Can you safely walk around your city? Many Wisconsin residents can’t. The vast majority of our state’s cities fall short of walkability, according to Seattle-based walkability metric Walk Score. Apart from Milwaukee, which ranks at 24th most walkable large to mid-sized city in the nation and receives a “somewhat walkable” score, every ranked city in the state is categorized as car-dependent or worse.
Transit spending, adjusted for inflation, has fallen to nearly a fifth of what the state spent during its ridership peak in the 1950s, and past legislation outlawing taxpayer-funded regional transit authorities continues to pose a significant roadblock against planners and municipalities looking to expand transit options. Despite this, a whopping 31% of Wisconsinites, according to census data, are non-drivers.
Whether it be mobility, accessibility or just plain affordability, I’m looking to hear about the experiences of non-drivers in this state and how they get around. In a society that depends so heavily on cars, how are the lives of cyclists, pedestrians and transit users affected? What solutions, looking forward, can lend a helping hand? For drivers, has car ownership introduced any unexpected difficulties into your life? Do you wish there were better alternatives to driving?
If you’re interested in sharing your story, feel free to reach out to me directly at jshieh@wisconsinwatch.org or send a tip to our newsroom.
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