The Week Without Driving begins today! When I tell people I am doing this, they wonder if it is about the environment and reducing my carbon footprint. Well, yes. But there are other reasons as well.

For nearly a third of Humboldt County, it is not an exercise, but a reality of life. And for the rest of us drivers, it could be the new reality at any time. Illness, injury or advanced age can all limit one’s ability to drive, and those things can happen to anybody. Yes, even you, even me. Hence my reason for participating in this year’s Week Without Driving.

In 2023, I completed the official Week Without Driving. It was amazingly instructive. As a result of that experience, in 2024 I did a slightly different exercise. I drove, as usual, and also took the bus, but kept track of what I would have done or how I would have transported myself if I were not driving or able to get to my destination on the bus. Had I not been able to hop into the car and go, I might have remained isolated at home. And, for many, particularly elderly people, isolation is a serious concern.

Here are some of my daily observations from my actual Week Without Driving in 2023.

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I’m retired, and I live in Trinidad. I had reason to be in McKinleyville Monday, Wednesday and Friday, early. These days would be my main bus days. I also had an informal arrangement on Tuesdays to help a non-driving friend with whatever transportation needs they had that were not served by the bus.

The bus is great! The drivers are friendly and competent and the routes are inclusive and satisfactory for people who live in the more central parts of the county — from Rio Dell to Trinidad. And there are challenges to depending entirely on the bus. Here’s my week:

Day one: To get to a morning appointment in McKinleyville from Trinidad, I first walked in the dark with a flashlight to the bus stop. Even with the flashlight, I was nearly run down by a speeding vehicle, impossible to identify in the darkness. When I arrived, four people were waiting at the bus stop for the 6:45 a.m. bus south.

On the way, fifteen more people got on the bus, including a cyclist with his bike. No bums or weirdos, just regular people. Folks who never take the bus have a perception that “bums and weirdos” — their words, not mine—favor bus transportation, but an actual bus ride does not bear this out.

I arrived at my destination about half an hour early.

To get home, the return bus does not come until 11:30. I had a number of small errands I could do in the wait time, but I could not carry too much around. Perhaps I would need a trolley if I did shop and then took the bus, or I would have to shop more frequently in smaller quantities. One notices that regular bus riders have backpacks or large bags.

To summarize my first day, a one-hour appointment had taken from 6:30 a.m. until noon. I managed to accomplish some other small errands in that time frame also, but not enough productivity to merit the time. Where to hang out and wait? The library is closed on Monday. Explored the adjacent Senior Center where I encountered some friendly seniors. Had a coffee in Ramone’s, an expense that would be prohibitive if I were on a limited income.

My day one observation of the Week Without Driving is that time is changed. I can’t get someplace fast and direct. I have to rely on a friend to take me to my next engagement Monday afternoon. If this were a regular occurrence, I would wear my friends out.

Day two: Awake at 5:10 to get ready to take the early bus again. But today I have to drive someone who does not drive. I will have to carry more in my car than I could easily transport on the bus. I could not take my recycling in to Hambro on the bus. And, with the wait time to catch the return bus home, I could not get my cold groceries home without some sort of insulated pack. Such errands require a car or truck. All errands without a personal vehicle require solid pre-planning.

Day three: Big improvement walking to the bus stop in the dark with my flashlight waving. Nobody tried to run me over this morning, so I was much calmer when I reached the bus stop. Again, there are four people waiting for the bus. As we proceed, I see the same people I saw on the bus Monday — the regular bus commuters who have figured out how to make it work for them.

Same routine as Monday, but this time I encounter a friend at Ramone’s, someone already going to Trinidad, so I get a ride, and I’m home by 10 AM.

Observation walking to bus stops — OMG what a lot of trash there is on the roadside! It is not even visible in a speeding car.

Day four: No car necessary today since I live in a walkable community. And if I don’t mind the fear factor of speeding large vehicles — mostly trucks and SUVs — I could walk or bike to all my destinations. More walking and biking results in better health, assuming you don’t get run over. Day four takeaway is mostly that large vehicles and active transportation are not always compatible.

Day five: It’s trash day, AKA bad bear day, so I walk with caution in the dark waving my flashlight. I see one other pedestrian, also with a flashlight. After my activities in McKinleyville, I needed to beg a ride home if I want to arrive before 2:25. My $50 worth of groceries are heavy to carry.

Day six: Saturday! Well, there will be no evening entertainment for me because there’s no getting home in the evening by bus. In fact, there is no nightlife at all for a person who depends only on the bus for transportation. Which brings to mind a train ride in Europe a few years back. Four rather drunk young men boarded a local train, joking around with one another during the 10 minutes they were on board, and got off at their destination, probably not significantly sobered up, but endangering nobody.

Day seven: Sunday, the day of rest. No bus.

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This year I have a different schedule than two years ago. I’m finalizing my no-car planning. We’ll see how it goes.

• In His Continuing Efforts to Make Humboldt Life More Amazing For Everyone, the Editor of the Lost Coast Outpost — That’s Me — Urges You to Try Bicycling to Work, If You Can