4 a.m. Kill the alarm. Hop—or crawl—out of bed, wash up, don the bike clothes, make thermos of tea, throw a few clothes in the bike bag, jump in the truck for a ride with Mrs. Johnson to board to the 5:25 a.m Seattle-bound ferry.

5:25 a.m.–6 a.m. Read a book, drink some tea, share a few laughs with other bike commuters.

6 a.m. Glide off the ferry with dozens of bike comrades. Turn left. Pedal down the waterfront, acknowledging a curious wave from a little kid unaccustomed to seeing a bike that looks something like a shrunken chair on wheels (aka a recumbent bike). Catch a tailwind through Myrtle Edwards Park, cross over the rail yard on Dravus, weave northeast around Queen Anne Hill.

6:30 a.m. Roll into work on the Ship Canal. Lock the bike on the outdoor bike rack, covering the seat with a plastic bag. Take the back door into the office, and hit the showers.

7 a.m. Sit down in the office and begin the workday.

So goes Doug Johnson’s morning routine.

“When I first moved to Bainbridge Island it became clear that neither a car nor the metro bus system was a suitable way to commute to work on a daily basis. I first purchased a motorcycle for my daily commute. After several years I realized I was getting fatter and more out of shape each month, plus I was driving faster and faster,” he says. “I figured I would live longer if I got meaningful exercise and moved at a slower pace. I sold my Harley and have been on a bike since. A bike is the cheapest and fastest way to ride the ferries every day.”

The former Harley rider has been bike commuting for 9 years, saving money and staying in shape for weekend kayaking, hiking and skiing adventures. Doug pays $20 for an annual bike pass, plus the daily walk-on fee to ride the ferry with his bike. 

“For me it started out as a practicable way to commute. I quickly realized there were numerous other benefits to riding a bike,” he says. “I can hear birds and frogs on the island in the morning. I get the necessary exercise on a daily basis, plus it is just an enjoyable way to start and end a work day.”

After a couple years of sore shoulders and elbows commuting on a mountain bike, Doug switched to a Rans Rocket recumbent and has ridden the same bike ever since. For Doug, the recumbent is extremely comfortable and a little more streamlined in a headwind. He finds it a little slower uphill than a conventional bike, but also a little faster going down hill.

“Visibility is not really an issue,” he notes. “Recumbents are still enough of a novelty that they actually attract a bit of attention.” And if he wanted too, Doug could ride straight up Queen Anne Hill, straight up the stairs on the ferry, straight up most anything because he’s got 63 gears on his bike! That’s what a 21 gear external derailer system coupled with a 3 gear internal hub will get you.

Doug outfits his bike with two flashing red taillights, a bright Vista headlamp and a flashing orange headlight in case he forgets to charge the Vista. He’s fashioned a small barbeque grill to the back of his bike, to which he secures his waterproof ‘kayak bag’ for the clothes, tea and book. And of course he’s got fenders for the wet days and nights.

Like Dale Baxmann, June’s Commuter of the Month, Doug also swears by his raingear, sporting Patagonia rain pants and a Marmot rain jacket, both designed for hikers. Doug’s goal is to stay dry on the commute, and most of the time, he achieves it. About once a year, however, Doug gets wet—when he crashes. This inevitable occurrence is the result of hidden dangers lurking in deep, wide puddles—potholes, curbs and ducks.

“The roads in Seattle aren’t particularly kind to me, and I end up crashing about once a year. But it’s not that bad, since the ground isn’t too far below when you ride a recumbent,” Doug says defiantly.

Like a lot of commuters, Doug enjoys his daily commute for more that just the riding.

“There are a large and growing number of bike commuters on the ferry each day. I continue to meet new friends as the bike riders wait together to board the ferry. When I started riding a bike nine years ago, there were only five to eight bikes on a winter ferry ride. Now one can expect more than 50 on a winter day. The summer weather,” he adds “brings out even more riders.”

Doug’s advice to new commuters is simple. Have a good light system in the winter, dress with quality raingear when necessary, and get out there and enjoy the benefits of riding every day.

Thanks Doug. Keep up the good work. We’ll give you a wave on the trail.