Beyond the Driver's Seat: What We Learned During Week Without Driving 2026

10 hours ago

4 min read

Exploring what's possible with public transportation while recognizing what still needs to change. What does it really mean to get around without driving?

For many people, traveling without a car is not a temporary challenge. It is part of their everyday lives. Whether due to age, disability, financial circumstances, or personal choice, thousands of people rely on public transportation, walking, biking, and other mobility options to reach the places that matter most.

From October 1–8, Snotrac participated in Week Without Driving 2026, an initiative that encourages people to experience transportation from the perspective of those who do not drive. Throughout the week, our team worked alongside community members, local organizations, and public officials to explore transportation options, identify barriers, and celebrate the possibilities of getting around without a car.

Through nine community activities, we recorded approximately 180 participations, creating opportunities for hands-on learning, meaningful conversations, and new experiences.

Exploring What's Possible with Public Transportation

One of our biggest takeaways was discovering just how many places we can reach using public transportation. Participants explored destinations across Snohomish County and beyond, including local libraries, farmers markets, community events, and Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market. From taking transit to participate in the Freedom Run Women's Health and Wellness 5K in Marysville to visiting community destinations, each experience demonstrated how transportation connects people to recreation, education, health, and social opportunities. These activities also encouraged participants to think differently about their daily trips. Rather than focusing only on reaching a destination, we explored the entire journey, from planning a route and finding the right bus stop to navigating transfers and walking safely to our final destination. For some participants, these experiences introduced transportation options they had never considered before.

Building Confidence Through Mobility Navigation

A key part of the week's activities was led through Snotrac's Mobility Navigation Program, which helps community members understand their transportation options and build the confidence to travel independently.

One memorable experience was our field trip to Pike Place Market with a group of older adults from a local Crochet Group. During the trip, several participants shared that they were unfamiliar with the ORCA Senior Reduced Fare program, which provides eligible older adults with discounted transit fares.

This created an opportunity to introduce participants to resources that could make their future trips more affordable and accessible.

We also worked with members of the Korean Community Service Center - KCSC during a guided transit experience, providing opportunities to practice navigating the transportation system and discuss the challenges they encounter.

These experiences reinforced an important lesson: sometimes transportation options already exist, but people need information, guidance, and opportunities to learn how to use them. By combining education with real-world experiences, Mobility Navigation helps turn unfamiliar transportation systems into practical tools for independence.

What Our Communities Told Us

Throughout Week Without Driving, we encouraged participants to share their experiences, concerns, and ideas for improving transportation.

Their feedback highlighted challenges that many people face every day.

Reliability and travel time emerged as important concerns. Participants shared worries about arriving at their destinations on time, especially when relying on multiple transportation connections or infrequent service.

Others highlighted accessibility challenges, including the difficulties of traveling with a family member who uses a wheelchair and reaching destinations not easily served by existing transportation options.

Community members also identified barriers related to:

Bus stops without seating or weather protection.
Limited evening and weekend transportation services.
Confusing route information and inaccurate trip-planning tools.
Transportation information that is not available in multiple languages.
Long distances between safe pedestrian crossings.
Limited awareness of reduced-fare programs and available transportation services.

At the same time, participants emphasized the value of transportation education and expressed interest in more opportunities to learn how to navigate public transit.

These conversations reminded us that accessibility is about more than whether a bus route exists. It also depends on whether people can understand, afford, reach, and confidently use the transportation options available to them.

Seeing Our Streets from a Different Perspective

Another important experience was participating in the SR 99 Walk Audit, alongside public officials, transportation agencies, and community partners.

Rather than observing the corridor from inside a vehicle, participants experienced it as pedestrians and transit riders.

We walked along the corridor, crossed intersections, and used Swift bus service while discussing pedestrian safety, sidewalk conditions, transit access, and opportunities for improvement.

The experience highlighted an important reality: a public transportation trip doesn't begin when someone boards a bus. It begins the moment they leave their home.

For people who walk, use mobility devices, or depend on transit, the quality of sidewalks, intersections, crossings, and bus stops can determine whether a trip feels safe and accessible. The Walk Audit provided an opportunity to experience these conditions firsthand and discuss how transportation infrastructure can better support people who do not drive. It also reinforced the importance of including community perspectives in transportation planning and decision-making.

Learning Together, Moving Forward

Week Without Driving was more than a series of activities. It was an opportunity to learn directly from the people who depend on transportation options beyond driving.

Through field trips, workshops, community conversations, and collaborative activities, we saw how access to transportation can create opportunities for connection, independence, and participation in community life. We also recognized that important challenges remain.

Improving transportation requires more than expanding service. It means making information easier to understand, improving pedestrian infrastructure, strengthening accessibility, and ensuring that people from different backgrounds and abilities can confidently navigate their communities.

At Snotrac, these lessons will continue to inform our mobility education, community engagement, and advocacy efforts. Through our Mobility Navigation Program and partnerships across Snohomish County, we will continue helping residents explore transportation options while listening to the experiences that can guide future improvements.

Week Without Driving reminded us that transportation is about more than getting from one place to another. It is about independence, access to opportunities, and being part of our communities. And while we celebrated the many places we can reach without driving, we also recognized the work ahead to make those journeys possible for everyone.