Most college students don’t think twice about grabbing their car keys to get to class or asking their friend for a ride to the grocery store. But what if you aren’t able to pass a vision exam to get your driver’s license, pay for an Uber every day to get work or walk to the grocery store because there isn’t a sidewalk?
Taking place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, 2024, the Week Without Driving Challenge is a nation-wide initiative drawing attention to citizens all across the United States who cannot drive or afford a car.
These people must rely on alternative means of transportation, including public transit, bicycles, walking and Rideshare services.
On Monday afternoon, the City of La Crosse held a press conference where several advocates spoke about getting individuals with different abilities access to transportation and promoted local events during the week.
Director of Transit for the City of La Crosse, Adam Lorentz, kicked off the press conference by inviting everyone to focus on the challenge of limited transportation opportunities.
“[This week] is the challenge of looking at different ways to move throughout the city. Unfortunately, not everybody has the opportunity just to grab your keys and jump in the car,” said Lorentz.
Cathy Van Maren, leader team member for the La Crosse Area Transit Advocates and president of the Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance, emphasized making transportation accessible and discussed events during the week, including Week Without Driving BINGO, a Transit Talk & Chill and a Teaching Safe Bicycling clinic.
Elizabeth Fryseth shared the perspective of disabled people in the La Crosse community and of the over 31% of Wisconsinites who are non-drivers, meaning they do not have access to reliable driving options.
“Driving isn’t just a privilege, it’s a right. We’re not all given that. Whether [non-drivers are] elderly, disabled or kids, they’re not able to drive … Think about the folks that have wheelchairs, guide dogs,” said Fryseth.
District 30 County Board Supervisor Dillon Mader also spoke, choosing to share the perspective of someone who works with people who have been incarcerated or have lost their driver’s license.
“I can and do take driving for granted…the freedom to move whenever and wherever. Whether it’s legal hoops, vision exams or the cost of owning a car, incarceration brings disruption to people’s lives,” said Mader.
He also introduced Everybody Bikes, a program equipping low-income individuals with bikes and self-empowerment in the form of training, maintenance training or on the road training.
While the week is meant to focus on the challenge non-drivers face, there is also a sustainability aspect to the week others reflected.
The Racquet Press caught up with Andrew Ericson, the sustainability program manager for University Centers. Ericson commented on how students can and should ride the bus system around La Crosse to decrease carbon emissions from driving their cars.
“You’re in college, you should learn how to ride the bus. It’s a skill you can use in many, many cities here in the US … You can use Google Maps, you can use Apple Maps, it will literally tell you where to walk, how long it takes the bus to come, and how many stops [there are],” said Ericson.
Ericson advised students to plan a small bus ride to a downtown coffee shop or a restaurant like The Pearl and see how easy riding the bus can be.
Ericson continued, “Once you ride the bus for the first time, you’ll be a whole lot more relieved when you ride it the next time.”
Lorentz concluded the conference by reminding everyone to see for themselves what non-driving transportation looks like for them.
“Put yourself in somebody else’s shoes… challenge yourself to look at it from somebody else’s perspective. [Fryseth] lives this [non-driving lifestyle] every day,” said Lorentz.
Events for the rest of Week Without Driving include the Transit Talk & Chill at the Cameron Park Farmers Market at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 and the Teaching Safe Bicycling Clinic hosted by Wisconsin Bike Fed at the Black River Beach Neighborhood Center from 12:30-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.
