The Week Without Driving is Sparking a Cultural Shift

Posted December 12, 2024 in Weblog

When America Walks joined forces with Incapacity Rights Washington to prepare the Week With out Driving (WWD), the aim was easy but profound, to assist resolution makers expertise their neighborhood as a nondriver.

What we discovered is that this expertise didn’t simply create understanding; it has sparked motion throughout america and past. Right here’s how WWD has advanced since going nationwide final yr, what we’ve achieved, and the place we’re headed as we set our sights on 2025!

Why Week With out Driving Issues

Do you know that almost a 3rd of People can’t drive? Whether or not as a consequence of age, incapacity, or monetary constraints, tens of millions of individuals depend on strolling, rolling, biking, transit, or another strategy to go the place they should go. However many years of car-dependent insurance policies have left most of our communities unprepared to serve nondrivers. Cracked sidewalks, rare buses, and harmful roads hurt all of us, however particularly susceptible street customers like these with disabilities, seniors, kids, and low-income households.

The Momentum of 2024

In its first yr, WWD garnered assist from 953 organizations and people from 41 states and resolution makers throughout 41 states. However in 2024, participation elevated dramatically to a complete of three,595 organizations, resolution makers and people taking part! This included:

Native organizations and organizers, representing all 50 states

Choice-makers from 45 states, together with elected officers from the state and native stage, public sector leaders, and professionals

Particular person neighborhood members from 46 states

One in every of WWD’s standout successes in 2024 was its means to deliver native tales to a nationwide viewers. From small-town newspapers to on-line platforms, media protection helped shine a highlight on the obstacles confronted by nondrivers. Interviews with members highlighted every little thing from inaccessible bus schedules to the thrill of exploring neighborhoods on foot.

What fueled this development? A mixture of strategic outreach and grassroots power. With the assistance and steerage of Incapacity Rights Washington, we launched a devoted web site, distributed flyers and stickers, and partnered with nationwide organizations to amplify the marketing campaign’s attain. We additionally offered funding to native organizations, empowering them to host impactful occasions of their communities.

Partnerships performed a key function. By collaborating with native and nationwide organizations, organizers linked communities with decision-makers in ways in which impressed motion. Because the nationwide chief, we have been in a position to present coaching webinars to over 150 members to alternate greatest practices and tailor-made technical help that supported 35 organizations in internet hosting campaigns throughout 25 states.

Insights That Shift Views

WWD members didn’t simply face hurdles like unreliable buses or inaccessible sidewalks, in addition they skilled a deeper understanding of how these obstacles have an effect on every day life and mirrored on how their lives would look in the event that they couldn’t drive. As one participant shared, “This expertise has made me more and more sympathetic with individuals who haven’t any different choice than to stroll, particularly these with disabilities. Grocery procuring whereas carrying 30 kilos of meals for 2 miles? Practically inconceivable.”

A public sector chief wrote: “It makes me actually take into consideration the quantity of house and cash we dedicate to automobiles/automotive drivers, and the way little house, infrastructure, and cash we spend serving to individuals. It additionally makes me take into consideration how the design of our roadways prioritizes the velocity of autos, slightly than the security of individuals strolling, rolling, biking, and utilizing transit.” And an elected resolution maker shared her expertise: “I believe a Week With out Driving foregrounds the entry points we’re conscious of however maybe don’t prioritize. I hope that we will use the main target of a Week With out Driving to commit to alter within the close to time period.”

These reflections underscore WWD’s energy to reshape priorities. In actual fact, 75% of taking part resolution makers expressed curiosity in becoming a member of once more subsequent yr, demonstrating the marketing campaign’s impression on people.

Planning for a Greater, Bolder 2025

Constructing on 2024’s momentum, America Walks is setting bold objectives for Week With out Driving 2025. Right here’s what’s in retailer:

Increasing outreach: We’ll goal elected leaders, public businesses and grassroot organizations in states that haven’t but joined the motion.

Strengthening partnerships: Collaborating with teams exterior conventional transportation areas will spotlight the connections between mobility, well being, housing, and the setting.

Creating new assets: Toolkits for small companies and technical help for public businesses will guarantee even broader participation.

WWD isn’t simply an initiative; it’s a motion. By specializing in native actions and partnerships, we’re proving that change in our transportation system is feasible. And by equipping native organizations with the instruments and assets they want, we’re making a ripple impact that extends far past a single week.

Be a part of us subsequent yr for the third nationwide Week With out Driving. We’re dedicated to constructing a future the place everybody, no matter their means to drive, can transfer safely and freely by way of their neighborhood. Collectively, we will create communities which are protected, accessible, wholesome, linked and sustainable for all.