Traveling to and from Western Washington University can vary significantly for each student, especially for those who come from farther away. While some can take a quick car ride to campus, others rely on long-distance travel to get home during breaks.
To help raise awareness of transportation challenges, Western recently participated in the Week Without Driving event, which encouraged students and staff to explore alternative modes of transportation.
For Viv Kruft, a sophomore from Albuquerque, New Mexico, commuting to Western has always required extra planning. “I chose WWU because of its location right next to the ocean. I have always wanted to live in the (Pacific Northwest) and study marine biology, so Bellingham seemed like a good location for that,” Kruft said.
Kruft travels home just a few times each year, with multiple forms of transportation — typically during winter, spring and summer breaks. “I can’t afford to go back and visit during every break due to the cost of plane tickets,” he said. “It’s a blend of long road trips, plane rides, and carpooling with people.”
Living off campus has added new challenges for Kruft, especially when it comes to participating in campus life. “I can’t attend campus events as much as I used to. The bus schedule often messes up my plans, and I don’t have a car, so it’s hard sometimes,” he said.
Western does provide several resources to help students like Viv get around without a car. Emily Holzhauer, a sophomore and the university’s active transportation coordinator, oversees programs such as the bus pass, Starlight Shuttle, and campus bike programs.
“Students often come to me with questions about how to use the bus, how to get to specific locations, how to sign up for a bus pass, and what’s the best way to keep a bike safe on campus.”
Holzhauer and the other workers of Transportation Services can be found in the Transportation Office, located in Old Main 120, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Her main advice for students commuting from out of state or without a car: “Use your resources to the best of your ability.”
Andrea Reiter, the Associate Director of Active Transportation, works to improve and advocate for sustainable commuting options.
“Day-to-day this looks like partnering with WTA to make sure bus service meets Western’s needs, overseeing the Starlight Shuttle program, advocating at a city and regional level for bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and providing educational programming on how to utilize active transportation resources,” Reiter said.
Reiter also helps manage programs aimed at supporting car-free students. Reiter explained that all members of the Western community receive discounted transit passes for both WTA and Skagit Transit. She added that the $33.08 Active Transportation Fee students pay each quarter covers several benefits, including access to a regional bus pass. “There is also the Starlight Shuttle, which operates like Uber Pool but is free for students to use.”
The Week Without Driving event, held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 6, encouraged participants to experience what it’s like to navigate life without a car. “The Week Without Driving is a national awareness week for people to understand the barriers and challenges nondrivers face,” Reiter said.
The event included group bus rides to local destinations like downtown Bellingham, Fred Meyer and Fairhaven, giving students a chance to learn popular routes firsthand.
For students new to Bellingham or commuting from far away, Reiter emphasized the benefits of this experience.
“For a lot of people, college is the one time in their adult life that they live car-free — not because they have to, but because it is more convenient for them. This event helps build community for those navigating car-free living for the first time.”
Mishele Ross (she/her) is Junior at Western, majoring in News/Editorial Journalism. When she is not hunting down a source or hiding out in the library writing a story for The Front, you can find her listening to music, bowling, or playing a round of golf. You can reach her at misheleross.thefront@gmail.com.
