I’ve always felt that there was something luxurious about days when I am able to go car-free. The fact that I can ride my bike, walk or take the bus to get to work (or wherever) means:
- that I have enough time, something that is a luxury in a life where I often feel like I am rushing from one thing to the next,
- that I am feeling well enough physically to haul my body around, and
- that my bike is in working order.
When all of these things line up, I get the luxury of leaving my car at home. Getting around without a car requires more planning, but it can also mean there is more time to interact with the world. I can take the time to talk with my fellow humans while waiting at the bus stop; make eye contact with the seals as I ride along the Bay; watch birds and pet random cats; all things that I cannot do when piloting a steel box down the road.
I spent the better part of a decade without a car, so I’ve had some practice getting around this way. Currently I live in Eureka and work in Arcata, so I can access the best bike infrastructure and public transportation anywhere in the county. I have my bike bag ready with tools and a rain jacket. I know where to catch the bus and when. I have a local map in my head (and on my wall) and am in the habit of planning my errands so I can take care of them neighborhood by neighborhood. I am physically able to walk and bike and have big enough bags to carry most of what I need.
I was feeling pretty cocky about my ability to get myself where I needed to go this week, but all of my experience involves just getting me around. Not driving for a week wasn’t going to change my regular routine too much, but on Tuesdays I pick my two-year-old niece up from daycare at College of the Redwoods, and adding a toddler into the mix was a fun diversion from my regular transportation pattern.
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On this particular Tuesday, I was also volunteering at the AHHA shower van under the Samoa Bridge from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. I often ride my bike to shower services, but usually have time to ride home, grab something to eat and let my dog out before driving to CR to get the kiddo. Not driving meant I needed to pack snacks and walk my dog before leaving the house for the day. I live at the bottom of a hill on a dead end street, so no matter what, my commute (or dog walk) starts with an uphill climb. This is also one of the reasons that I plan my trips: I don’t want to go up that hill more than I need to. The first time I did it on Tuesday, with my dog, was before the sun came up. I don’t love getting up before the sun, but every time that I’m forced to do so, I’m happy I did. Watching the sky gradually lighten while listening to the birds makes me feel like I am actually, actively connected to the world around me. The second time I walked up the hill that morning I was pushing a bike packed with everything I would need for my day.
Well, almost everything. I’d been fretting a little bit about taking my niece on a bus adventure. Not about the ride itself, but about how I was going to get her to and from the bus if she was tired. I decided I needed a stroller. Fortunately her mother works a block away from a Redwood Transit bus stop and I was able to stash my bike at her salon and grab a stroller before getting the bus.
Pushing a stroller around town has made me much more aware of the infrastructure challenges faced by people who use wheelchairs. There are a surprising number of sidewalks – especially in residential areas – that don’t have curb ramps: they just end, and you have to either plunge off the curb into the street (doable with a stroller because you can pop a wheelie) or go out of your way to find a place to cross. Sometimes that means using someone’s driveway and then riding/walking in the gutter until you can cross. I’ve found these situations to be great opportunities to rant to the two-year-old about transportation infrastructure. I’m sure she’ll thank me someday.
It turns out taking a toddler on public transportation is fun! And definitely not boring. I can’t even count the number of times I said, “Sit down. Put your butt in the seat. No, seriously.” But also, I got to experience a bus ride from her point of view. What a magical thing that we all get to ride on this giant vehicle together, look out windows while someone else drives, people-watch (the bus from CR is packed) and then pull the cord that goes “Ding!” when we want to get off. We will definitely be working this into our pick-up routine more often.
On the way home on Tuesday evening there was a killer double rainbow which I was easily able to stop and appreciate because I was on foot. I walked backwards down the street so I could stare at it. Can’t do that in a car.
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Making the commitment to not drive this week has made me think about the days that I do choose to drive. Often it’s because I’m in a hurry and didn’t plan well enough to be able to bike, or it’s because I have something heavy or large to transport, like building materials, groceries, or other humans. Conversely, not driving means that I have to think twice before taking things from free boxes (Is it heavy? Do I have room in my basket?), which is probably a good thing.
I also have friends and colleagues who don’t have cars, so I often get to play chauffeur. It makes me feel good to help people get where they need to go, and I have to confess that I will cheat once this week. On Friday I will drive a group of artists, none of whom have cars, from Our Space in Arcata to Eureka to go on a Madaket cruise with Humboldt Waterkeeper. The car will be full, though, so I think we get efficiency points for that.
I do think it’s important to acknowledge that my ability to easily get around without a car is a confluence of a number of factors, one of which is that I don’t have family that I need to transport on a daily basis. My stepchildren are young adults who don’t rely on me for transportation. In fact, one of them can drive me around if I need it. I also live in the most bikeable, walkable, busable areas in the county; it’s not perfect, but I feel safer than if I had to walk or bike along the highway everyday. Physical activity is an important part of my mental health regimen, so it’s convenient that transportation can be my physical activity for the day. I also love staring at clouds, and waiting for the bus is the perfect reason to stare into the distance.
With a little bit of planning, getting around without a car can be easy and fun. You might learn new things about your city. It can be helpful to start small and do it for pleasure before you start commuting. That way you can learn your way around without feeling rushed. And if you get a chance, take a toddler on the bus. It’s fun.
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Caroline Griffith has served on the City of Eureka Transportation Safety Commission since 2019.
The national Week Without Driving runs from September 29 through October 5, 2025. It is an opportunity for participating public officials and other community members to get first-hand insights into the way many seniors, kids, people with disabilities, low-income people, and other non-drivers navigate our communities. Each day during the week, the Lost Coast Outpost is publishing reflections from local participants. For more information, visit this link.
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