Commuter of the Month: Natalie Holbrook

Name: Natalie Holbrook                               

Occupation:  American Friends Service Committee, Criminal Division

Age:  31

Commute option of choice: Biking

Where do you commute from?  Ypsilanti

How long does your commute take? 
Somewhere between 45 minutes- 1 hour. I take the Border to Border Trail--through Gallup Park. Gallup Park is such a beautiful place to commute through.

How often do you commute by bike? 
I try for 4 days a week. I’ll drive if I know I need to go up to Lansing for my job, but otherwise I bike or ride the bus.  I don’t ride after a snow fall, but I’ll ride most other days. I rode last week during the thunderstorms & it was really fun. Riding in the rain is pleasant, you get to see things you wouldn’t see otherwise.  

How do you dress for your commute? 
I pack my work clothes in my saddlebag and have a good rain jacket. I don’t ride in jeans, which I find to be uncomfortable.

Why do you bike to work?
I prefer not to drive my car if possible and biking is an efficient and healthy way to get to work. I have lost 60 lbs. in the past three years thanks to my bike commute.  It’s also great choice for our planet. When I don’t bike, I try to ride bus if possible.

Do you face any challenges during your commute? 
A few irritations are oblivious car drivers who don’t give bikers enough space on the road or the overly courteous drivers who give too much space thereby endangering themselves and oncoming cars.  Also, the sidewalk bike route signs on streets like Packard serve just to confuse drivers.  The signs seem to indicate that bikers are supposed to ride on the sidewalk, but in reality riding on the road with traffic is the safest place for a biker to ride their bike. Shared use paths, like the one through Gallup Park, are difficult to bike on because there’s not enough space. Rollerbladers can end up taking over the entire path.

 
Any tips for other commuters? Try to find another person to ride with. This can give you more confidence to try new routes.