Webinar - When Driving is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency

Webinar overview 

One third of people living in the United States do not have a driver's license. The majority of involuntary nondrivers are disabled, lower income, unhoused, formerly incarcerated, undocumented immigrants, kids, young people, and the elderly. They are also largely invisible due to a mobility system designed almost exclusively for drivers.

During this event, Zivarts will explain that when the needs of involuntary nondrivers are viewed as essential to how we design our transportation systems and our communities, not only will we be able to more easily get where we need to go, but the changes will lead to healthier, climate-friendly communities for everyone.

Meet the speakers 

Anna Zivarts is a low-vision parent, nondriver and author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024). Anna created the #WeekWithoutDriving challenge and is passionate about bringing the voices of nondrivers to the planning and policy-making tables. Anna sits on the boards of the League of American Bicyclists, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium and the Washington State Transportation Innovation Council. She also serves as a member of TRB's Committee on Public Health and Transportation (AME70) and the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center Coordinating Committee. 

Kelli Refer is the Executive Director of Move Redmond, a transportation management association located in Western Washington. She has been an advocate for biking, walking and transit for over a decade. She brings lived experience of being a car free parent and policy expertise to advocate for funding safer streets, more trails and frequent transit.

Abby Griffith is blind and relies entirely on public transit to get around. Currently, Abby is the Bus Riders Unite! Coordinator at OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon. She is committed to advocating for a better transportation system for all because she strongly believes that those of us who cannot drive also have a right to get where we need to go safely. Abby’s vision is to bring our community together and advocate for safer, fareless, and better transit. A fun thing about Abby is she loves traveling, especially taking the local bus to explore nature!