Article I.
What’s in your tool kit?
Getting To &
From Work
Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency
Department of Social Services
CalWORKs Employment Services Program
Getting To & From Work
4/2011
Getting To & From Work
Reading this packet and using the worksheets will help me make a plan, a backup plan and an emergency plan for getting to & from work on time each day.
Action Items:
 I will read “Driving My Own Car” before I decide that driving is a good plan for
me to get to & from work each day. I will ask myself if driving is worth the
cost.
 I will read the information offered in “Getting To & From Work Without a Car”.
This will help me decide which transportation plans may work best for me.
 I will read and use the “Pre-Planning Check List” to check off my first choice
plan, my second choice plan, and my emergency plan for getting to and from
work.
 I will read “Plan for a Simple and Safe Commute” to get ideas that will help me
be safe and comfortable if I choose to walk or ride my bike to work.
 I will read and use the “Walking or Riding My Bike Worksheet” to decide if
either of these transportation plans will work for me.
 I will read and use the “Taking the Bus Worksheet” to decide if the bus is a
good transportation idea for me or if using the bus and a bike together might
be the best plan.
 I will read and use the “Riding with Others Worksheet” to decide if depending
on another person to drive me to and from work is a good idea.
 I will read the sample “Written Statement of Commitment” which I may choose
to use if my plan is to have someone drive me to and/or from work.
 I will read and fill out “My Transportation Plans” and post it where I can easily
see and use it each morning. This will help me be ready to handle a change if
my first plan doesn’t work one day.
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Driving My Own Car
Driving my own car can be an ideal form of transportation unless:
1. My car is not reliable.
Owning an unreliable car can be a frustrating experience and being late for work may cause me to
lose my job. If my car won’t start or breaks down, I must have back-up transportation plans, and I
must be ready for work early enough to put a back-up plan into action.
2. Money is an issue.
Gas, repairs, tires, insurance, registration fees and monthly car payments can eat up my pay check.
AAA Insurance Company research showed the annual average 2010 cost of owning and operating a
typical new sedan at 56.6 cents per mile, up 2.6 cents compared to 2009. For a car driven 15,000
miles a year, that amounts to $8,487 annually. That’s $392 more than last year’s estimated cost of
$8,095. I can do my own research using the internet by typing the words “cost of driving calculator”
into a search engine, hitting enter and selecting a site.
3. I don’t have a valid license to drive.
It is illegal to drive a car without a valid driver’s license. The penalties for driving without a license
cost more than it’s worth. I risk being fined, having my car impounded, and if I am driving a car that
belongs to someone else, I risk having their car impounded. Any of these events will seriously
complicate my life and may cause me to lose my job.
4. The car is not insured.
It is illegal to drive a car that is not insured. The penalties for driving without insurance cost more
than it’s worth. If I am cited by a police officer when driving without insurance, I may be fined up to
$1000, my car or a borrowed car may be impounded, I will not be able to register my vehicle and I
risk being financially responsible if involved in an accident.
Before deciding to drive to and from work each day, I will ask myself, “Is driving worth the
cost”?
If I decide driving a car is a good plan for me, I will still need back-up plans. Always getting to
work on time will help me be seen as a valuable employee.
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Getting to & from Work Without a Car
Many job seekers don’t own a car or have a car available for use. The reasons for needing
transportation other than a car are many, but by planning ahead it can be done.
Transportation Ideas:
Walk: If there is an employment opportunity within 3 miles of my home, walking to work may be a
good choice. It takes less than 20 minutes for an average person to walk a mile. I will allow at
least 15 additional minutes for delays such at traffic lights, cooling down time, grooming and if
needed, changing clothes.
Ride the Bus: In the Redding, Shasta Lake and Anderson communities the Redding Area Bus
Authority (RABA), provides service Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM and on
Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM. RABA does not operate on Sundays or holidays. I can go
online at http://www.rabaride.com/index.html to get more detailed information about RABA or call
the RABA information number (530) 241-2877. If possible, before I start a job I will ride the bus,
and time the trip. I will add at least 15 minutes for delays in case the bus runs late.
Ride a Bike: I can look for used bikes in local newspapers, at yard and garage sales, and in thrift
stores. I will let friends know I am looking for a good used bike. If I belong to a church, I will let the
pastor know I need a bike. I can place an ad in the classified section of the local newspaper or
post notices on public bulletin boards. I will also need a lock and some other basic equipment, but
a new or used bike is much cheaper than a car and will allow me to go faster and farther than
walking. If possible, before I start work, I will ride to the job site and time myself. I will allow extra
time for cooling down, grooming, and if needed, changing clothes.
Ride a Bus and Bike: I can use a combination of bus and bike. RABA has a bike rack on every
Fixed Route and Express Route bus. I could ride my bike part way to or from work and finish my
trip aboard a bus or use any combination of bike and bus that works for me.
Ride with Others: I can seek out people who work in the same area and similar hours or find a
family member or friend willing to drive me. I can barter by offering services or offer to pay for
rides. I will remember to thank the driver for their service. I will have back-up plans in case my
friend or relative is not able to drive me some days, and will allow extra time each day in case I
must change my plan.
Ride a Moped, Scooter or Motorcycle: In California, a license to drive is required and cost may
be a factor.
Take a Taxi: A taxi is a very expensive way to get to and from work, but might be necessary in an
emergency.
Move Close to Work: When a job becomes permanent moving closer may be my best choice.
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Pre-Planning Check List
My first choice for getting to and from work is:
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Drive my own car
Drive a borrowed car
Walk
Ride a bus
Ride a bike
Use a combination of bus and bike
Ride with others
Ride a moped, scooter or motorcycle
Take a taxi
Other ______________________________________
My second choice is:
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Drive my own car
Drive a borrowed car
Walk
Ride a bus
Ride a bike
Use a combination of bus and bike
Ride with others
 Ride a moped, scooter or motorcycle
 Take a taxi
 Other ______________________________________
My emergency choice is:
 Drive my own car
 Drive a borrowed car
 Walk
 Ride a bus
 Ride a bike
 Use a combination of bus and bike
 Ride with others
 Ride a moped, scooter or motorcycle
 Take a taxi
 Other ______________________________________
Making a First Choice Plan, Second Choice Plan, and Emergency Plan:
1. I will plan for the days and hours I will work each week, the distance I will travel, and always
allow extra time for delays.
2. If I don’t know the days or hours I will work each week, transportation plans will need to be
flexible and fit any work hours.
3. I will plan for seasonal weather conditions. Will I need special clothing or gear?
4. I will consider the cost of each transportation plan.
5. I will try each plan before I start working and make changes if needed.
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Plan for a Simple and Safe Commute
Planning ahead will make my commute easier. Planning ahead does require effort, but it will reduce
my daily stress. I know that running around trying to do everything before work, especially if I have
overslept, is very stressful. When I wake up in the morning and everything I need is ready to go, it’s a
much more relaxing way to start my work day.
A Simple and Safe Walking Commute
1. Wear good fitting comfortable shoes.
2. Use a comfortable back-pack or waist-pack or bag to carry things I might need such as work
shoes, personal care products, an umbrella, etc.
3. Wear light colored clothing, and if walking at night wear a reflective vest or put reflective strips
on my outerwear. Be visible.
4. Be aware of traffic. It is important to stay alert. Listening to music while I walk may be
appealing, but it is more important to be able to hear horns, train whistles, and other traffic
noise.
5. Check the weather report daily and be prepared for bad weather. Have proper clothing ready.
In hot weather carry water, wear a large brimmed hat, use sunscreen, and allow extra time for
resting in shade and cooling down. In cold or wet weather layer my clothes, have rain gear
ready for use, wear a hat and gloves.
6. It is a good idea to keep an extra set of clothes, a blow dryer, and shoes and socks at work. If I
don’t have storage space, I will ask my employer if they can find a storage place for me to use
during extreme weather conditions. Wet feet and clothing can be miserable, and sweat soaked
clothing is no better.
A Simple Bike Commute
1. Ride a simple bike that feels comfortable to me. A steel bike will probably go for years without
major problems that will leave me stranded. If my bike doesn’t have fenders I will get some.
Fenders will help keep me clean.
2. Check my bike every week – regular riding will cause wear on my bike and I’ll want to make
sure I can avoid or repair any problems before I need to ride to work.
3. Always carry flat repair materials. Invest in a saddle bag, pack it with an extra tube, patch kit,
pump and tools, and always keep it on the bike. If I’m not sure what tools I need, I will go to a
bike shop and ask. This way I will know I have what I need to fix a flat.
4. Store personal care items (deodorant, wipes, a small towel, etc.) at work. If I don’t have a
place to store my personal care items, I will try going smaller. I can put any liquids in smaller
bottles or purchase travel sized deodorant and toothpaste.
5. Keep an extra set of clothes, a blow dryer, shoes and socks at work in case I arrive wet or
dirty. I will use a small backpack or add a carrier to my bike. I will need cords for packages.
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6. Lay out what I’m going to wear, and pack my lunch the night before. If I’m taking an extra set
of clothes, and personal care items with me, pack them the night before. I will try rolling my
clothes in a towel to cut down on wrinkling.
7. Plan my route thinking of distance and safety. For most commutes there are several different
ways to get from home to work. I will get a map of the area to map out my preferred route and
an alternate route. I will avoid dangerous roads and road work.
8. Test my planned route. This will allow me to find out how long it takes, learn if there are
problems along the route, and test my bike.
9. Check the weather nightly. Keeping an eye on the weather will allow me to plan what to wear
for the temperature and conditions. In the cold I will layer my clothing, and wear gloves and a
hat.
Safety and Comfort on My Bike Commute
Lights and Reflectors: When I ride at night I must have a good lighting system so drivers can see
and not hit me.
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Back of the Bike: LED Flashing lights are more likely to be noticed by drivers. I will look for the
brightest that can be seen from the most directions.
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Front of the Bike: White LED front lights work well. I will get the brightest I can find and afford.

Reflectors and reflecting tape are great for added safety. I will put stick-on reflectors on my
fenders, helmet, and bicycle. I will use the reflective tape on my jacket, and use white wheel
reflectors that can be attached to my spokes to help drivers see me from the sides.
Helmet: Wear a helmet to lower my chance of head and brain injury.
Fenders: Fenders will help keep puddle water and mud off my clothing.
Storage: Get a backpack or a pack designed for bikes to hold clothing, personal care items, my
lunch, etc.
Gloves: Gloves will help protect my hands if I crash, keep my hands warmer, and decrease the feel
of road vibration.
Clothing: Wear light, bright colored clothing. Buy or borrow rain gear before I need it.
Bike Lock: Buy or borrow a good lock and learn how to use it.
Parking: Go to my work site to see where a bike can be safely parked. Ask my employer if there is an
inside location where I can store my bike.
Water: Water is vital on hot days and good to carry anytime.
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Walking or Riding My Bike Worksheet
If I Walk:
 How long/far am I comfortable walking? _____________________________________
 How many businesses are there within walking distance from my home?
_____________________________________________________________________
 What will I do if it rains, is too windy, cold or hot?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
If I Ride a Bike:
 How long/far am I comfortable riding? _____________________________________
 How many businesses are there within bike riding distance from my home?
_____________________________________________________________________
 What will I do if it rains, is too windy, cold or hot?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
My Bike is:
 Very reliable
 Sometimes reliable
 Not reliable
To make my bike very reliable, it would need the following repairs:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
To make my bike ride safe and comfortable I need the following accessories:
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Getting To & From Work
Bike lock
Tire pump
Patch kit
Bike lights
Bike reflectors
Helmet
Safety glasses
Bike rack
Reflective clothing or tape
Child safety seat or carrier
Child size helmet(s)
Other
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Taking the Bus Worksheet
 I need a bus schedule
 I have a bus schedule
Bus route number(s) I will take: _______________________________________
The bus stops____________ block(s) from my home.
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It will take me ___________ minutes to walk from my home to the bus stop.
It will take me___________ minutes to walk from the bus stop to my work.
Number of transfers I must make: _____________________________________
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It takes___________ minutes to ride the bus.
It takes___________ minutes to transfer to another bus.
Cost of riding the bus each day: ______________________________________
I can pay for this with: ______________________________________________
Please fill in this section only if you will take your child (ren) to daycare before you go to work.
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The bus stops_____________ block(s) from my child (ren)’s care provider.
It will take me_____________ minutes to settle my child (ren).
It will take me_____________ minutes to walk back to the bus stop and catch the
next bus.
Getting to and from Work: Using a Combination of Bus and Bike
It will take me_____________ minutes to ride my bike from home to the bus.
It will take me_____________ minutes to ride my bike from the bus to work.
Add together the total number of minutes that you will spend traveling to
work each day.
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Total travel minutes one way _____________.
Total travel minutes round trip ____________.
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Riding With Others Worksheet
Depending on others to drive me to and from work is a big commitment! It is important to talk
about this commitment with the person who will drive me, so they clearly understand that I am
depending on them. If the person is not reliable:
I will consider asking for a written statement of commitment from the person (see sample
copies on next page) and offer to pay a reasonable fee for gas, wear and tear on the car, and
the driver’s time once I have a paycheck. If the person is not willing to sign a commitment
statement, I may want to rethink relying on this person.
I will remember to send a thank you note to the driver.
This person driving is:
 Very reliable
 Sometimes reliable
 Not reliable
If not reliable, I will consider a new person or a back-up transportation plan.
Name of driver: ______________________________________________________________
What is your relationship to with this person? _______________________________________
Do you get along well with this person? ___________________________________________
What is the make and year of the car? ____________________________________________
How many miles are on the car? _________________________________________________
Will the driver be making a special trip just to take you to and from work? _________________
Is this person willing to pick you up as early as 7:00 a.m.? _____________________________
Is this person willing to transport your child (ren) to & from daycare? _____________________
Will you have to pay this person to give you a ride? __________________________________
If yes, how much will you pay? ______________When must you start? __________________
In order to make this person’s car very reliable, it would need the following repairs:
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
If my ride fails to show up, what is my back-up plan?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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Written Statement of Commitment (sample)
I, (driver name) _______________________, understand that I am agreeing to drive,
(passenger name) ________________________, to and from work each work day. I
understand that this is an important commitment. If I am not able to drive, I agree to let
(passenger name) _______________________ know as soon as possible. I, (passenger
name) __________________ agree to pay (driver name) ___________________the amount
of $______ each payday for gas, wear and tear on the car, and their time.
Date___________________
Driver’s signature______________________________
Passenger’s signature__________________________________
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The form below is for my use if needed.
Written Statement of Commitment
I, (driver name) _______________________, understand that I am agreeing to drive,
(passenger name) ________________________, to and from work each work day. I
understand that this is an important commitment. If I am not able to drive, I agree to let
(passenger name) _______________________ know as soon as possible. I, (passenger
name) __________________ agree to pay (driver name) ___________________the amount
of $______ each payday for gas, wear and tear on the car, and their time.
Date___________________
Driver’s signature______________________________
Passenger’s signature__________________________________
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My Transportation Plans
Plan 1: My First Choice Plan is_________. My work hours are________________.
It will take me a total of (hours or minutes) _________________________ to get to & from work.
It will cost me $____________ (gas, bus fare, etc.).
To be at work on time and have time to use a back-up plan I must get up by (time)
_______________ to leave the house by (time) ______________.
Things I must buy or borrow In order to make my commute safe and comfortable:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Phone numbers I must call if this plan won’t work today: ______________ and _____________.
Plan 2: My Back-up Plan is__________. My work hours are__________________.
It will take me a total of (hours or minutes) __________________________ to get to & from work.
It will cost me $____________ to get to & from work each day (gas, bus fare, etc.).
To be at work on time and have time to use my emergency plan I must get up at (time)
_______________ to leave the house by (time) ______________.
Things I must buy or borrow in order to make my commute safe and comfortable:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Phone numbers I must call if my plan won’t work today: ______________ and ______________.
Plan 3: My Emergency Plan is_________. My work hours are_________________.
It will take me a total of (hours or minutes) _________________________________ to get to work.
It will cost me $____________ to get to and from work each day (gas, bus fare, etc.).
To be at work on time I must get up at (time) _______________ to leave the house by (time)
______________.
Things I must buy or borrow in order to make my commute safe and comfortable:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Phone numbers I must call if my plans won’t work today: ______________ and ______________
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Sources
Getting to & from Work Without a Car:
Redding Area Bus Authority, http://www.rabaride.com/index.html (4/6/2011).
Driving My Own Car:
California State Automobile Association, http://www.csaa.com/ (4/6/2011), California Department of
Motor Vehicles, http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2505 (4/6/2011).
Plan for a Simple and Safe Commute:
A Guide to a Simple Bike Commute http://www.commutebybike.com/2007/08/16/a-guide-to-a-simplebike-commute/ (4/6/2011).
How to Get a Job Without a Car, http://www.wikihow.com/Get-a-Job-Without-a-Car (4/6/2011).
International Bike Fund, http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/commute-tips.htm (4/6/2011).
Jennifer's Bicycle Commuting Suggestions, Jennifer Hodgdon’s personal website:
http://www.poplarware.com/personal/index.html (4/6/2011).
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