What would change in your life if driving wasn’t an option?

To: Elected Leaders

Subject: Shape the Future of Transportation

Dear [TITLE] [FULL NAME],

As a key leader in [COMMUNITY], the decisions you make in transportation policies and funding shape what daily life looks like for your constituents. That’s why our organization, [ORGANIZATION/GROUP], is inviting you to participate in Week Without Driving 2026, happening Thursday, October 1 – October 8.

Week Without Driving offers a simple and powerful way to experience our community, like many of your constituents already do.

Elected officials, like yourself, say the experience changes the way they understand our community in a deeper way, and they understand the day-to-day realities of nondrivers, such as how much time it takes to get from their home to school, groceries, or work. Those firsthand insights don’t stay personal, they help shape decisions. Elected leaders carry them back into public decision-making, elevating how car-dependent systems impact their constituents, like those who have aged out driving, disabled residents, young people, and people who cannot drive due to other barriers.

Your perspective and what you learn is an invaluable contribution. We will support you with [PLANNING, TROUBLESHOOTING, REFLECTION PROMPTS] and we’ll be honored to help amplify your voice, takeaways, and community engagement.

See what your constituents face.

Join us by signing up here. If you need more information or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to [NAME at EMAIL]. Thank you for considering this opportunity to shape a more accessible transportation for all.

[your organization’s local contact and sign off]

TO: Any community member

SUBJECT: What would change in your life if driving wasn’t an option?

Dear [FIRST NAME],

This year, [ORGANIZATION/GROUP] is hosting Week Without Driving in [TOWN/CITY], and we’d love to help you participate.

Week Without Driving is not about forcing yourself not to not drive, it’s about taking the time to understand what it’s like for those who cannot drive in our community. Whether you go all-in for the week or try one drive-free trip, it’s a worthwhile experience!

From October 1st through the 8th, we invite you to join us and uncover new ways to make our transportation system more accessible for everyone.

Want to learn more about, join us by visiting: [LINK]

[your organization’s local contact and sign off]

TO: Transit Agency Contact

SUBJECT: Week Without Driving celebrates transit — join us Oct 1-8

Dear [FIRST NAME],

As a transit agency, you know the transportation access you provide is life changing for the community members who rely on you every day.

One and three people in the US can’t or don’t drive for their daily needs — the percentage of people without reliable access to a car is [in YOUR COMMUNITY/STATE].

For people who can grab their keys and go, transportation often isn’t a major concern. But for those of us who can’t drive or can’t afford to, transportation is something we think about daily. We care about transit access because it can make the difference between getting to do the things that connect us to our communities, like running errands, seeing a friend, or getting to an appointment — or being stuck at home and isolated.

Week Without Driving offers a simple and powerful way to draw attention to the critical service transit agencies like yours provide. Launched six years ago in Washington State, Week Without Driving is now hosted by more than 800 community organizations, transit agencies and local leaders across all fifty states.

We created Week Without Driving so that those who have the option to drive can learn firsthand about the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face. It’s about taking the time to understand what it’s like for those who cannot drive in our community and what services, like transit, we need to stay connected.

This year, Week Without Driving will take place from October 1-8. If your agency is interested in participating, you can view our toolkits (including media release and transit-agency specific social media templates) on the Week Without Driving Resource Center.

Please also feel free to reach out if there are other tools, information or resources we can share with you.

[your organization’s local contact and sign off]

TO: ALL signed up participants

SUBJECT: Welcome to [CITY or ORGANIZATION]’s Week Without Driving 2026!

Hello [TITLE and LAST NAME],

Thanks for teaming up with us at [CITY or ORGANIZATION] to participate in Week Without Driving from Thursday, October 1st through Thursday, October 8th, 2026. You’re not alone, thousands of others from across the country are participating in this year as well!

First, why are we here?

How does Week Without Driving work?

Go about your week but skip driving when you can. If you ask for rides or use rideshare, take note of the time, cost and effort it takes.

Keep this in mind!

This isn’t a disability simulation or a test of how easily you can find alternatives. We know that it is far easier to give up your keys if you can afford to live in a walkable/bikeable area well served by transit or can outsource your driving and needs to other people. REMEMBER: There’s no failing! The point isn’t to prove you can go car-free, it’s to notice what’s easy, what’s hard, and what’s missing for those who cannot drive.

We’ll share tips and prompts along the way. Try it, reflect on it, and share what you learn. Share your experiences on social media by using the hashtag #WeekWithoutDriving, and we’ll provide daily prompts during the week. Got questions? Just ask!

Keep an eye on your inbox for updates and tips as we gear up for this initiative… and invite your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors!

[your organization’s local contact and sign off]

What would change in your life if driving wasn’t an option?

What changes when you cannot drive somewhere? Does an errand or a doctor’s appointment become a full-day commitment? Does a job become a question of access, not ability?

If you can drive and have access to a car, these questions might be answered quickly and simply. But these questions reveal how much we assume everyone drives. That assumption reveals who has access and who gets left out. When you don’t drive, everything becomes a negotiation between time, money, energy, distance and a tradeoff of what you can do and can access.

Mark your calendar: Thursday, October 1 through Thursday, October 8, 2026. Join us, spread the word, share your story! Use the hashtag #WeekWithoutDriving and tag @WeekWithoutDriving and @[ORGANIZATION] so we can amplify your story and show what transportation access really looks like in [COMMUNITY].