Nondrivers Alliance

October 8, 2025 — We are excited to announce the launch of the Nondrivers Alliance, a new project where those of use who can’t drive or can’t afford to drive can organize for communities that reduce car-dependency. 

If you can drive or afford a car, you may not understand what it’s like to rely on walking, rolling, transit and asking for rides. But for more than a third of people living in the United States – people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars or gas – this is our every day. 

Nondrivers Alliance will be led by Ruth Rosas and Anna Zivarts and, along with our partners America Walks and Disability Rights Washington, will continue to co-lead and collaborate on coordinating Week Without Driving. 

Nondrivers Alliance will also support grassroots organizing of transit riders in Washington State, particularly those who live in one of the 20 transit service areas that have the opportunity to appoint transit riders to transit boards, thanks to the new transit rider representation legislation that goes into effect January 1. We’ll be starting weekly online meetings to learn transportation policy and advocacy skills. If you’re interested in joining us, please register through this form.

Leadership

Anna Zivarts is a visually impaired parent and author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024). At Disability Rights Washington, Zivarts launched the Week Without Driving in 2021, and has been organizing to ensure nondrivers are seated at planning and policy-making tables. 

Chicago-based bilingual organizer Ruth Rosas led the national expansion of Week Without Driving and Freedom to Move at America Walks and brings over 15 years of experience advancing mobility justice. Their background includes leading public health, walkability, and transportation equity initiatives at Lurie Children’s Hospital and serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in Fiji, where they helped create a youth cycling cooperative promoting sustainable transportation and climate resilience.

“Disability Rights Washington is proud of our groundbreaking work on transportation access, especially for disabled people who can’t drive or afford to drive. From the inception Week Without Driving five years ago, this effort has grown to a national and even international movement centered on the needs of nondrivers. We can’t wait to see how this movement continues to grow and we look forward to continuing our partnership.” – Nachama Wilker, Executive Director of Disability Rights Washington

“America Walks is excited about the creation of the Nondrivers Alliance. We have been honored to take Anna’s vision to new audiences and help build a powerful national movement. We look forward to working with Nondrivers Alliance and all our partners to expand Week Without Driving to have an even greater impact in the future!” – Mike McGinn, Executive Director of America Walks

“For people who can grab their keys and drive where they need to go, transportation isn’t a major concern. But for those of us who can’t drive or can’t afford to, transportation is something we think about daily. We care deeply about accessibility because it can make the difference between getting to do the things that connect us to our communities, like running errands, seeing a friend, or getting to an appointment — or being stuck at home and isolated. It’s time to tap into this expertise to make our communities work better for everyone.”  – Anna Zivarts, Lead Organizer for the Nondrivers Alliance

Nondrivers Alliance is a fiscally sponsored project of Alliance for a Just Society.