We’re so usually informed that no one walks, no one bikes, or no one takes the bus, however we all know that 30% of the inhabitants doesn’t drive. Utilizing the framing of “nondrivers” is inclusive of all individuals who don’t personal a automobile. It consists of older adults, disabled folks, folks experiencing homelessness, children, and extra. All collectively there are such a lot of of us, and collectively we’re a lot stronger. In her new e-book, When Driving Is Not an Possibility Steering Away from Automobile Dependency, Anna Zivarts encourages us to empower these with the least selections and guarantee their tales lead.
We have been joined in dialog by Gabe Cazares, Govt Director of LINK Houston and Laura Saltzman, Senior Coverage Analyst at Entry Dwelling.
Some Large Takeaways:
Transportation not recreation
Energetic transportation too usually begins with a concentrate on folks biking or working recreationally. However when you lean into the coalitions to develop the dialog you create higher and extra inclusive advocacy. YES, folks biking recreationally want protected bike lanes, but in addition individuals who bike as their most important mode of transportation want protected bike lanes. Sidewalks profit leisure runners, nevertheless it additionally advantages folks utilizing mobility gadgets and fogeys utilizing strollers. Once we lead with recreation, it fosters a notion that sidewalks should not essential, simply an amenity, or ok for match energetic folks. As an alternative, let’s lead with transportation for day by day wants, for everybody..
Altering the default mode on spending
We at all times hear there may be not sufficient cash for the infrastructure we’d like. But legislatures routinely give you the funds that help driving and roadway growth. When transportation advocates lean in to grasp the wants of incapacity advocates and amplify their voices, it makes a stronger coalition to alter that default mode of considering.
Amplify incapacity advocates – however don’t tokenize!
Main with voices of the disabled issues, however actually make the area for management. In a dialog the place drivers are prioritized, it’s important that we have now folks within the room who’re visibly nondrivers and have their voices heard. It’s laborious to disregard the individual truly within the room. It’s about framing the dialog to incorporate all of us and being intentional about making a platform that amplifies the precise considerations and priorities of these presently excluded
Bear in mind it’s not simply cities!
Even in tremendous rural areas there are various nondrivers. If the choice makers start to see the quantity of nondrivers of their place, it opens the door to insurance policies that embody nondrivers and drivers. The Week With out Driving framing can attain individuals who aren’t at all times prepared to simply accept that not everybody drives.
Right here’s what you are able to do:
The Week With out Driving was created to embolden elected officers and transportation resolution makers to expertise the world of nondrivers. We’re difficult all elected officers to take no less than one journey with out utilizing a private automobile. Creating allies in management is the purpose!
Even when they don’t participate, having conversations with elected officers in regards to the Week With out Driving introduces the concept that consciousness of nondrivers is necessary. That alone is a hit. Use the week to share transportation tales, participate in group dialog, and amplify your and others’ experiences on social media and information protection.
If you happen to’d like to search out native organizations who’re concerned within the Week With out Driving, try our record of native and regional companions, and if you happen to don’t see somebody in your space, try these templates and trainings to get began internet hosting the problem close to you!
Take a look at the complete recording of the webinar:
