[Published: Nov. 17, 2021]
In the late ’70s as a teen in upstate New York, Beth Ryan asked her kid brother to help her find her first bike. At just 10-years-old, Joe Ryan scoured the classified ads and found a stellar deal: a silver Motobécane Grand Touring 10-speed for just $100. Beth used earnings from her after school job at a nursing home to purchase the bike.
“I was so proud of that bike,” marveled Beth. “I rode it for years. Joe was so helpful, figuring out the right size for me and scoring it for a great price. Back then that bike would have been $300.”
Years later, little did Beth know cycling would unite them once again. Today, the siblings both work at Stanford, Beth as a library conservator and Joe, as a geospatial analyst with Land Buildings & Real Estate. Though their routines vary, they both commute from their homes in San Francisco to Stanford Redwood City (SRWC) via bicycle and Caltrain.
After a starter cup of coffee, Beth pedals off from home at 6:30 a.m., giving herself plenty of time to catch the 7:04 a.m. southbound train. When she’s feeling ambitious, she makes the 6:15 a.m. train, and swims laps at the SRWC Recreation Center pool before work. Her secret? “I put my bathing suit on before I leave home. When you do that, there’s no turning back,” Beth said with a laugh.
Joe, on the other hand, is not a morning person so often finds himself hustling to the train station on the two days he works on campus. “I’m full-on riding to get to the King Street station to make the 35 bullet train,” he said. His ride takes about 20 minutes.
Once he boards and catches his breath, it’s time to relax for the next 40 minutes and let someone else do all the work. “I read, eat my breakfast or just zone out,” said Joe. Upon his return to work in August, Joe noticed an uptick in ridership on Caltrain. He noted that, with all passengers responsibly wearing masks, he feels safe.
Getting off the train at the Redwood City station, Joe then hops on his bike and rides his second leg to SRWC. In total, his door to door commute takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. On the rare occasion he does drive in once or twice a year, the commute can take almost an hour. “But only if traffic cooperates which, doesn’t often happen,” Joe said. “Each time I vow never to drive again.”
Beth and Joe are effusive when asked about the advantages their commutes offer. “First off, it’s free!,” said Beth. Biking, of course, doesn’t cost a thing, other than the bike and helmet purchase, maintenance, and accessories. And, as benefits-eligible Stanford employees, the Ryans receive free Caltrain Go Passes.
“Not only are you doing something good for the environment, but on a practical level, you can read, get your texting done, update your calendar or just sit and stare out the window,” added Joe.
Perhaps their favorite benefit is the chance to connect. It’s on the return commute home that these siblings often serendipitously run into each other.
“We love to catch up on family stuff, he tells me what my two nephews are up to,” said Beth. All these years later, Joe still looks out for his big sister, too. “Recently he heard my bike rubbing and said, ‘Your chain needs lubrication. Or, if I put my bike on Caltrain, he’ll show me a better way to store it so it’s not blocking the way. He’s very considerate.” Another bonus? Joe’s stash of homemade banana bread. “It’s the most delicious I’ve ever tasted,” said Beth.
Joe’s secret? “I prefer 1 hour, 20 minutes bake time at 325 degrees--low and slow seems to yield better results,” he said.
For people who feel commuting via bike and Caltrain may be too daunting, the Ryans say once you get into the habit, it’s easy and enjoyable. In the ultimate pay-it-forward gesture, they’ve even offered to buddy up with anyone in the Stanford community who’s interested. Reach out to us at commuteclub@stanford.edu if you’d like to request a commute buddy.
