Cynthia P.

Where do you work and what is your role in the company?  

Kaiser Pharmacy Technician

How far is your commute? How long does it take you each way? 

28 miles one way, takes 1-1.5 hours each way, without the bus/train it would be 45 minutes to 2 hours each way.

What is your commute mode and what made you decide to commute this way? 

Drive to Park and Ride, then bus to train, then walk or take a Rapid Ride bus to work and then opposite on the way home. I can read all the emails and write down dates for everything I need to put on the family calendar. I can do anything online needing done and save money on gas for family outings and other things.

What do you enjoy about your commute (or teleworking)? 

It's way more relaxing and less money so why not? I get to meet with friends from work and ride and catch up on things.

Do you have any positive, interesting stories from your commute? 

I get to join six of my friends at work sporadically on the train to and from work making it easy to catch up with each other. One day there were so many of us walking from the train to work. We had so much fun talking that it felt like a party was going on and we were there with each other. It really made all of our day go by super fast and put us in the best mood!

Do you think you save money by commuting this way? If so, how much? Estimates are fine. 

Yes $22,000 so far.

How does your company help accommodate your commute option? (ex: bike racks, free bus pass, vanpool subsidy, flexible work hours, telework incentives, etc.) 

We pay less than $4 a month and my work pays the rest for each of us. It's amazing!

What do you recommend your employer did to assist your coworkers with their commute? 

This exactly because anyone can afford to pay $4 a month to get to and from work. However, I do wish there was no limit to the [employer-provided] Guaranteed Ride Home program if the train or bus gets cancelled.

What would you say to your fellow employees to inspire them to try using a commute option other than driving alone in their car? 

What do you wish you could you do instead of driving during your commute? What would you do with the yearly gas money savings? What if I told you this could be a reality? Don't you deserve an extra paycheck (what you save by commuting differently)?