Could You Go a Day Without Driving in Charlotte?
At Sustain Charlotte, we’re inviting you to take part in Week Without Driving. It’s a nationwide campaign that shines a light on what it’s like to navigate daily life without relying on a car. This year, we’re encouraging Charlotte-area residents to choose at least one day where you get everywhere you need to go without driving yourself.
Why? Because for many of our neighbors, going without a car isn’t a challenge they take on for fun — it’s their everyday reality. Children, older adults, people with disabilities, and many residents who can’t afford a vehicle all depend on walking, biking, rolling, and public transit to meet their basic needs. Participating in Week Without Driving gives those of us who usually rely on cars a chance to understand the opportunities and obstacles that exist in our transportation system.
Why It Matters
Transportation is one of the most powerful factors shaping quality of life in Mecklenburg County. If you can easily and affordably get to school, work, a grocery store, and your health care appointments, your chances of thriving in our community increase dramatically. But right now, Charlotte’s streets and transit network don’t work equally well for everyone.
People who don’t drive face daily barriers that many of us rarely consider. Sidewalks can be missing or inaccessible. Crossing wide, high-speed roads often feels – and is – unsafe. Bus service doesn’t run frequently enough, or late enough to match work shifts. Biking can be intimidating and dangerous, especially on high speed streets without protected bike lanes.
By challenging yourself to go without driving for at least one day, you’ll experience firsthand what it’s like to rely on the options that thousands of our residents use every day. That insight can transform the way we advocate for safer, more connected, and more equitable transportation choices for our community.
Resources to Help You
We know that going car-free can feel daunting, especially if it’s not something you’ve done before. That’s why we’ve put together a set of tools to help you plan. Visit our Navigate Charlotte Without Driving page for resources on walking, biking, using public transit, and combining trips. You’ll find tips for mapping out routes, links to transit schedules, and suggestions for making your day more enjoyable and stress-free.
Whether you’re trying this for one day, several days, or the full week, remember: preparation makes a big difference. Think ahead about where you need to go, how long trips might take, and how you’ll carry things like groceries or work supplies. And don’t forget to give yourself permission to enjoy the slower pace — many people discover new parts of their neighborhood or city when they’re traveling outside of a car.
Go the Extra Mile
While we’re inviting everyone to commit to at least one day without driving, we know some of you will be inspired to push further. Could you try two or three days? How about the whole week? Every additional day gives you a deeper appreciation of the challenges and opportunities in our transportation network.
You might find that what starts as an experiment becomes a new habit. Even small changes — like biking to a friend’s house, taking the bus to a concert, or walking to the corner store — can add up to big improvements for your health, your budget, and the environment. And when more of us choose these options, we send a powerful signal that Charlotte deserves better, safer, and more accessible alternatives to driving.
Join Us
Week Without Driving is more than a personal challenge — it’s a collective movement to imagine a community where everyone, regardless of age, income, or ability, can get where they need to go safely and affordably.
So pick a day. Lace up your shoes, dust off your bike, check the transit schedule, or grab a carpool buddy. However you do it, join us in experiencing Mecklenburg without driving. Together, we can build the kind of transportation system that truly works for all of us.
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