If you can drive or afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit and asking for rides. But for nearly a quarter of the people in our state – people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars or gas, this is our every day. We organize the Week Without Driving so that policy makers, elected leaders and transportation professionals can start to understand the barriers nondrivers experience in accessing your (and our) communities.
- Highlights from our 2021 event
- Proclamation from Governor Inslee
- 2022 press release and 2022 press coverage
- Tips for participation
We’ll be releasing an interactive website, toolkit and videos from our 2022 #WeekWithoutDriving in the coming months. Please sign up below to be notified by email about the release!
I'd like to learn more about #WeekWithoutDriving
The 2022 challenge was co-sponsored by Amazon, Microsoft, BERK, PRR and Fleming Law. Co-hosts include: The Arc of Washington & the Arc of Snohomish County, All Aboard Washington, APIC Spokane, Bothellites for People Oriented Places, Cascade Bicycle Club, Center for Independence, Climate Solutions, Complete Streets Bellevue, Commute Seattle, CTANW, Downtown on the Go, Forevergreen Trails, Feet First, Front and Centered, Futurewise, Greater Spokane Progress, Homes 4 WA, Hopelink, Kirkland Greenways, Leafline Trails Coalition, MLK Labor, Move Redmond, National Federation of the Blind of Washington State, People First of Washington & People First of Snohomish County, People for People, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Seattle Subway, Share the Cities, Sierra Club, Sightline, Snohomish County Public Utility District, Snohomish County Transportation Coalition, Snoqualmie Valley Transit, Thurston Regional Planning Council, Transit Riders Union, Transportation Choices Coalition, Twin Star Credit Union, The Urbanist, Walk Roll Pierce County, Washington Council of the Blind, WA Sr. Lobby, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Whatcom Smart Trips, 350 Seattle.
How does the Week Without Driving work?
You can get around however you want, but you can’t drive yourself in any car. This applies to all your activities — not just your work commute. And if you normally transport other family members or friends, it applies to those trips too. You can ask someone else to drive you, but make a note of how much you “owe” this person in their time, and if you felt obligated to support them in other ways (ie, doing all the dishes). You can use ride-hail or taxis, but note how much it costs you.
Throughout the week, we will encourage you to post about your experience on social media using #WeekWithoutDriving.
This isn’t a disability simulation or a test of how easily you can find alternatives. We know that it is far easier to give up your keys if you can afford to live in a walkable area well served by transit, or can outsource your driving and other transport and delivery needs to other people.
We want you to have this experience so you can start to understand the barriers nondrivers experience in accessing your (and our) communities. To get ready, read our stories collected in the Transportation Access for Everyone Storymap.