The Week Without Driving challenged policymakers and planning professionals to ditch their vehicles.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

When Jo Ann Maxwell, who lives in the North Creek area, can’t get a ride from her family to see her medical specialist in Kirkland, the 10-mile trip can take three hours.

Even just a few years ago, she could have driven there in 20 minutes, maybe a little longer depending on traffic. But Maxwell, 69, has multiple sclerosis and doesn’t drive herself anymore.

-snip-

State Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, spent the week trying to bus and walk, with some rides from her husband and children. She also wanted to tour her legislative district, which includes Lake Stevens and Snohomish.

“My biggest takeaway is how exhausting it is,” she said.

-snip-

“As a policymaker, it showed me really how this has to change,” Berg said. ”This is just me trying it for a week, but for folks who live it we have to do better.”

During the legislative session next year, she said, she will seek increased transit funding and more money to build crosswalks and sidewalks.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/being-car-less-means-cold-waits-long-trips-its-exhausting/

[IbogaProject]

1. Hmm

Sounds like all our elected representatives need to spend some time each season using mass transit.

They should also have to get care using either medicaid or medicare and go through all the approvals and searching for providers who accept their plan.