If you can drive and afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit and asking for rides to get everywhere you need to go. But for nearly a third of people living in the United States – people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars, repairs, insurance, and gas – this is our everyday.
The Week Without Driving challenge was created so that those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face and work with nondrivers to create more accessible communities for all of us.
Week Without Driving: Detroit
This year, TRU, Detroit People’s Platform, and Detroit Disability Power are joining the national effort to recognize the needs of nondrivers. From September 28th to October 6th, some of us will be going a #WeekWithoutDriving and urging elected officials and others to do the same. A full third of Detroit households don’t have access to a car, and their needs are as important as anyone else’s. Many of us know what it’s like to not have access to transportation – but do we know what it looks like day-to-day?
What can I do?
- First is to pledge to join the challenge. From September 28th to October 6th, try to hang up your keys!
- For each trip you take, consider whether you could walk, bike, roll, or take the bus.
- If you do call for a Lyft or need to drive, think about how difficult this would be for someone who didn’t have that option.
- Post to social media.
- Share pictures of your experience.
- Reflect on and share the challenges and joys of getting around without a car. Both are very real and very important.
- Tag #WeekWithoutDriving and @DetroitTransit !
- Also invite others to join you. Ask friends and neighbors to try it.
- Encourage local groups, organizations, and businesses to participate as well. The more people that can participate, the better!
- Urge public officials to join.
- Go to City Council and ask your council member to go a Week Without Driving.
- Email your representative, mayor, or county officials.
- Then ask what they’re doing to make life easier for people who don’t drive.
How can not driving help Transportation Access?
This challenge won’t solve transportation inequality overnight – but it will make us acknowledge the true difficulties that come when we don’t provide equitable transportation options. While it’s best for people with power to know this, it helps for any person to know. By experiencing what life is like without a car and reflecting on our experience, we can become more compassionate and be better transportation advocates.
You won’t be alone in taking on this challenge, and for many people without cars, the community of fellow bus riders, bikers, and walkers are incredibly helpful resources for navigating our homes.
We hope to see you out on the streets and on the bus – and tag us in your #WeekWithoutDriving posts at @DetroitTransit !
And learn more at WeekWithoutDriving.org.
Week Without Driving Detroit Sponsors
