What Would Change in Your Life if Driving Wasn’t an Option?
Written by Penny Shelton
What changes when you cannot drive somewhere? Does an errand or a doctor’s appointment become a full-day commitment? Does a job become a question of access, not ability?
If you can drive and have access to a car, these questions might be answered quickly and simply. But these questions reveal how much we assume everyone drives. That assumption reveals who has access and who gets left out. When you don’t drive, everything becomes a negotiation between time, money, energy, and distance, and a tradeoff between what you can do and what you can access.
Week Without Driving
Week Without Driving is not about forcing yourself not to drive; it’s about taking the time to understand what it’s like for those in our community who cannot drive. Whether you go all-in for the week or try one drive-free trip, it’s a worthwhile experience!
This time of year can be really busy with all of the fall activities and events, and we understand that. We want to encourage everyone to focus on one day of action.
How to Participate
Take the bus
In the U.S., people board public transportation 34 million times each weekday. Harrisonburg Public Transportation offers free bus service throughout the city. The BRITE Bus system offers routes from Staunton to Harrisonburg, as well as routes within Staunton and Augusta County.
Find your route:
Ride your bike
Bike to work, school, the gym, the grocery store, and more. Biking is a free way to get around and discover new areas of your town that you don’t get to see from the car.
Plan your route:
Join Us, Spread the Word, Share Your Story!
Use the hashtag and tag and so we can amplify your story and show what transportation access really looks like in the Shenandoah Valley.
