Campus Connection

Step up to the challenge: go car-free for the week of Sept. 30 - Oct. 6

Join UW-La Crosse and the wider community in celebrating the second annual Week Without Driving, a nationwide initiative started by the non-profit America Walks. During the week, Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to navigate life without the use of a personal vehicle. Events throughout the week will shed light on the importance of alternative transportation options that can offer financial, health and environmental benefits.

A spring 2024 study of campus transportation habits found that the vast majority of UWL faculty and staff use a personal vehicle to get to campus with 82 % of university staff, 62 % of faculty and 78 % of academic staff commuting alone in a car. The primary mode of transportation for off-campus undergraduate students was walking.

The study also found that commuting to UWL during the 2023-24 academic year collectively contributed an estimated 1,014 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Shifting these trips to biking, walking, or using public transport can significantly reduce this impact.

The week will also shed light on the challenges inherent for someone without a vehicle to complete essential, daily tasks in a car-centric society. In La Crosse, over 40% of residents are non-drivers for various reasons. If you take on the car-free challenge, you may find that completing daily tasks is incredibly difficult or not possible.

“Figuring out you can’t complete a week without driving is just as significant as being able to do it. Many non-drivers in La Crosse can complete tasks that they need to, but they do it within a system that is not necessarily easy, pleasant or equitable,” says Andrew Ericson, UWL sustainability program manager. “This week will explore the benefits of ensuring we all have access to great walking, biking, rolling and public transportation.”

Tips for Celebrating Week Without Driving

• UWL employees can purchase a discounted MTU annual pass for just $75 at the Cashier’s Office.
• Try the Scenic Mississippi River Transit (SMRT) Bus, which provides affordable commuting options for those in Vernon, Monroe, and La Crosse counties with a drop-off right at UWL.
• If you haven’t biked to campus before, now is the perfect time to start!
• Reflect on barriers you encounter while navigating the community. Are there unsafe intersections or routes lacking bike lanes? Share your experiences with local officials.
• Don’t limit your car-free efforts to just commuting; consider walking or biking for grocery shopping, appointments and other daily tasks.

Events celebrated for Week Without Driving

UWL celebration – 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Clocktower. Stop by the UWL Sustainability Table for assistance with route planning.

Off-campus walk audit – 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. This walk, open to all faculty, staff students and community members, will start at the Whitney Dining Center Main hallway. Participants will be invited to consider the experience of off-campus students as they walk to campus and around their residences. We will talk about best practices for bike and pedestrian safety, as well as specific areas that highlight dangerous design and barriers for students.

Other community events

Free fares on Municiple Transit (MTU) all week

Book talk “When Driving is Not an Option” with author Anna Zivarts and local, non drivers, hosted by the La Crosse Public Library, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30

Ride the SMRT free with a WWD bingo card all day Tuesday, Oct. 1

Ride SMRT to Prairie du Chine, Wisconsin – a public transit day trip, hosted by LATA, Wednesday, Oct. 2

Transit Talk and Chili, hosted by LATA, 4-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at the Cameron Park Farmers Market

Transit to Trails experience, hosted by Coulee Region Sierra Club, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5

Bicycle education events hosted by the Wisconsin Bike Fed. Find details online.

Why It Matters

Consider these compelling reasons to ensure access to walking, biking, and public transport:

• In 2021, the transportation sector contributed 29% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from personal vehicles, according to the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990–2021.
• More than half of all trips in the U.S. are less than three miles in length and nearly 30% were less than a mile (U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 2021) 
• Walking enhances mood, reduces stress, improves self-esteem, and combats cognitive decline (American Behavioral Clinics, 2022)
• Regular brisk walking improves cardiovascular health, strengthens bones and muscles, improves muscle endurance, increases energy levels, improves balance and coordination, and strengthens immune system (Mayo Clinic, 2021)
• Regular brisk walking improves mood, cognition, memory, and sleep (Mayo Clinic, 2021) 
  

Campus transportation survey results

In spring 2024, the campus community was surveyed on transportation and commuting habits. Keila Kittelson, ’24, Public Health graduate, and Travis Key, ’24, Geography graduate, provided an analysis of the data. 

Responses