Commuter Stories

Jenny Hoover

Jenny Hoover, in the Foundation Office, was the fall 2008 winner of the Whatcom Smart Trips $1000 quarterly cash prize drawing.

She's a biker (and occasional bus rider) for work, errands and leisure trips; her one-way trip to work is about 3 miles. She and her partner don't own a car - they get around quickly and conveniently by bike. "A few years ago, I heard a statistic that has long since stuck with me: In an urban environment, by the time you factor in parking time and stop and go traffic, trips less than 4 miles in distance can be accomplished just as quickly by bike as by car. When I owned a car, I tested that theory a few times and found that it holds true even here in a smaller city like Bellingham."

Jenny lives car-free because it simplifies her life and saves money, and because of ecological concerns. The exercise she gets pedaling around town helps keep her spirits up, too.

She plans to give some of her winnings to the Hub Community Bike Shop, and will use the remainder to fund an planned surfing trip to Costa Rica.

Two other WWU employees have won Smart Trips cash prizes in the past. Laurie Porter (Parking) won a monthly drawing for $250 in November 2008. In 2007, Greg Hough (Facilities) won a $1000 quarterly drawing.

Whatcom Smart Trips is an ongoing partnership between local government, public agencies, employers, and schools to promote transportation by walking, bicycling, sharing rides, and riding the bus. Currently 482 (about 20%) WWU employees are registered in the Whatcom Smart Trips program.