What is the Week Without Driving?
The week challenges drivers to forego driving for one week, encouraging awareness and understanding of the mobility challenges of nearly a third of Americans who cannot drive. For a week, participants navigate their daily lives using transit, walking, biking and other modes of transportation. They gain firsthand insight into the transportation options available, or lack of, in their communities. WWD raises awareness and serves as a catalyst for broader discussions and research on transportation accessibility and equity. In 2023, the Week Without Driving (WWD) expanded from a Washington State initiative to a national event, spearheaded by Anna Zivarts from Disability Mobility Initiative at Disability Rights Washington and Ruth Rosas from America Walks.
National Participation and Looking Ahead
During its inaugural national run in 2023, the WWD saw participation by more than 140 organizations from over 150 communities across 41 states and Washington D.C., engaging in a diverse range of rural, suburban and urban areas. Highlights of the year included over 90 local news stories, which helped elevate the conversation around transportation accessibility across the U.S. Transit agencies, transportation and public health departments, as well as schools were involved in planning and hosting WWD in their communities.
LINK Houston getting a citywide Week Without Driving Proclamation in 2023 (Source: LINK Houston)
Part of our work last year was to understand how different people experienced their week. Personal reflections we gathered post-WWD showcased the need for people to rethink their relationship with transportation and discover new aspects of their communities, while fostering an understanding of accessibility and the privilege of driving.
This was my first time participating in the Week Without Driving. I experienced being late several times due to public transportation, crossing a busy street with no crosswalk to get to the bus stop with my 4-year-old, questions from co-workers and friends on why I was taking the bus, carpooling, and riding my bike. I had to ask for favors and felt like I had to do additional chores in the household to make up for less daycare pick-ups and drop-offs. I also got to interact with my son more. Walking to and from the bus stop and riding the bus together provided more time to engage with one another. It also took a lot more time. I spent more time getting to places I needed to go and less time doing things that I enjoyed. At the end of the week, I was very tired. (WWD 2023 participant)
(Source: Snoqualmie Valley Transportation)
As of 2024, more than 300 organizations in over 400 communities in all 50 states and Washington D.C. have joined the challenge. This includes large metropolitan cities like Los Angeles and Houston to small rural communities in North Dakota and Alaska. This widening geographic distribution underscores the universal appeal and relevance, highlighting its potential to foster widespread changes in transportation policy, infrastructure and funding.
TARTA promotes National Week Without Driving Challenge (Source: Toledo Blade)
What Kind of Research Opportunities Can Arise from the Week Without Driving?
The Week Without Driving presents a unique opportunity to explore and research a multitude of transportation issues, such as accessibility, social, economic, equity, sustainability, public health and policymaking. Research during WWD can reveal critical insights and limitations of current policies. Data can be collected with surveys, interviews, and field notes of participant behavior in their natural setting. By examining the experiences from WWD participants, researchers can contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in our transportation system.
From participation in WWD arise several research questions that can significantly contribute to our understanding of transportation behaviors, infrastructure needs, policy impacts and the overall well-being of community residents.
Personal Transportation Behaviors and Barriers
What are the primary barriers and facilitators to adopting alternative modes of transportation, as identified by WWD participants?
Identifying and understanding the obstacles and enablers for using alternative transportation are essential for crafting policies that are responsive to the actual needs and conditions of residents of an area/region. Research in this area can reveal insights such as the impact of infrastructure adequacy, safety perceptions, and informational awareness on transportation choices. This knowledge can help urban planners and policymakers create more effective strategies that encourage the use of public transit, cycling, walking, and other sustainable travel modes, thereby enhancing accessibility and equity within urban, suburban and rural areas
What disparities in transportation infrastructure and services are highlighted by participants across different environments during WWD?
This question can address the geographic and demographic differences in transportation needs, accessibility and efficacy of the current infrastructure. By examining how participants experience WWD based on location and demographic characteristics, researchers can map out critical gaps in transportation service. Such research can develop target improvement strategies and allow for better allocation of resources and the design of systems that cater effectively to on the needs of a community.
How does participation in WWD affect physical activity, mental health and overall well-being of participants during the challenge?
This type of research could yield valuable insights into how changes in transportation modes influence broader aspects of health and lifestyle. This research not only helps in understanding the direct effects of reduced car usage but also contributes to wider discussions about urban planning, public health policy and the impacts of transportation habits on health. The findings could guide interventions aimed at promoting healthier, more sustainable transportation alternatives that benefit both individual health and community well-being. Through comprehensive surveys and qualitative interviews, researchers can explore how health is impacted during and after the challenge.
Broader Transportation Systems Impact
In addition to examining individual behaviors, WWD offers a platform to investigate broader systemic challenges within transportation infrastructure and policy that achieve greater equity and sustainability. This research could explore designing incentive programs that effectively shift commuter behaviors from private vehicles to public transit options, an in-depth analysis of nondrivers by state, demographic data and socioeconomic factors, regional disparities in transportation accessibility, evaluating interventions aimed at improving accessibility, and the benefits of reduced car dependence on a community.
What types of incentive programs are most effective in shifting commuter behaviors from private vehicles to public transit and how do these programs differ in effectiveness across various demographic and socioeconomic groups?
This question aims to explore which incentive structures lead to the highest rates of behavior change. Providing insights for tailoring incentives to specific population segments could create more effective strategies and enhance transportation options. Understanding what genuinely motivates people to change their transportation habits can help policymakers invest in cost-effective interventions. The knowledge gained can drive meaningful change, making cities healthier, more equitable, and better prepared to meet future challenges.
How do demographic, economic and geographic factors influence the distribution and experiences of nondrivers across different states and what specific policies can improve transportation accessibility and mobility for various populations?
This question seeks to explore the different nondrivers across states looking into how factors such as age, income, disability, race, and geography (urban vs. rural settings) affect the prevalence and experiences of people who cannot drive vs who choose not to drive. It also aims to identify how these factors shape transportation needs and challenges in different communities. This research could focus on understanding nuances between voluntary drivers, involuntary nondrivers and drivers.
By exploring both personal and system questions, WWD research has the potential to become an important tool used to help shape cities to meet future transportation challenges.
How can I get involved?
To get involved in the WWD, individuals, organizations, and decision makers can start by signing up at weekwithoutdriving.org/join. Organizations and advocates can sign up as hosts to spearhead promotional activities, organize local events, and support the initiative throughout their communities. Local government agencies, transit authorities, and elected officials are urged to participate and engage with the public through social media and local news outlets, sharing their insights about transportation policies, funding and infrastructure. Researchers and academics interested in analyzing the impacts of WWD are invited to collaborate with community-based organizations, or contact Ruth Rosas at ruth@americawalks.org for deeper engagement opportunities. Collaboration is crucial for advancing our understanding of transportation across communities.
Everyone is encouraged to promote and participate through social media, blogs, local media to raise awareness and telling their personal story. By sharing personal experiences and insights during the week, individuals can inspire others to consider their transportation choices and influence others to get involved. Community-driven narratives are powerful catalysts for change and prioritizing a shift towards inclusive, accessible transportation solutions, ensuring that all community members, particularly the most vulnerable, benefit from diverse transportation options. Amplify the movement towards a more connected community by participating in the Week Without Driving!
