O-POP, Walk N Roll to host Capitol Way walk and bike audit 

Local residents are invited to join an Olympia walk and bike audit on Saturday, Oct. 3, as local organizations aim to highlight everyday challenges faced by people who don't drive.  

Olympians for People-Oriented Places (O-POP) is partnering with Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program for the event in recognition of Week Without Driving, a national and international campaign aimed at raising awareness of the experiences of nondrivers.  

According to local organizer Daniel Garcia, participants will gather at 5 p.m. at Heritage Park Fountain, 330 5th Ave. SW in Olympia before departing in waves for a walk-and-bike tour along Capitol Way.  

The group will travel south toward Vic’s Pizzeria Wildwood, where participants are expected to arrive around 6 p.m. for food, drinks and an opportunity to connect with fellow community members.  

The event will also provide information about the Capitol Corridor Project, and offer participants a chance to observe and discuss how streets, sidewalks, crossings and other transportation infrastructure work for people traveling without a car.  

Nearly one-third of people in the United States do not drive, according to the Week Without Driving website. That includes people with disabilities, children and teenagers, older adults, people who cannot afford a vehicle or fuel, people without a driver’s license, and individuals who choose not to drive.  

Supporters of Week Without Driving say nondrivers are often overlooked in transportation planning because communities are frequently designed around the assumptions that residents have access to a vehicle.  

The Week Without Driving campaign began in Washington state in 2021 under the Disability Mobility Initiative, a program of Disability Rights Washington, with leadership from disability advocate Anna Zivarts.  

The campaign has expanded beyond Washington, with more than 600 organizations participating across all 50 states, Canada and Australia.  

Participants in the Olympia event are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, bring water and dress appropriately for the weather.