Posted October 12, 2023 in Weblog

Week With out Driving Problem proper across the nook

By Snohomish County Public Utility District

Getting in our automotive is a every day a part of life for many of us. However not everybody has that very same luxurious.

The Week With out Driving Problem, which takes place from October 2 – 8, seeks to encourage us to think about what choices now we have aside from a automotive for transportation. It additionally helps present what life is like for individuals who don’t personal a automotive resulting from inaccessibility, unaffordability, a bodily incapacity or different motive.

Now in its third 12 months, the occasion goals to assist us tackle boundaries that non-drivers expertise when making an attempt to maneuver by means of our communities. You’ll be able to take part through the use of various technique of transportation for a single day (or extra) throughout the problem week. You are able to do this by yourself or signal as much as be part of the problem. 

A 12 months in the past, Jason Cummings, Assistant Environmental Specialist on the Snohomish County PUD, participated within the problem and discovered lots about native transportation. Jason, one of many PUD’s Worker Transit Coordinators, felt like he ought to take part if he was asking different members of Crew PUD to as nicely.

“It was actually exhausting for me to search out methods of discovering various technique of transportation, particularly as a result of I’ve a son in sports activities,” stated Jason. “We each took the bus to his apply one evening and there was numerous time and effort concerned in getting there. It was good to clarify to my son why we had been doing it and the significance to consider these boundaries and obstacles others may face every day. It’s straightforward to take without any consideration the chance to only get in a automotive and go someplace.

“Discovering methods like this Week With out Driving Problem the place we, as Crew PUD, might be concerned and take part in minimizing our environmental impression, is one thing I’m keen about and discover crucial.”

So how does it work? You may get round nevertheless you need, aside from driving a automotive. This is applicable to all actions – not simply your work commute. When you ask another person to drive you, make an observation of how a lot you “owe” this individual for his or her time. On the finish of the week, you’ll be invited to take part in a voluntary survey to share what you discovered.

Hopping in a automotive to drive is one thing many people take without any consideration, however practically 1 / 4 of individuals in Washington state are unable to afford the price of automobile possession. The problem encourages you to depart your automotive parked and discover different methods to get round, together with taking the bus, carpooling or journey shares, driving a motorbike and strolling.

The PUD additionally provides a journey share possibility accessible to staff as a part of its Commute Journey Discount initiative.

That can assist you or somebody you understand experiencing inaccessibility to transportation, see Snotrac’s Mobility Map/Information for door-to-door providers in Snohomish County (beneath). As well as, you’ll be able to make the most of the journey planners to search out bus schedules for Neighborhood Transit and Everett Transit, the latter of which is hosted by King County Metro and might help you navigate your entire Puget Sound area.

Laura Zorick, Communications and Advertising and marketing Marketing consultant and the PUD’s different Worker Transit Coordinator, is planning on making Week With out Driving a world problem this 12 months. Laura shall be on trip visiting Machu Picchu over the week of the problem however has pledged to make the most of public transit to get round Peru as nicely.

“I’m undecided the way it’s going to go in South America, however the Week With out Driving Problem is an effective way to study various strategies of journey in our communities,” Laura stated. “It’s so useful to search out various strategies of journey – and it’s an effective way to get out of our consolation zones and discover our service space.”

Join the Nationwide Week With out Driving Problem right here!

Snohomish PUD is a public utility company that serves residents of Snohomish County and Camano Island, Washington.