Next up for the Summer Camp Smart Commute Challenge is Triangle Day School (TDS), which offers summer camps for students ages four to fifteen. Eight weeks of camps run with various activities such as nature-based adventures, arts projects, STEM activities, literacy exploration, cooking & baking, and sports.
Located on Neal Rd. in northwest Durham, the lack of safe biking infrastructure makes it challenging to reach TDS on two wheels, especially with a kid. Luckily, a GoDurham bus route serves the American Village neighborhood just south of the railroad tracks and that same route goes right past Old West Durham! The closest bus stop to TDS is at Constitution Dr near Neal Rd. With some extra planning, time, and determination, TDS can be accessed from the 11B bus route, and the whole bus network, if you transfer at the Durham bus station.
The 8 min, 0.4 mi walk from the bus stop is mostly sidewalk, but has a sidewalk gap near the railroad tracks.
The downside is that while Google Maps estimates just a 9-minute drive from my house, the one-way bus trip will take 30 minutes. To then get to work from TDS on the next bus, it will take another 30 minutes to reach my office at Duke. This is infeasible for most people, even with some working/reading on the bus using the free wifi. And while I’m considering it an adventure, it is a sobering reminder of the transportation challenges that many face on a daily basis.
