Week Without Driving


Join us in recognizing
Week Without Driving in the La Crosse area
September 28 through October 5!

Week Without Driving (WWD) is a national event that highlights the challenges faced by non-drivers in our car-centric world and explores the benefits of ensuring we all have access to great walking, biking, and public
transportation. 

 Please join us by participating in the Week Without Driving Experience or fill out a WWD BINGO CARD (download the card here: https://tinyurl.com/wwdlax25bingo) or pick one up at the Transit Center or the La Crosse Public Library starting Monday, September 29. Turn in a completed card and be entered in a prize drawing.

Bingo Prizes include: MTU pass, free bike tune-up from Wrench & Roll, Pickermans gift card, bike helmet, rain gear, gift card to Ardie's Flipside Pub & Grill, free day-long tandem bike rental from Wrench & Roll, Pearl Street Books gift card, sling bag, water bottles, and more!

Share your WWD thoughts and experiences (anonymously if you wish).

If you can, attend or participate in local WWD events shown below, too!



Share our flyer by posting it on your web page or social media sites! If you would like printed flyers to post, please let us know.
TEXT VERSIONS: .doc format and .pdf format 

 Participate in the pre- and post-Week Without Driving survey and be entered to win a prize! Details at:
 

Because we have not been able to get a state proclamation recognizing Week Without Driving, Wisconsin State Senator Melissa Ratcliff honored the efforts of a statewide coalition of organizations to recognize Week Without Driving by issuing a Citation of Commendation, recognizing September 29 through October 5, 2025, as the Week Without Driving and commending the observance to all of Wisconsin’s residents. 

LOCAL EVENTS

All Week

Check out our display at the La Crosse Public Library during the week.

Fill out your WWD Bingo card! https://tinyurl.com/wwdlax25bingo

Ride with your Representative - we are asking City Council and County Board members to ride with non-driver and,/or active transportation advocate constituents. Thanks to those who have signed up so far! La Crosse District 8 Council Rep. Mackenzie Mindel, County Board Representatives Maureen Freedland and Randy Erickson.

Try out a Drift Cycles bike with a special WWD promo code for a free two-hour ride. Use code: wwd2025

Post your WWD experiences - how are you getting around without driving a car? https://tinyurl.com/MyWWDExperience

Do a walk or bus stop audit and send it to us! 

Listen to "Active Transportation Equity: Becoming Active and Aware" by Matthew Christen hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse in 2024.

Read "You Cannot Prioritize All Modes," by Anna Zivarts at Living Streets Alliance.

Check out special events at UW-La Crosse 

Special Events

Tuesday, September 23

WWD Kick Off Press Event with La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, non-drivers, and WWD co-sponsors. 9 a.m. La Crosse City Hall, Watch the video on YouTube (poor sound quality - use closed captioning) Thank you to our speakers, Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, MTU Director Adam Lorentz, Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired board member Liz Fryseth, Disability Action Network board member Ashley Parkhurst, Western Technical College student and Project Proven Leadership Group member Chris Barker, La Crosse Area Transit Advocates Leader Team member Obbie King.


Thank you for your WWD story, WEAU (Dashal)!
Thank you for your story on WWD, WXOW (Maurice)!

Also read How Would Your Life Change If You Couldn't Drive?

Sunday, September 28

Alternative Transportation Perspectives and Opportunities Discussion with a non-driver and a transit advocate at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, 401 West Avenue South at 10 a.m. (also available online)

Monday, September 29

Wrench & Roll Group Ride - Join Wrench & Roll for a casual (~ 7 miles) group ride around the city to kick off Week Without Driving! We'll meet at 6 p.m. at the north end of Riverside Park (by the La Crosse Queen boarding), and roll out at 6:15. Beginner friendly! Party pace! Everyone and every bike welcome! See the flyer for route. No registration required. See you there!

Tuesday, September 30 - FREE FARES ON SMRT with WWD Bingo card!

Transit 2 Trails - SMRT bus ride from La Crosse to Coon Valley's Veterans Park with the Coulee Region Sierra Club, a Public Lands Month program that will also look at environmental protection and access for those with disabilities to recreational lands. Mid-morning to early afternoon. MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE at https://tinyurl.com/crscT2TWWD

Film & discussion - Free to Ride from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., La Crosse Public Library. Free registration requested. (Online option available - see link.)

Wednesday, October 1- FREE FARES ON MTU!

Getting Around La Crosse: Past, Present, Future:  From streetcars to highways to multimodal dreams—La Crosse’s transportation story and future. Noon to 1 p.m., UWL Room 3310 Student Union

Thursday, October 2

Bike Ride With Local Leaders Join La Crosse Area Planning Committee and the City of La Crosse on a ride with local leaders to experience getting around La Crosse without a car. Together, we'll examine existing infrastructure, highlight barriers, and discuss how we can make the city safer and more accessible! 9 to 11:30 a.m. starting from the La Crosse City Hall parking lot. RSVP: tkey@lacrossecounty.org or call (608)-789-8548

Regional Transit Authorities in Wisconsin - What are they? Why do we need them? Learn about this important tool for planning, supporting, connecting, and funding regional public transportation systems in our state. How do RTAs work, who benefits, and how can we advocate for their inclusion in next year's legislative agenda? This ONLINE WWD program is hosted by the Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club. 6 p.m. Register here.

October 2 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at The Nature Place, Myrick Park
(Not really accessible by public transit!)
 
This is not a Week Without Driving event, but it's a great opportunity to weigh in on WisDOT plans for updating state highway corridors through La Crosse! Learn more about the projects and how you can follow and feed back here: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/533516-lacrosse/wis16-pi.aspx

Friday, October 3

After hours open shop from 6 to 7:30 at Wrench & Roll, 1355 Caledonia Street. Get free help with and advice about your bike. An open session for anyone to come with their bicycle questions in a no-pressure, casual environment - or just to socialize.

Saturday, October 4

New Riders Guided Ride on the MTU hosted by La Crosse Area Transit Advocates. We'll meet at the Transit Center, 314 Jay Street, at 11:30 a.m. and ride to Valley View Mall on the 11:42 bus, shop and/or lunch on our own, and return on the 12:35 OR 1:05 p.m. (your choice!) bus. Register by emailing LaCrosseTransitAdvocates@proton.me OR by calling 608-315-2693.

Sunday, October 5

WWD Wrap Up (with coffee) from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Root Note in downtown La Crosse hosted by La Crosse Area Transit Advocates. Join us for some conversation and on-your-own refreshments as we end this year's Week Without Driving. We'll collect WWD Bingo cards, your WWD stories, and your suggestions for next steps in making La Crosse more accessible for everyone. Free beverage for the first five who turn in a Bingo card! No need to register. Just come on down!

Check out the flyers for our great events!

Important Facts:
 
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) estimates 40% or more of City of La Crosse residents are non-drivers. La Crosse County's non-driver population is estimated to be 30 to 40%.  In the state, about 31% of residents of all ages are non-drivers. Find more details at the Non-Driver Interactive Mapping Tool. https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/multimodal/nd.aspx
 
In addition, in 2021, the Biden White House reported that,"Wisconsin residents who take public transportation spend an extra 62.7% of their time commuting and non-White households are 5.9 times more likely to commute via public transportation."


The Wisconsin budget for public transit was moved from the Transportation Budget to the General Fund in 2023, meaning funding for bus service must now compete with many other important services. Before that, funding for public transportation was essentially flat, with highways getting nine times more than public transit and rail.
 
 
For a brief time, Wisconsin allowed for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs), "two or more political subdivisions located within the same metropolitan area ... [with] the authority to impose ... a sales and use tax ..." Such authorities would help grow and strengthen a network of intercity public transit options in the state and region. However, that authority was rescinded and RTAs were banned in 2011.
 
The average cost to own and operate a car, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, is more than $12,000 per year. 

One hundred years ago, the Coon Valley Line connected folks in the coulee region by rail! Watch this presentation from the Vernon County Memorial Library.

Here are more articles from the WWD national organizers and supporting organizations:

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