Commuter profile: 'Often I walk the entire route of my trip'

Name: Miguel Morales
Location: East Humboldt Park/West Town, Chicago, IL

How do you incorporate biking, walking and/or transit into your daily routine?
I don’t own a car, so I tend to rely on public transportation during the winter or during inclement weather. Otherwise I bike or walk wherever I go. Working in the neighborhood I live in facilitates biking and walking. When taking public transportation, I tend to walk until I see a bus approaching; often I walk the entire route of my trip. I avoid driving unless absolutely necessary.

What do you like most about your commute?
When I bike or walk, it’s usually through West Town. I like the scenery, the weather, the sounds of the city (I don’t listen to music when I’m outside) and seeing my neighbors and friends. Lately I like the burn in my thighs as I ride my bike.

Why do you choose to take active transportation?
I use it because it’s cheap, it keeps me physically active in addition to working out, and it’s engaging to me because I’m forced to deal with the beauty and ugliness of the city that I would not otherwise experience sitting in a car.

When did you start using active transportation?
Probably since I was a kid — I had to walk everywhere, probably a few miles around my neighborhood. In high school I took the bus and subway everywhere. In college I started using a bike for travel. I owned a car years ago and became sedentary. I’m happy to say I sold that hunk of metal and got back on my bike. I’ve never looked back.

What about your commute/route would you like to see improved?
I’d like to see more neighborhood folks on their bikes or walking, and I’d like to see drivers be more considerate of pedestrians and bicyclists.