TAWSE - Alternative Transportation Wall of Fame!

Spring 2009
	Name: Pat Foster Department: Retired after nearly 35 years and 5 career paths with DPHHS (SRS) Mode of Alternative Travel: Biking, skiing, rollerblading, and other modes over three decades
TAWSE: When did you begin using alternative transportation? PF: I’ve always integrated alternative transportation into my daily life. In the late 70s, I switched from walking to work to biking when my office moved further from my home. In the early days, walking to work in the winter was more difficult; we didn’t have yak trax in those days. On some occasions, I mixed things up by skiing. When roller skates and then rollerblades were popular, I enjoyed skating to work. Occasionally, I'd be in a meeting and someone would ask, “was that you I saw rollerblading down the street?” Nowadays, I find myself walking more because I have the luxury of time. TAWSE: What inspired you? PF: Initially, concern over pollution and the impact cars make on our roads. But I am - and always have been - inspired by the whole package of benefits gained: exercise, waking-up in the morning, de-stressing after work, way more fun than driving and of course the excitement of finding a new route or technique. I could always mix leisure with my commute home by taking my mountain bike on a detour through the South Hills. TAWSE: What other “green choices” have you explored? PF: When my office faced limited space issues, I began teleworking. I would say that the last few years I worked 70% of my time from home. The best part was it increased my productivity quite a bit. TAWSE: What advice would you give others? PF: The biggest challenge is just making yourself do it. Put on your coat, get out the door, and try it! Find what you like, or mix it up. Rollerblade, bike, walk, or ride the bus. You don't have to do it every day. A little bit goes a long way towards making a positive difference. * TAWSE Note - Pat Foster was the TAWSE Committee Chair for more than 10 years until his retirement in 2008. Thanks, Pat!

Winter 2008
	Name: Fran Penner-Ray Department: Public Instruction Mode of Alternative Travel: Walking, some bicycling
TAWSE: What’s your travel routine? FPR: For the most part, I walk to work. I bike in the summer because it's faster, but prefer walking when it's raining, dark or windy. My route really is uphill both ways since it crosses Last Chance Gulch. TAWSE: What inspired you to walk to work? FPR: For me, walking to work isn’t just about saving gas. When we do the math, there’s really little cost savings to the family. It’s more about all of the other things: the impact on the environment, the exercise, being able to run into neighbors and new people along the way, kicking the leaves and watching the seasons change… It’s community-building! You’d be surprised by all of the things you notice when you walk to work, like small architectural details on buildings, or new projects around town. It also gives me time to plan the day, or dinner, or work through things that are on my mind. I thought about making the year-round commitment to walk instead of drive. I biked to work in the summer for years, but while my children were in school I drove to get them there on time. Now, my kids are in college and I don’t need to worry about their schedules. They walked home from high school and now around town and campus. TAWSE: Are there any challenges to walking to work? FPR: I walk home to Helena's West Side, just above Last Chance Gulch. It's less than 2 miles and the last few blocks are an uphill challenge. I appreciate the daily exercise even though the final push up to home requires some slow and steady determination. TAWSE: Do you make any adjustments to your schedule in the winter time? FPR: I can walk or bike to work all year. There are a few days when it’s extremely cold, but that doesn’t happen often. Even when it’s cold, I can always wrap-up. With the right clothes and ice cleats, the weather doesn’t keep me from walking.