Image Description: a PRT bus, person in wheelchair, and person joyously riding a bike
How easy is it to get around Pittsburgh without a car? Do you think your neighbors know what that’s like? What about your elected officials, transit agencies, and other local decision-makers?
The Week Without Driving is a national challenge designed to uplift the experience and needs of people who can’t or don’t drive—whether due to disability, economic factors, or choice. This year, PPT, Bike Pittsburgh, Access Mob, Age Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, and Complete Streets at Pitt invite you to participate in the Week Without Driving, October 1-8, 2026. By taking part, you can call for the meaningful change our region deserves!
What is the Week Without Driving?
Whether due to disability, age, or income, non-drivers come from all walks of life, all over our region. The Week Without Driving was developed by disability advocates in Washington state and is now a national initiative, led by America Walks and the Nondrivers Alliance. There are concurrent events and challenges all across the country, all intended to amplify the experiences of people who cannot or do not drive—and call for change.
Here in Pittsburgh, PPT is proud to join the movement, raising awareness for accessible, affordable, dignified, and robust mobility needs in the Steel City. When you participate in the challenge, from October 1st to October 8th, you are raising awareness of the transportation needs that all Pittsburghers have, and calling for change that improves mobility and access for all.
As Pittsburghers like you take the challenge and share their stories with their neighbors and elected officials, those in power will come to understand the challenges non-drivers face in their own communities—and what they can do to help.
This is all about making the case for robust freedom of mobility across Pittsburgh. It helps decision-makers see that they all have a stake in the forms of public transportation—not just cars—and the infrastructure that allows people to get to, from, and between them without driving.
How to participate in the Week Without Driving
The Week Without Driving is a hands-on way to call for change. There are many ways to participate—choose one or all!
Sign up to take the challenge
When you pledge to take the Week Without Driving challenge, here’s what it entails:
- Get wherever you need to go that week however you want—as long as it’s not driving yourself. Walk, bike, transit, ask for a ride from a friend or family member – it’s all on the table. If you find yourself asking for rides, reflect on that choice: what does it feel like to rely on others? Does it change what trips you take?
- Consider what choices you have, and what choices others have access to. It’s easier to give up your keys if you can afford to live in a walkable area well served by transit. Understand what choices you have and why.
- If you still have to drive, you haven’t “failed.” There may be trips you can only make if you drive yourself. Reflect on what someone who could not drive would have done in your situation. How long would it have taken? How much would it have cost? Would it have been feasible at all?
Getting around Pittsburgh without a personal car may be challenging. Plan ahead, think through where you need to go, and make backup plans.
Share your story!
The Week Without Driving is an opportunity to collectively build a narrative: that non-drivers exist in Pittsburgh, that they matter, and that we can invest in infrastructure that improves their experience.
As you’re moving around town without driving, document the experience and share it! You can:
- Chat with your neighbors and friends about what it’s like to run errands without driving
- Take pictures and video of your journeys, and share them on social media. Tag us and/or our local co-hosts (Bike Pittsburgh, Access Mob, Age Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, Complete Streets at Pitt)—this will help build a community of practice and engagement, and a stronger shared story!
- Use the social media templates provided in our Week Without Driving PGH Comms Toolkit to start conversations on your own social media. Again, feel free to tag us!
Join the events!
The Week Without Driving Pittsburgh will be chock-full of fun and educational events uplifting the non-driver experience in our region. Save the date and RSVP for these events to build community and share your story:
- Kickoff press conference
Thursday, October 1st, 9 AM
Schenley Plaza - Adaptive Bike Ride with Access Mob and Adaptive POGOH
Sunday, October 4th, More details TBA - City Council Proclamation
Tuesday, October 6th, 10 AM
City Council Chambers - Safe Sidewalks Crew training
Tuesday, October 6th, 6-7:30 PM
Virtual - Panel of elected non-driver champions with Complete Streets at Pitt
Wednesday, October 7th, 8 PM
Cathedral of Learning room G14 (RSVP coming soon) - Sidewalk audit for pedestrian and transit rider safety, with Bike Pittsburgh and RiverLife
Thursday, October 8th, 5:30-7:30 PM
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Mt. Washington - Multimodal “race” and happy hour celebration
Friday, October 9th, 4:30-6:30 PM
“Race” starts at Station Square; happy hour is at Shore Thing, 5-6:30 PM. This will be a fun, lighthearted challenge to illustrate the difficulties—and joys—of navigating Pittsburgh by transit, bike, or walking. RSVP to learn more and choose your team!