La Crosse begins a “week without driving,” urging people to give up the car for other transportation

La Crosse is one of many cities around the U.S. encouraging people to give up the “car” this week, and try other forms of travel.

The MTU and other organizations are celebrating what’s called a “Week Without Driving.”

Local activities were highlighted during a Monday news conference at La Crosse City Hall, where Mayor Mitch Reynolds said elected leaders have been helping to improve transportation.

“We’ve had a string of city councils who really truly believe that we need to improve human-powered transportation here in the city of La Crosse, not only in transit, but also in walking and biking and everything else,” Reynolds said.

Activities include a public transit day trip on Wednesday between La Crosse and Prairie du Chien, aboard an MTU bus.

La Crosse MTU director Adam Lorentz, who will join WIZM’s La Crosse Talk on Tuesday morning wants drivers to consider how people who don’t drive meet their own transportation needs.

“Unfortunately, not everybody has that opportunity just to grab their keys and jump in their car,” Lorentz said. He called the special week a “challenge” to look at transportation “from somebody else’s perspective.”

“Driving is not just a privilege, it’s also a right,” Liz Fryseth said. She’s a local disabled-rights advocate, who noted about 30 percent of Wisconsin residents do not drive cars.

“Not everyone is able to do that, whether they’re elderly, they’re disabled, or they’re kids,” Fryseth added.

Twenty government and community organizations are sponsoring the “Week Without Driving” in La Crosse, through Sunday.