JESSICA LIPSKY
Elizabeth Idzkows walks her three Pomeranians along the Bark ‘n’ Ride’s walking path. The Bark ‘n’ Ride has 50 parking spaces for commuters.
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the area is supposed to be a commuter destination. “I don’t think many people ride the bus here, except kids probably,” he says. “Everyone has two to three cars, so I wouldn’t qualify this as a neighborhood that uses public transportation.” But Lisa Bobadilla, San Ramon’s transportation division manager, said route 135 — which runs from the transit center to Dublin BART along Bollinger Canyon Road — is one of the County Connection’s most successful lines. “There are a high number of students and residents in Dougherty Valley that rely on public transportation,” she said. “A large number of commuters are currently using the DVC parking lot as a park and ride and we’re hoping that once they become familiar with the Barn ‘n’ Ride lot, they’ll use it. “ Dougherty Valley resident Elizabeth Idzkowski says she doesn’t see many people at the Bark ‘n’ Ride, but hopes more will come. She says she brought her three Pomeranians to Dougherty Hills Dog Park in Dublin even before the Bark ‘n’ Ride opened. “I always tell people about the park; (playing) should be easy because there is more space,” she says. The Bark ‘n’ Ride is San Ramon’s fourth dog park, adding to the already popular Memorial Park, Del Mar Dog Park and the Tassajara Ridge Staging Area in Windemere. McNamara says there may be plans to put a bus stop in front of the Bark ‘n’ Ride to draw more commuters. While Idzkowski notes that some people don’t want to come to the park because there is no grass in the play area, both she and Shrek say they keep coming back because it is convenient to their homes. “There a lot of good dogs. Daphne has a lot of friends over here,” Shrek says. ■
VIEWS JUNE 2011
BARK ‘N’ RIDE CONTINUED
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