Rebecca grew up in the small town of Taber, Alberta. Growing up, she was very involved in her community and school. She played rugby, sang in the community choir, was in the school musical and even is a self-proclaimed band nerd. “There wasn’t any transit in Alberta. No buses or trains. I biked everywhere.”
In 2015, she packed up her things and moved to Utah for college. She intended to carry on her parent’s legacy and attend Utah State like them. Her affinity for public transit began at Utah State. She’d take the shuttle on campus or use Cache Valley Transit. After enjoying her time as an undergrad at Utah State she applied to physician assistant schools. She was accepted on her first application and began physician assistant school at the University of Utah.
Rebecca now lives in Sunset, near Clearfield. Although, she was ecstatic to be joining the University of Utah’s physician assistant program -- she didn’t want to move. “Driving back and forth between campus and home is a 45-minute commute… and that’s with no traffic.” This is when she became a dedicated UTA rider.
How long have you been riding?
Rebecca has taken transit since her time at Utah State but has become a staunch UTA rider since May. She rides with us five days a week!
Why do you ride?
“I can use my commute on FrontRunner to efficiently focus on studying and homework which supplements my success at school. Also, gas is expensive and no one wants to drive in traffic.” Rebecca also talks about how it allows her to get home sooner after a day of classes. She’s able to do simple things that bring her joy such as going on walks, hanging out with family and curling up and watching a flick with her husband.
Do you have any tips for riders?
“My husband helped me get acquainted with my route and the Transit App. There were a lot of ‘what-ifs’ initially like ‘what if I get out of class late?’ Or, ‘what if I miss the bus?’ I was scared of having to deal with that uncertainty. The Transit App is essential because I can track where the buses are and even if I have missed a bus I can take another that will get me close and I’m able to walk. The Transit App helps you get where you need to go and provides options if one doesn’t work out.”
“Now, I am able to teach people how to use the app! Sometimes I’ll be standing at a bus stop and someone will ask me where the bus is and I am able to show them using my trusty Transit App!”
Learn More
To learn more about how to enjoy using UTA, visit How to Ride. To nominate someone for a future Rider of the Month award, please email us at getsocial@rideuta.com.