Champion Commuter

Annelise Pietenpol, City of Spokane, Public Safety

Annelise is the Director of Crime Strategies & Analysis for City of Spokane, Public Safety.

When she and her husband moved to Spokane a year ago, they purposely picked a home close to her job at the Spokane Police Department. For the past year, she has walked to work every single day. She faithfully tracks her trips and has saved over 200 trips in just one year, which makes her a true Commute Smart Champion.

Walking helps Annelise feel close to the community she serves. Since she works behind a computer, walking is her chance to see neighbors face-to-face. On her route, she passes the courthouse. She loves seeing couples taking wedding photos or citizens on jury duty. These small moments help her feel at home as a newcomer to Spokane.

She invested in a warm winter coat so cold weather cannot stop her. She also walks to meetings, but if the meeting is too far to walk, she hitches a ride with a coworker and uses that time to chat and build stronger friendships.

ETC, Angie Napolitano states, “Annelise has an incredible attitude about walking to work, even on those snowy winter days. Her positive attitude is contagious, and she inspires others to get out there and walk”.