Thursday, October 1, 2026
A community-led walk audit in downtown Olympia is set to take place on Saturday, Oct. 4, as part of the annual "Week Without Driving" campaign, an event designed to highlight the challenges faced by residents who do not drive and to identify critical gaps in pedestrian infrastructure.
The walk audit will focus on 4th Avenue, according to organizer and downtown resident Daniel Garcia, who is a member of the Olympia Planning Commission.
He stressed that he is participating in a personal capacity, and his opinion does not reflect that of the planning commission.
Garcia said 4th Avenue was selected because it has high volumes of fast-moving cars.
“This tension puts pedestrians in harm’s way, and explains why downtown is disproportionately affected by collisions," Garcia said.
He noted arterials make up only 1% of Olympia’s lane miles, but account for 15% of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes.
“Fourth Avenue functions less like a main street and more like an expressway that speeds people through downtown from one side of the city to the other,” Garcia said. “If we can’t have walkability here, what hope is there for the rest of the city?”
Garcia noted the city’s progress with sidewalk inventory and increased funding, but urged for greater urgency.
“We want to keep up that momentum and ensure that things get fixed now, not a generation from now," he said.
According to the City of Olympia's Capital Facilities Plan, the city sets a Level of Service (LOS) goal of 75 for street repair, yet the current rating stands at 66.
“Current funding will not reach the goal of 75, and the modeling predicts the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) dropping to 60 by the year 2029. We need to find a stable funding source and build,” Garcia said.
Now in its fifth year, Week Without Driving has expanded its reach in Thurston County, with Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater hosting events for both officials and the public.
Garcia credited disability rights advocate Anna Zivarts and her book, “When Driving is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency,” with shifting national conversations about transportation accessibility.
Garcia wants “to raise awareness about how we can better invest in transportation infrastructure that considers people who rely on walking, rolling and transit.”
He also hopes the walk audit will provide city leaders and staff with direct experience of relying on walking in downtown Olympia.
The organizer noted that too many people report not visiting downtown for years or only passing through while driving between the city's west and east sides.
"The audit is meant to get people out of cars, onto the sidewalk, and have them experience the uplifted sidewalks, unsafe crossings and speeding cars," Garcia said.
Launched in 2021 by Disability Rights Washington, Week Without Driving has become an annual observance with 50 states participating.
About 30% of Washington residents are nondrivers, including individuals with disabilities, people who can’t afford a car, lack documentation, are too young, choose not to drive or have aged out of driving.
Advocates say nondrivers are often invisible, facing barriers to jobs, schools, missing doctor’s or court appointments, and even safety during disasters.
Week Without Driving encourages communities to recognize and listen to the needs of nondrivers in order to build safer and more equitable transportation systems.
The Olympia City Council is expected to proclaim Sept. 29 to Oct. 5 as Week Without Driving at its Tuesday, Sept. 30, meeting.
A city staff report notes that mobility is critical for access to jobs, health care and community life, but many Olympia residents face barriers due to cost, age, disability or limited alternatives to driving.
The staff report added the city is investing in a safe, connected transportation system that prioritizes walking, biking, transit and accessibility, as outlined in its Transportation Master Plan.
The Week Without Driving initiative asks officials and residents to go car-free, fostering empathy for nondrivers and highlighting ways to improve equity, safety and sustainability in Olympia’s transportation network.
The walk audit begins at 10 a.m. at the Heritage Park Fountain, and then proceeds east along 4th Avenue to document the safety, comfort and accessibility of one of the city’s main corridors. It is expected to conclude by 11:30 a.m.
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15 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
CrabbyWill
So will all City Council members be putting down their keys and taking the Bus everywhere they go?
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Report this
staynavytom
How ironic. The Olympia roads are in such disrepair and ignored by maintenance crews that walking to work is a better, safer and a less bone jarring option.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Must be nice to live in the dream world where you don’t have to drive. I like that there are sidewalks, bike lanes, and buses, but the rest of us who have to work for a living in the real world are not a part of this dream world. The weather in the NW precludes me and 99% of others from riding a bike, the poor bus system just doesn’t work for most people, and even if it did, the vagrants and drug users and dealers have taken it over. It’s too dangerous. If the city wants people to use these buses and bike lanes, they’re going to have to change the weather and clean up the city’s vagrants, not to mention have a bus system that doesn’t make you wait in the rain and take 2 hours to get across town. Dream on…
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Report this
Callie
I use the bus about 1 time a month, and have not noticed " vagrants and drug users and dealers" - just ordinary people getting on and off at various stops. My 17 year old has no trouble.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
DonnaH
TheVirtualOne.... I take the bus every single day. I have traveled on every local bus route except the 600 and 620, which travels to other cities outside of Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater. I have not experienced any bad experience with vagrants or drug addicts. I am very comfortable day and night riding all of the buses from Capital Mall to Olympia Transit, to Lacey Transit center, and to the Tumwater area as far as the Rt 12 and 13 goes. Most people on the bus are going to work, doctors appointments and shopping areas and keep to themselves. It is the only form of transportation that I use and I am able to get to everything that I need to get to. I never have to wait 2 hours to get on a bus and they get me well across town within 1 hour, with the 68 bus being the longest in the route system. Most buses run every 30 minutes and you can connect to other routes within those 30 minutes as well. The bus system works very well in Olympia and is very safe, day and night. I think it is unrealistic what you are talking about.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
turtleman
I'd use the busses perhaps five days a week, but I would have to drive further to a park and ride than I drive to reach my store. Why doesn't Tumwater have even one park & ride?
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Donna’s - I’m happy for you. What you described is not my experience. My last experience was a couple months ago and was I was nearly accosted by one of the vagrants I mentioned. My ride was like this - Walk 10 minutes to bus stop, wait 15 minutes for the bus to arrive (in the rain), 15 minutes to arrive at Olympia Transit Center in downtown, wait 25 minutes for transfer to another bus, approached 3 times by drugged out vagrants begging for money, bus finally came, two very scary people on the bus (loud, obnoxious, music playing, appeared to be dangerously drunk), 20 minutes later I finally arrived at bus stop near destination, walk 10 minutes to final destination. Same thing in the way back. I could have driven to this same destination in 15-20 minutes, bus ride took more than 1 1/2 hours each way for a total of 3+ hours. Glad it works for you. Not for me. Have a nice day (and bus ride)!
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
LindaD
How ableist! People who are able to walk get priority over people who are less mobile and need to drive. The city is reducing parking, making it harder to visit downtown. Of course people drive through downtown - they're looking for parking!
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
HappyOlympian
Emphasis on bike lanes and walking serves a small percentage of population. Bus system decent, but hard to meet all of someone's needs. As another commenter noted, one wonders how many well-paid public employees pushing all this actually use transit or ride a bike. Parking lots at public agencies packed, and most work normal commute hours. Buses are free and run late, but most still do not ride.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
skyelirious
I don't have Facebook. Can I still participate, or do I have to create Participate in City Events without Social Media audit?
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
Wesley
Worried about "challenges" and "gaps" for pedestrians? Get a car.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Report this
KarenM
I think some of the people commenting here did not see the statistic. About 30% of us do not drive. That could be because of age, disability, losing their license, or cannot afford a car. Some people choose to not own a car because they have other priorities for the money they earn. One should not need to own a car to be a legitimate member of our community.
Simply stating 'get a car' doesn't work for those who are too young or old to drive or have a medical condition that prevents them from driving.
The bus system will not necessarily work for everyone. But it certainly can support those non drivers to get to their work, appointments, shopping, visiting, or whatever they need to do. People who drive can also use the bus or walk or cycle and save money and have a more relaxing trip.
Having safer streets helps everyone. How do you get from your car to the store or restaurant you are going to? You likely walk a block or two.
Thursday, October 2, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
The Virtual One, you don't ride the bus. You're just making things up to feel right.
I know it's tempting to lie like your orange idol, but maybe it's time to stop posting.
Thursday, October 2, 2025 Report this
HotTractor
Historically, motorized vehicular transportation has been prioritized over any other forms. Huge amounts of tax dollars go into making and maintaining it. Then look at how much each of use spend every year just to own a vehicle. It doesn't have to be that way. There are a number of cities in Europe, that are poorer than the US, that provide much better non-motorized vehicular infrastructure, and public transportation. Heck even in the US there are cities that are in better shape. Providing improved walking and biking infrastructure makes it more convenient and safer for us to use. Reducing the number of vehicles on the roads make them safer and if you're in the trades, working around the city it's much more convenient not having so many other vehicles on the road.
Thursday, October 2, 2025 Report this
TheFireplaceGuy
Wow. @CobraCommander are your ankles swelling? You retaining water or something? Typical keyboard warrior who has nothing constructive to add to the conversation but just had to get a Trump dig in. A typical example of the PNW collective where if you don't agree with the rest of us you must be silent, sit in a corner and face the wall.
I can't say that I buy what was said as 100% true either, but I'm certainly not going to just shoot from the hip and call the person out as a liar and then tell them to stop stating their opinion. That's the beauty of living here. We have the freedom of voicing how we feel about things. That being said, what people in this neck of the woods have a very hard time with is doing it tactfully.
As a person who has personally used the mass transit system our county has in place, I can say that there are some opportunities for improvement, sure. However, since we don't have a light rail system, subway system, or even a decently supported rideshare population around here, the free service that IT does provide does in fact enable a resident to reach destinations for medical help, places of worship, grocery shopping, entertainment, employment and just about anything else at all hours of the day and on weekends. I too have never been bothered or panhandled while on the bus buy "druggies or thugs".
We could have an even more robust public transit system if Thurston County Residents would vote for and approve RTA expansion the rest of the way down to our area. But no one wants to add to property taxes or sales tax to support our infrastructure here. It's much easier to sit behind a keyboard and point fingers and blame others rather than actually taking action and doing something to help the situation.
Quit blaming the president for our local problems. The people have already spoken and by systems we have in place, like it or not, our president is who he is. If you're unhappy about our local issues then put the blame where it belongs and take a look inside that big off white building off Capitol Boulevard. Our state has been destined for failure for the past 16 years. You're blaming the wrong Washington.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 Report this