Cathy Geist and Irene Faass met in November 2008. At the time, Cathy was teaching Environmental Science and Biology at Minneapolis College in Downtown, and Irene was visiting Minneapolis from Iowa. Their paths crossed on the Blue Line light rail, where a bike sparked a conversation, a discovery of common interests, and a connection that changed Irene’s life.

Cathy retired from Minneapolis College in 2020; Irene is still teaching there. They both still serve on the Minneapolis College Sustainability Committee.

I met Cathy and Irene at Sustainability Committee meetings as a community at-large member on behalf of Move Minneapolis. While we were chatting at a summer gathering in 2023, they happened to share with me how they had met and stayed connected.

I was so charmed by their story that I thought it deserved a wider audience.

In December 2023, the three of us met (Cathy by bike, Irene by bus, and I by light rail) at the 38th Street Blue Line station where Cathy had boarded that fateful day in 2008. We rode together to the Warehouse District stop and they recounted their story along the way.

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Want to try transit like Irene? Or combine biking and the light rail like Cathy? If you need a little guidance, try a free 15-minute Customized Consultation from Move Minneapolis. You never know how sustainable transportation could change your life!

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Move Minneapolis is a leader in sustainable commuting. We help downtown Minneapolis employers maximize success and employee satisfaction while reducing drive-alone commutes. We guide building owners and managers in implementing world-class commuter amenities. And we advocate for commuters and residents who wish to live their green values every day.

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