Week Without Driving is HERE!

WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING is a way for us to consider what life could be like if our plans, our priorities, our public space, our budgets were managed with ALL people, including up to a third of our neighbors, in mind.

Check out the event page at https://tinyurl.com/WWDLaCrosse for all the events and details. Here are some special notes about events and actions you can take this week and going forward to make life accessible for everyone--children going to the library, workers going to a job, seniors going to the doctor,  going to class, someone with a disability going to lunch with friends, someone who can't afford a car going to the park with their kids.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND ASK HER/HIM TO RIDE THE BUS WITH YOU and tell them your personal transportation story. So far, only ONE city council rep. has signed up to ride with non-drivers and/or bus advocates. You can find your council person and contact information here: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/your-government/city-council/city-council-members  If you are not sure which district you are in, here's the current Aldermanic Districts map. Especially if you are a non-driver, your experience and telling your story to decision-makers is VERY important!

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR COUNTY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE AND ASK HER/HIM TO RIDE THE BUS WITH YOU, too. So far,only ONE county board rep has signed up to ride during WWD. Your county board rep can be found here:  https://lacrossecounty.org/countyboard/members  While the MTU is a city-run service, it also serves some surrounding communities but not all. Most importantly, the MTU is not great at serving regional transportation connections like the airport (only limited weekday hours and you have to request a route deviation) and Amtrak (no service within 1/4 mile of the station). In addition, some important workplace/business areas have very limited service including the industrial parks. 

Electeds may sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/wwdlaxleaderridesignup

PLEASE SIGN OUR "SAVE THE SMRT" PETITION! Sign the online form OR download, print, and circulate a paper petition. DEADLINE: OCTOBER 28.

On September 8 at a La Crosse County Board planning meeting, the La Crosse County Administrator presented a plan to cut the SMRT bus at the end of 2025 citing "low ridership" and budget deficits. We are gathering more information about the process but, at this time, we believe not enough information and marketing has been done over the past several years to let people know there even IS a SMRT bus system, not enough public outreach has been done to invite riders' thoughts, and not enough research has been done about possible other funding sources and other transportation options. 

If you are interested in helping to organize, collect information, reach out to decision-makers about this, please contact LATA. 

Remember to Fill Out Your WWD Bingo card to be entered into a prize drawing. Also, those who take the national WWD survey may be entered into a prize drawing.