainable commute during the challenge is eligible to win a $200 Visa gift card. Learn more and register for the challenge today.

Posted in Blog | Tagged B-NPTS, bus blog, Bus Commuting, Commuter Challenge, Good To Go, Matt Hickman, Sustainable Transportation | Leave a comment

Good To Go Commuter Profile: Rachel Shively

Posted on March 14, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Rachel Shively getting ready to head out for a recent work commute.

Prior to this year’s Challenge, the Good To Go Blog is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably year round. With rising gas prices we hope that you join them for at least the week of the Challenge to save a few bucks and we hope you’ll find it’s not as hard as you might think. In the third interview in this series, GLT’s Danny Hajek spoke with Rachel Shively, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Applied Linguistics at Illinois State University.

Danny Hajek: When did you start riding your bike?

Rachel Shively: Since I was an undergraduate back in 1995. I just really love biking and I go about three-and-a-half miles commute each way to come to ISU. About two miles of that is on the Constitution Trail so that’s just a really enjoyable way to come to work. I honestly really enjoy that much more than driving.

DH: You’re able to ride your bike all year-round, but are there certain weather conditions you’d rather not ride in?

RS: The only time that I don’t ride is when it’s raining a lot. And that’s primarily because it really can mess up your hair and you don’t want to change your work clothes and take a shower once you get to work. It can get a little bit dicey in those regards. But for winter biking, a couple pieces of equipment can be useful. I think some people would feel, “Oh it takes too long,” or “I get to sweaty or dirty.” I don’t find those things to be very problematic.

DH: How do you pack everything up in the morning before work? Do you wear a backpack while you ride?

RS: I have two panniers which are little baskets that go on the back rack of my bike. I don’t actually like to carry my backpack or my briefcase on my person so I put it back there and that makes it a lot more comfortable to ride.

DH: And it only takes a couple of minutes to get all of your winter gear on?

RS: Yes, I get my gloves, ski mask, helmet, putting those things around your ankles for your pants to keep your pants in line but I mean really, it’s a couple of extra minutes in that regard. And then I’m off. I go down Grove Street for about a mile and I catch the Constitution Trail going north. Twenty-minutes later, I’m on campus. I grab my panniers, bring them upstairs to my office and I’m at work.

DH: You get exercise, you save money and you don’t have to worry about parking. Is this an ideal mode of transportation?

RS: I think so! my car. I do have a car that I use sometimes, but I only fill it up every six weeks. I’m not spending the money on gas and I’m not polluting the air. It’s an enjoyable, healthy, and earth friendly way to commute.

Rachel Shively is an Assistant Professor at Illinois State University. Join Rachel on the Constitution Trail or choose the sustainable commute that works best for you and participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge, May 12-18. Learn more and register for the challenge at wglt.org.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Good To Go Commuter Profile: Patrick Dullard

Posted on March 7, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Patrick Dullard, near his daily work destination, Country Financial. Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan

Prior to this year’s Challenge, the Good To Go Blog is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably year round. With rising gas prices we hope that you join them for at least the week of the challenge to save a few bucks and we hope you’ll find it’s not as hard as you might think. In the second interview in this series, GLT’s Danny Hajek spoke with Patrick Dullard, Premium Audit Supervisor at Country Financial in Bloomington.

Patrick Dullard: I’m a bicycle commuter so I ride to work every day year round. I probably get in about 200 days a year.

Danny Hajek: How long have you been doing that?

PD: I’ve been doing that four years now, dedicated.

DH: Wow. Two-hundred days a year! What’s the worst weather condition you’ve biked through?

Gloves are just part of the gear Patrick choose to wear on a cold morning commute. Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan

PD: Blizzard. One day I had rode in to work and it was okay. That night or that afternoon a storm kind of blew in and I still had to make it home and I guess I could’ve called for a ride, but tried it. And I would say it was probably in the single digits and blowing and storming pretty hard. I’m not the brightest or not the most safe sometimes.

DH: I’d say you’re adventurous.

PD: Yeah, there you go.

DH: If someone came up to you at Country or one of your neighbors told you they were considering sustainable transportation to and from work, what advice would you give that person to help them make that first step?

PD: I would say you know, hey, ride in on Saturday when you don’t have any pressure to get to work on time. Just take your ride on a Saturday, how long would it take me? You know it does take a little bit of time commitment but you’re also coupling that with some other part of your lifestyle like exercise so you’re not really losing that time. There’s a benefit for it. And it’s more about just getting started and trying it. And you build on that and you feel good about it and you say okay I did it today, I think I’ll go ahead and try that tomorrow. One thing where people ‘oh I could never do that cause I wouldn’t feel clean’ or whatever and really I think if they got started they would really understand it really isn’t that bad. You wouldn’t believe how easy it is once you get started and wearing decent gear you can dress for almost anything.

Patrick casting a shadow during his commute on a recent sunny morning in Bloomington-Normal. Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan

DH: You say you never ride without a helmet. You wear a reflective vest, a pair of gloves, goggles and you’ve outfitted your bike with front and back lights. So even during the winter when your commute back home is in the dark, you’re still out there riding your bike, saving a little money and keeping active.

PD: Yeah, you get to a point where if you’re not riding you’re missing it.

DH: What’s your favorite part of your ride?

PD: I’m fortunate that most of my ride is on the trail. And you know I just enjoy the serenity. I’ve gotten to see people where I don’t really know their names but we pass a lot and there’s a hello and you see familiar faces and that’s kind of neat to see too.

Patrick Dullard works at Country Financial in Bloomington. Join Patrick on the Constitution Trail during your commute to work, take the bus, or carpool and participate in the 2012 Good To Go Commuter Challenge May 12-18. If Patrick can ride year round, can you try it for a week? Everyone who logs at least one sustainable commute during the challenge is eligible for a drawing for a $200 Visa gift card. Learn more and register for the challenge now.

The Good To Go Blog is administered by Mike McCurdy, WGLT Program Director and co-coordinator of the sustainable transportation project Good To Go. The Commuter Challenge is May 12-18. Danny Hajek and photographer Karen Hanrahan helped make this series of sustainable commuter interviews possible. Hear an audio version and see a schedule of upcoming interviews at the WGLT website.

Posted in Blog | Tagged bicyclists, bike commuter, biking to work, Commuter Challenge, Friends of the Constitutional Trail, Patrick Dullard | Leave a comment

Good To Go Commuter Profile: John Bowman

Posted on February 25, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

John Bowman leaves the downtown Bloomington State Farm offices to catch a bus. Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan

Prior to this year’s challenge, the Good To Go Blog is bringing you a series of interviews with commuters who choose to get around sustainably year round. With the rising gas prices we hope that you join them for at least the week of the challenge to save a few bucks and we hope you’ll find it’s not as hard as you might think. For the first interview in the series, GLT’s Danny Hajek spoke with John Bowman, who’s been riding the bus for the past 6 years to get to his job as an internal auditor at State Farm. He says once a rider learns the routes, it’s pretty simple to get around.

Danny Hajek: What are some of the misconceptions about this form of transportation?

John Bowman: One misconception I found to be totally unfounded and untrue is that buses are unsafe; that you’ll run into people there that may endanger you and I haven’t found that to be the case. You do have some interesting people who ride the buses and they come from all classes and social strata. But I haven’t found the buses to be unsafe and I actually find a lot of the riders to be personable and a lot of the drivers as well who are typically very helpful and can be quit engaging at times.

DH: So do you strike up conversations with the passengers?

JB: On occasion, I do, I probably talk more to the drivers just because riding regularly they get to know me and I get to know them and we share a relationship at some level, just kind of sharing life together in that context.

Bowman consults a B-NPTS bus schedule. Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan

For John it’s the challenge of learning all the bus routes that got him interested in public transit. He takes the Teal J from his house, makes a connection in the morning to the Red B bus to State Farm in downtown Bloomington. After work he takes the Green A into uptown Normal to connect with the Yellow G and then hops back on the Teal J at College Hills Mall to get back home. And even when the weather is bad, John waits for his bus.

JB: When last year’s blizzard occurred actually I was out there that morning and rode the bus and so that was pretty exciting that morning. It got to be kind of ugly that particular day.

DH: What was that like, a bus ride in a blizzard?

JB : You know it was interesting the buses actually continued to run that day until about 3 o’clock and at that point it became too hazardous for anyone to be out on the roads and they shut down operations. But the buses will operate in just about any conditions and the skill level obviously of the drivers is such that they are able to navigate the roads under most circumstances and conditions.

Bowman boarding a bus, heading home after work. Photo Credit: Karen Hanrahan

DH: At a personal level, do you feel a sense of satisfaction from commuting sustainably?

JB: I do. I try to conserve and use energy responsibly. That is a part of it and I try as I say to be as economical as possible but not just as a personal pocket book perspective but from the standpoint of the environment and overall resources to try and be a good steward of everything and not just what comes under my control or what I have some measure of control over for that matter.

John Bowman is an internal auditor at State Farm and he serves on the board of trustees for the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System. Join John on the bus, ride your bike or choose a sustainable commute that works for you and participate in the 2012 Good To Go commuter challenge, May 12-18. If John can ride the bus year round, can’t you try it for a week? Learn more and register for the challenge now.

The Good To Go Blog is administered by Mike McCurdy, WGLT Program Director and co-coordinator of the sustainable transportation project Good To Go. The Commuter Challenge is May 12-18. Danny Hajek and photographer Karen Hanrahan helped make this series of sustainable commuter interviews possible. Hear an audio version and see a schedule of upcoming interviews at the WGLT website.

Posted in Blog | Tagged B-NPTS, BNPTS, Bus rider, Good To Go, John Bowman, WGLT | 4 Comments

Zimride Comes to ISU

Posted on February 7, 2012
by Michael McCurdy

Illinois State University is announcing a “soft launch” of a new online rideshare community.

Zimride is a social network for ridesharing that functions sort of like Facebook. Based on the demonstrations I’ve seen, it should allow carpooling and ridesharing to become an easy alternative transportation option for the campus community. Users will be able to easily find colleagues, coworkers, or friends to split costs for your daily commute or a one time road trip home or to an away game or anywhere.

Zimride’s service combines an intuitive online interface and social network features to build the necessary critical mass of users. It’ll help fill a gap in the current sustainable transportation picture by providing a low-cost, high-impact rideshare/carpool option. I think users will find the system easy to use…and efficient, once a critical mass of users have signed up. Zimride at ISU is open to anyone with an ISU email address. That would include students, faculty, staff, alumni and retirees.

“While our goal is to formally launch the site to the entire campus in the latter part of February, we’re inviting a few to access the site early,” says Julie North, Director of Parking and Transportation at ISU. “We ask that you register with your ISU email and add your commute or an upcoming weekend trip. If you don’t have a car, you can post your starting and ending location to match up with an existing Illinois State driver.”

To participate in the ISU “sneak peek” of Illinois State Zimride:

1) Log into www.zimride.illinoisstate.edu and register with your ISU email account.

2) Post a ride, indicating if you can be a driver or passenger.

Remember, it will take a while for the individuals receiving this email to become a Zimride member. You may not have a match in the beginning of this process!

3) Review your potential matches and start Zimriding!

If you have any questions, contact Parking and Transportation Services Director Julie E. North at jenorth@ilstu.edu, or ISU Zimride Rideshare Specialist Jane Nevins at jane@zimride.com, or call (530) 867-1746.