Downtown Boise may challenge alternative transportation users, but City Go panelists assert that they are undeterred

Boise has a number of alternative transportation avenues in addition to people driving their own cars, but each method has its own challenges, according to alternative transportation advocates at a recent panel discussion.

Lisa Brady, Jordan Morales, Russ Stoddard and Jamee Zahn shared challenges, realities and rewards of favoring alternative transportation in the Boise metro. A February question-and-answer session, organized by City Go, was moderated by Boise State University’s Greg Hahn, associate vice president for communications and marketing. Hahn also advocates for bicycling and the Bronco Shuttle.

Bike Barriers

The reality is, neither Brady or Stoddard are “100% bicycle people.” Both use cars, from taking loved ones to the airport to maintaining a not-sweaty work appearance.

Brady works for the West Ada and Boise school districts and is the director of the Safe Routes to Schools with the YMCA. She has commuted by bicycle since the late 1980s and works with local bicycle initiatives.

Stoddard, co-owner of Oliver Russell, is a longtime bicycle commuter who grew up “before helicopter moms” when children rode bicycles everywhere.

Sometimes, Stoddard said, he “wimps out” on rain and extreme cold.

“I commute every single month of the year and typically what sidelines me is when it snows a lot, or, you know, worse than snow is when it’s icy. And I had a couple times when I took a little spill … and I’m like ‘That’s not going to be worth a broken hip.’”

Brady agreed and said she occasionally takes the bus.

“The important part about the weather thing is that there’s really no bad day on the bike,” Brady said. “(The gear) doesn’t have to be fancy. It can be latex gloves and Ziploc bags for your hands and feet to be wind barriers. It’s layering cheap wool layers at the thrift stores.”

One woman asked whether more dedicated bicycle parking spots would be added.

Brady said she is aware of conversations about the subject happening between the City of Boise and the Capital City Development Corp., the likely solution source.

Pros and cons of vanpooling

Zahn and her family moved to Emmett, but they have only one car. Zahn joined Ada County Highway District Commuteride as a rider and van driver.

“It will take a lot of buy-in for commuters to do it because it is very much a time investment,” Zahn said.

Due to the commute and van schedule, Zahn is out 12 hours. Her employer, the Idaho Department of Labor, allowed work schedule flexibility and paid some of the cost.

The cost of her car insurance and gas decreased, and reduced traveling helps offset costs of car repair, Zahn said.

Additional benefits:

• A guaranteed ride home for expected overtime or emergency
• Time to decompress
• Getting work done on the commute when the backup driver takes over

Zahn also occasionally uses her car.

“And so a lot of people will drive the van and then use one day a week that they drive themselves in, just to be able to do all their shopping, their appointments, their everything,” Zahn said.

“Can the van vote to expel someone?” Hahn asked. For example, temperature is a common contentious point.

Zahn: “I don’t know if Commuter Ride would advise of that. But it is one of those things that you have to deal with.”

Catching the shuttle or bus

Morales works for Boise State’s computer science department, which recently moved into a downtown building. The shuttle system is free for students and employees.

Morales has to drive a few miles and park to ride. He has a longer commute time, but that’s good because he, too, decompresses, he said.

“My daughter is super social. Coming home to her after being on the bus is a lot different than coming home from driving in traffic,” Morales said.

Tips and resources for shuttle/bus/vanpool users

“I don’t live right next to a bus stop. Is it OK to park in public parking lots?” a female audience member asked.

Generally, yes. Morales suggested asking nearby businesses if it’s OK. ValleyRide and City Go’s websites are additional resources.

“The biggest thing if you decide to commute with alternate transportation is just planning is all it is,” Morales said. “I always have a browser tab on my phone that shows the Boise State shuttle tracker and then another tab that shows the VRT Bus Tracker.”

Worst case scenario: “We’re lucky to live in a time period where we have things like Lyft and Uber.”

“What’s the one piece of advice you need to give somebody who’s sort of on the fence, beyond, ‘Just do it’?” Hahn asked.

“Don’t make it hard on yourself,” Morales said. “It’s OK to be anxious.”

And, basically, you don’t have to go “cold turkey.”

Tips and resources for bicycle riders

“Ride your route on Sunday,” Brady said. “Ride to work and figure (your route) out. Figure out the back way. And then watch your sale racks for some gear.”

Stoddard agreed.

“(I’d) say, keep your expectations low,” Stoddard said. “You don’t have to do it all the time.”

The cyclists mentioned local bicycle shops and nonprofits as additional resources for tips on starting a bicycle commute, as well as for selecting a bicycle.

And, expect to get sweaty.

Unexpected benefits

To close, Hahn asked: “What’s the most unexpected benefit that came from going this route, to commuting?

The common theme: a closer connection to the community.

Brady and Stoddard mentioned seeing people regularly on their routes. Hahn added that being on a bicycle allowed him to slow down and see new establishments, such as stores or restaurants, on his routes.

“I’m not a very social person and also I’m gone a lot of the hours of the day, and so I don’t have time to make friends in the community,” Zahn said. “And so these people (in the vanpool) are part of my community and they have the same concerns that I do.” 

Thoughts on scooters

“I saw a really, really nasty accident between a biker and someone on one of those electric scooters on the Greenbelt, which really put a bad taste in the mouth for those electric scooters,” one woman said. “I guess they’re an alternative form of transportation, especially in this area with college students going into campus. (I wonder) if you guys have thoughts on the regulation or use of those electric scooters on campus, or in Boise.”

“Just in general, I think they’re cool,” Stoddard said. “I hate them when they’re on sidewalks and people haul ass on those things, meaning like they go faster than I go my bike. And they just don’t use the same rules of the road.”

Stoddard is glad to see people using them, but said there should be more regulation.

“I know that the ER rooms are not infrequently visited by people who are on the scooters,” Stoddard said.

“I like ‘em,” Brady said. “But the (danger) point is well taken. We put something on the street that we didn’t give anybody any instruction on how to use.”

Brady acknowledged that scooters are fun and fast and youth are good at riding them. She echoed that they don’t understand how traffic works, and something overlooked is doors opening and people walking out of buildings.

“Will it correct or self-correct, as people get more experienced on it? I hope so,” Brady said.