Week Without Driving comes to Pittsburgh

Alisa Grishman is hoping she has lots of company this week as she navigates the Pittsburgh area on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit system.

As an advocate for people with disabilities and founder of Access Mob Pittsburgh, Grishman is one of the leaders of the Week Without Driving, a national effort to show others the mobility challenges for those who don’t drive. The goal is to show elected officials and others how many people don’t drive and why it is important for the region to have other options beyond a strong road system for drivers.

Grishman and others estimate that 30% of local residents have no access to a personal vehicle either because of physical limitations, financial resources, age or choice. That means they rely on public transit, biking, walking, using a scooter or the kindness of others to get around.

That’s why the goal is to “let other people know what some of the other options are” through the weeklong program. The program started on the West Coast in 2021 with Disability Rights Washington and is a national effort this year.

“I wish elected officials realized how many people don’t drive,” Grishman said. “It’s not one or two people who don’t drive.

“It’s important for elected officials to keep that in mind when voting on how much money goes to transit and other programs.”

In addition to Access Mob, the week is sponsored locally by Pittsburghers for Public Transit, Bike PGH, AARP and more than 30 other organizations. The event kicks off with a news conference at 12:15 p.m. Monday at the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania in Lawrenceville.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato are scheduled to attend. They also have agreed to limit their driving as much as possible during the week.

“We’re trying to get people to think about what are the options they have that other people don’t have,” said Laura Wiens, president of Pittsburghers for Public Transit.

Grishman and others noted that poor sidewalks can be a major problem for pedestrians and those who use wheelchairs. It’s important for the public and elected officials to keep that in mind as they allocate funds.

“During Week Without Driving PGH, we urge our neighbors and elected leaders to think about the barriers people face in our current system,” Bike PGH said in a news release. “When we set an intention to take a week away from our cars, we can more clearly see the gravity of these issues and pave the way for solutions that can lead to lasting change for mobility options in Pittsburgh.”

Go here to pledge not to drive this week. The week also includes a series of activities including a lecture at 6 p.m. Monday online and at East Liberty Library about voting for people with disabilities and a film about safer streets, “The Street Project,” at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Carnegie Library in Oakland.