The Unified Government (UG) is inviting residents to take part in the Week Without Driving campaign, running from Monday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 5. The effort challenges participants to experience what it’s like to navigate daily life without driving a car.
According to the UG, the campaign aligns with the county’s work on its Vision Zero Action Plan, which seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Local data shows that 17 percent of crashes causing death or serious injury involve vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists.
“Everyone deserves to travel from place to place without risking their lives, and campaigns like this highlight how difficult it can be to get around without a vehicle,” UG officials said.
The Week Without Driving is a national initiative led by America Walks, a nonprofit that promotes safe and accessible communities. Nearly one in three people in the U.S. cannot drive due to age, disability, or income. For many, that means limited access to jobs, housing, services, and daily essentials. The campaign asks participants to reflect on how communities are built and what it would take to design safer, more inclusive transportation systems.
In 2024, the campaign drew more than 3,500 participants, including over 500 community organizations and 750 elected leaders across all 50 states. Organizers expect even more engagement in 2025.
Residents who take the challenge are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool, or use public transit when possible, and to share their experiences. America Walks notes the campaign is less about completing every task without a car and more about recognizing the barriers faced by those who cannot drive at all.
For more information and to sign up, visit americawalks.org.
