Commuter Spotlight
Will Maddrey
Bike, Bus & Telework Commuter
We met bike/transit/telework commuter Will Maddrey at Commuter Services’ 2025 Bike Month Celebratiom. Will used his e-bike and SouthWest Transit’s new Route 686 to get to the event. Combining modes is something he does often, for work and for everyday travel.
“People don’t expect people to be traveling via bike in the South Suburbs, but there are a lot of us just trying to make the transit system work. On my last Orange Line trip, we had two bikes plus a scooter on the bus, so a lot of people are combining last mile vehicles with transit,” he said.
Where there’s a “Will,” there’s a way for finding sustainable commuting options - just ask Will Maddrey, a commuter who uses three different sustainable modes to get to work!
In fact, Will got rid of his personal vehicle completely. Rather, he relies on his Specialized Turbo Vado SL e-bike and transit to get to and from his job at Edina-based BI Worldwide three days each week. And when he’s not biking/taking transit to work, he’s logged in and working from home!
Going car-free
A lifelong biker, Will knew he wanted to bike commute when he graduated from college. He had interned at BI Worldwide, but was driving between Wayzata and Edina Daily. His e-bike was a graduation present from his mother.
He chose a home close to trails and bikeways that he can use for his 10-mile commute. In fact, he annually makes modifications to his bike and wardrobe so he can ride through the winter months!
“I love incorporating cycling into my commute. Having time outside and starting the day with exercise is amazing,” he says. “I also do this to lower my carbon emissions and to cut out pollution as much as I possibly can.”
Mix and match
Biking year-round can be a bit tiring, and sometimes the weather just does not want to cooperate. On those days, Will mixes up his commute a bit by riding his bike to his favorite transit stops, where he and his bike get a lift to stops closer to his destination.
“I recommend learning how to put your bike on a bus, even if you don’t have concrete plans to regularly ride. Knowing how to get onto a bus is very nice when you hit an unexpected rain storm, or have a flat, or just don’t feel like biking anymore.”
Will tried several transit routes to get where he needs to go, which is something he recommends for both bike commuting and taking transit. He has found a few favorite transit routes that connect nicely to trails and bikeways. Taking METRO Orange Line to a stop by Best Buy Headquarters and then getting onto the Nine Mile Creek Trail to Edina is a frequent route for him.
“I’ve also been catching the 540 or the (SouthWest Transit) 686 sometime to ride the whole way to work, but I still generally bring my e-bike for the last miles to my office.
“It makes me feel way more productive when I haven’t had to navigate a snarl of traffic to Edina,” he said. “It saves so much money, I cannot tell you what gas prices are!”
