Disability Rights Washington is challenging all residents, including local leaders, to better understand the mobility challenges faced by people with disabilities by spending one week without using a car. One in four state residents do not drive – including people with disabilities, seniors, young people, and those who can’t afford a vehicle or gas.
Disability Rights Washington intends the “Week Without Driving” as a learning experience to inform perceptions and policy decisions about access, climate, health equity, land use and transit.
King County Metro General Manager Terry White was all in when he heard about the challenge, which started on Oct. 22. Growing up in Seattle, he says transit was a lifeline for him, his brother and his disabled mother.
“I didn’t know any different than using the bus to get everywhere,” White says of his childhood. “That’s how I traveled.”
He’s eager to learn new ways to improve Metro’s accessibility and service to customers.
“I’m excited to join the opportunity to go carless for a week,” said White. “To tell you the truth, my preferred mode of travel is public transit. I like walking and hopping the bus and letting it take me where I need to go.”
His week will include walking about 1.5 miles from his south King County home to get to a bus, and then sometimes transferring to another bus, depending on his destination.
For all participants in the challenge, the week will reveal both strengths and places for improvement in our regional transit system.
“We get to then shine an even brighter light on the current state versus the future state and why we just don’t settle, why we don’t just say (things are) good enough,” said White.
Take the “Week Without Driving” challenge at https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/nodriving/