Can You Go A Week Without Driving?

Bikers and runners on the Oak Leaf Trail. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is promoting the national “Week Without Driving,” a challenge that asks people to try a week without the aid of an automobile and consider how their neighbors who don’t have cars are forced to get around.

The streets, freeways and parking lots that most people take for granted are, in fact, the result of policy decisions about what transportation infrastructure will be built and maintained for the benefit of the people who live near it. For everyone who has a car, or who can drive, the dominance of automobile infrastructure at the expense of mass transit or multi-modal options may go unquestioned. But for those who don’t, or can’t, it is a policy decision that can make their life more difficult, even more dangerous.

Anna Zivarts, a Seattle-based transit and disability rights activist, created the challenge in 2021 to help policymakers and politicians understand how the built environment creates barriers to movement for people who cannot drive. It takes place this year the week of Oct. 1-8.

In Milwaukee County, 40% of residents do not or cannot drive, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). In the metro Milwaukee region, one in five working-age people does not drive, according to MCTS.

“For thousands of people in our community, getting to work, school, or other important activities isn’t as easy as simply getting in a car,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. “Participating in Week Without Driving is an opportunity for policymakers and community members to strengthen their understanding of the options that exist for nondrivers so we can continue to work toward a transportation network that serves everyone.”t

MCDOT is promoting the campaign this year alongside the Transit is Milwaukee Coalition and MobiliSE, a transportation advocacy organization that also operates FlexRide, an on-demand taxi service designed to serve specific workforce needs. The department is encouraging residents to sign up for CommuteWise, a digital platform created by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) for tracking or planning trips that don’t use a car. Several events are also scheduled throughout the week. MobiliSE has them listed on its website.

The week without driving will arrive this year as Milwaukee County transit officials and policymakers consider major changes to the county’s bus network. MCTS is working with a consultant to redesign the system as it faces major budget shortfalls in the coming years, leading transit officials to contemplate a 25% service cut to stabilize the system’s budget in the short term. The cut would be devastating for the system’s existing network, and the impact would land hardest on county residents who do not drive.

“Our ability to fully participate in our community – to get to work, school, the doctor, church, or simply enjoy our lives – shouldn’t depend on having a car,” said County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell in a statement. “Week Without Driving reminds us that a strong transportation network creates freedom and connection, while giving all of us opportunities to save money, improve air quality, and reduce our environmental impact. I hope residents will join us, experience Milwaukee County differently, and help us imagine what even better transportation can look like.”