Commuter Profile

Name: Jason Held
Location: Chicago

 How do you incorporate biking, walking and/or transit into your daily routine?
I walk, bike or take public transportation almost everywhere I go. I tend to frequent places that I can easily get to on public transportation or by walking.

Why do you choose to active transportation?
Even though I own a car, I choose to take public transit to most places. I enjoy the value, freedom and convenience that it offers. Plus, I am not stuck behind the wheel of a car yelling at the traffic or fighting over the limited parking at many hot Chicago locations.

What is your favorite part of taking transit?
It always gives me a greater sense of community. I am not isolated in my car, but forced to be among other people of all types. Having lived in Los Angeles, at times you can become very self-involved because you spend half your day, usually by yourself, driving from point A to B – a very different experience than taking public transportation.

What would you like to see improve?
The make-up of L cars for higher capacity, especially on busy lines like the red line during baseball season. More commuter bike lanes that extend far from just the Loop and Near North neighborhoods. Tougher fines for people who do not respect bike lanes, riders and pedestrians.

How was transportation a factor in moving to Chicago?
Having the ability to walk, bike or take public transportation was a key factor for myself in moving to Chicago. After living in Los Angeles, where it would sometimes take over an hour to go seven miles, I could not put up with it anymore. I felt unsafe running or biking those seven miles, and there were no direct public transportation options. I was forced to drive it. It became unbearable. When I visited Chicago to scout cities to live, I was amazed that you could walk, bike, catch a bus or train to most places you wanted to go. Not only that you could, but that everyone did it. It was this factor that pushed Chicago over the top, and I decided to move here and live close to an L stop, major bus route and the Lakefront path.