Week Without Driving

Verona Common Council recognizes Week Without Driving by adopting a resolution in support at its Sept. 8 meeting. The resolution notes that roughly 30-40 percent of Dane County residents are nondrivers and that more than 13,000 households in the county do not have access to a vehicle.

Resolution Recognizing September 29 - October 5, 2025 as Week Without Driving in the City of Verona

WHEREAS, Week Without Driving is a national challenge to increase awareness and understanding among leaders and the public about how the lack of convenient, safe, and affordable transportation options can affect people's ability to meet basic needs and engage in civic life; and

WHEREAS, the City of Verona promotes a transportation system that leads to a livable community, safe travel, prosperity, environmental sustainability, and equity for all within the city; and

WHEREAS, the City of Verona promotes development patterns that reduce motor vehicle travel and support walking, biking and transit; and

WHEREAS, the City of Verona recognizes that transportation is an essential need that is fundamental to equitable access to employment, community, recreation, and essential services such as healthcare and food; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 30 percent of Wisconsinites and 30-40 percent of the Dane County population of all ages are non-drivers, including aging adults, youth, students, low-income individuals, people with physical, mental or intellectual/developmental disabilities, and those who prefer not to drive; and

WHEREAS, an estimated 13,353 households in Dane County do not have access to a vehicle; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimated the average cost of owning and operating an automobile in 2023 to be $12,182, and this cost has steadily increased over the past two decades; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Dane County Climate Action Plan estimate that transportation is responsible for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and Dane County, making transportation an important environmental justice and sustainability concern; and

WHEREAS, walking, rolling, bicycling, and public transportation help communities thrive socially and economically, ease traffic congestion, benefit health, and promote a cleaner environment; and

WHEREAS, going one week without driving is an effective way to experience common barriers and start to understand ways we can improve our transportation system to better meet the needs of all residents and visitors in the City;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Verona recognizes September 29-October 5, 2025 as Week Without Driving, and encourages decision-makers and residents to join in this special observance by taking the Week Without Driving Challenge and prioritizing non-driving options to get to work, school, errands, and social activities, in an effort to understand the effects of transportation barriers on non-drivers in our community.