Commuter Stories

Donna Janigo

Donna Janigo of University Advancement recently celebrated her first anniversary as a full time bicycle commuter. She decided to bike commute on a trial basis in the spring of 2007, and has never looked back.

“When it was time to apply for a parking permit, I made the somewhat difficult decision to NOT apply as I had for over 20 years.  I finally had enough seniority for a ‘coveted’ parking space, so was reluctant to give up this perk of being a long-time WWU employee, but I knew that if I didn’t have a permit, I would be much more likely to continue commuting by bike.”

Bike commuters enjoy a number of perks, Janigo said. “The closest parking on campus is one benefit of biking to work. And I’m saving more than $300 a year because I don’t need to buy a parking permit!” Not to mention the fuel costs (more than $270) and greenhouse gas emissions (1,438 pounds of carbon dioxide alone) she has saved by biking to work in the past 12 months.

Donna’s commute is about 3 miles each way. She originally planned to ride the bus when the weather is bad, but only did so once, because she really missed her bike ride “especially the down hill ride home.”

What does Donna like most about commuting by bike? “The ride is a good way to start and end the day, because it clears my mind.”

Donna Janigo’s Bike Commuting Tips

“I figured out how to bundle up and carry work clothes in my panniers. I did get several flat tires, but found the Outdoor Center staff so helpful.  I would purchase a tube and every time the person behind the counter would volunteer to change the tire for me.  The cost of replacing and installing the tire was less than $5.”