Are you tired of having to drive everywhere? Are you currently without a vehicle and frustrated that you’re still expected to drive everywhere? Then the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County have some upcoming initiatives and events for YOU.
Tomorrow, as everyone knows, is World Car-Free Day. (It just sneaks up on you, doesn’t it?) Every September 22, the beloved holiday finds “people from around the world [getting] together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.” Like this:
To mark the occasion, Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the Department of Public Works (DPW) have launched MKE GO. The commute-focused program is described as “a new initiative aimed at reducing drive-alone trips by making it easier for employees and residents to try other ways of getting to work and around the community.”
For residents and employees, MKE GO includes resources on MCTS lines, Bublr Bike stations, bike trails, and more. For employers, it offers public transportation incentives like bus passes and carpool support, as well as “personalized commute assistance for employees.”
The pilot program is first focusing its attention on the Menomonee Valley area, including “near-west-side neighborhoods of Marquette, Merrill Park, Concordia, and Avenues West, and near-south -side neighborhoods of Clarke Square, Silver City, Burnham Park, and Layton Park.”
MKE GO’s launch coincides with Valley Week, September 19-26.
“There’s so much to see and do in Milwaukee, and how we get around can make a real difference,” said Mayor Johnson in a press release on Monday. “MKE GO is about reducing the number of trips people make alone in their cars. For some trips, that may mean taking the bus, carpooling, biking or walking. The best option will depend on the person and the trip, and this program is designed to make those alternatives easier to try.”
The press release notes that “MKE GO’s first phase will help guide future decisions about expanding the program to other parts of Milwaukee.”
If World Car-Free Day isn’t enough, then buckle up (or would that be unbuckle up?) for Week Without Driving, October 1-8. The nationwide initiative says it shines a light on “how there are people who lack access to driving in every community,” and “helps win policies that support access for nondrivers across both rural and urban communities, and everywhere in between.”
Milwaukee County is getting in on the action by encouraging “elected officials, policymakers, and community members […] to reflect and share experiences about what life is like without driving.” Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) will host a Week Without Driving kick-off event October 1 at the Wauwatosa Public Library. The event is part of the MCTS Forward system redesign initiative, which is currently mulling either cutting routes or increasing wait-times on existing routes.
“For thousands of people in our community, getting to work, school, or other important activities isn’t as easy as simply getting in a car,” said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley in a press release last week. “Participating in Week Without Driving is an opportunity for policymakers and community members to strengthen their understanding of the options that exist for nondrivers so we can continue to work toward a transportation network that serves everyone.”
Here’s a full list of ways to participate in Week Without Driving, courtesy of Milwaukee County:
• Reduce or eliminate driving from October 1-8 by riding the bus, walking, biking/scooting, or asking for rides to understand what it takes to get where you need to go without driving.
• Take the Week Without Driving pledge and attend one of the many events that will take place throughout the Week. The pledge and a full list of events are available at www.mobilisewi.org/weekwithoutdriving.
• Sign up for CommuteWISE to log trips and track stats along with others in the community. Log in or sign up at connect.commutewise.org.
• Engage with the MCTS Forward system redesign with input about the bus network’s future. MCTS will host a Week Without Driving kick-off event on October 1 at the Wauwatosa Public Library. The event is one of dozens of community events to get public feedback about the future of the transit system during its redesign process. More information is available at www.ridemcts.com/programs/mcts-forward.
• Attend MobiliSE’s Fall Summit on October 8 to join a community conversation. Join elected officials, community leaders, transportation professionals, advocates and transit riders to chart a path forward for better transportation choices for all. Register and find the agenda at www.mobilisewi.org/fallsummit2026.
• Share experiences when going car-free. Even though a third of Americans don’t drive, most people aren’t aware of the barriers those without access to personal vehicles face. Take photos and post experiences on social media using the hashtag #weekwithoutdrivingmke.
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