By Rhiannon Saegert/nw news editor

With gas prices rising, a few students and staff have opted out of driving and chosen to ride their bikes to school.

“I definitely prefer it over driving,” NW student Mario Monterroso said. “It makes me feel like a happier person.”

Monterroso said he only drives to school if the weather is extremely cold.

“It’s a shame more people don’t use the bike racks,” he said. “The most I’ve ever seen is three at one time. I think more people need to give it a try.”

NW student Jordan Hamilton said biking is his only way of getting to school because of a conflict with his father’s work schedule.

“If it’s pouring rain, I can’t go to school that day,” he said.

His morning commute is just over a mile, which he said can get grueling.

Hamilton warned that drivers aren’t always kind to people on bikes.

“Every now and then, you get heckled by drivers, but just ignore it,” he said. “I would advise people who drive to and from school to not heckle and yell mean things or throw things at students who bike.”

SE physical education instructor Shahzad Nazir said he prefers to ride his bike to work on SE Campus.

“In my truck, it takes 20 to 25 minutes,” he said. “On a bike, it takes about 40 to 45 minutes. If you take the extra 20 minutes, you get a full workout.”

Nazir enjoys biking to work but said it can be dangerous, especially when drivers are on their phones or texting.

“Safety is a big concern,” he said. “[Arlington is] the only big city I’ve ever seen with no bike lanes. Nine out of 10 cars that pass me, the driver is doing something. You have to keep your head on a swivel.”

Shahzad said he rarely sees anyone else biking to school in the morning.

“There’s only about 10 bikes [at the bike rack] max, at any one time,” he said. “If there were bike lanes, I am convinced that students would take advantage of them.”