Charlottesville asks: Can you go a week without driving?

According to a resolution approved by Charlottesville City Council on September 21, a large portion of the population does not use their own motorized vehicle to get around.

“Approximately one-third of people in the United States are non-drivers, including older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals who cannot afford the increasing costs of vehicle ownership, fuel, insurance, and maintenance, yet many communities continue to be designed around the assumption that everyone drives,” said City Councilor Natalie Oschrin, reading from a proclamation for Week Without Driving from October 1 to October 8.

The idea stems from activist Anna Zivarts who launched the initiative in 2021 to raise awareness of the needs of those who cannot drive. She’s the executive director of the Non-Driver’s Alliance.

People are asked to consider using other modes to get around during the week and Oschrin listed what some of those are in this community.

“The Charlottesville region offers a diverse range of transportation options, including public bus service through Charlottesville Area Transit, The Afton Express, Jaunt Connect, and the Virginia Breeze intercity bus routes, on-demand rideshare services such as MicroCat, alternative commuting programs including Wahoo Commute and rideshares, carpool matching, vanpool coordination, and emergency ride home services, transportation information and referral assistance through the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission’s Partnership for Accessible Transportation Help,” Oschrin said.

Note that UVA Transit was not mentioned. Also not stated is that CAT does not offer service on Sundays and has not done so since the beginning of the pandemic. There is no clear timetable for when that might resume.

Another initiative of the Non-Driver’s Alliance is to increase representation on transit advisory boards. Charlottesville City Council voted to create such a body in 2013 and approved new by-laws on October 1, 2018 to reflect the creation of the Regional Transit Partnership, a body that no longer exists.

The Transit Strategic Plan from June 2024 states describes on page 4 that the Charlottesville Area Transit Advisory Board is appointed by City Council.

“The CAT Advisory Board annually recommends a public transportation budget for the succeeding fiscal year in accordance with the City’s annual budget process,” reads the official transit strategic plan. “Any service planning changes must be advanced by the Board and brought before City Council at least sixty (60) days prior to the proposed date of implementation.”

However, the board has no members and is no longer listed on a list of Boards and Commissions appointed by Council.

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