By Shawn Tolivar, community member
My name is Shawn, and my wife and I are a single car family. We moved to downtown Kansas City from the suburbs partially for the transportation options. Our move enabled both of us to have easy access to a bus route that took us directly to our jobs in different parts of town. We had already made it a point to start commuting more by bus and bicycle for economic, health, and environmental reasons, but in 2021 I was diagnosed with a detached retina and numerous degenerative genetic eye conditions that make driving less safe. At any given time, I can lose sight in my right eye, and I often experience reverse tunnel vision in both eyes, meaning I can see peripherally but not directly.
Because of this I mostly get around by bicycle and/or bus or as a passenger when my wife drives, but the bus has become less and less reliable since 2020. I try to pair my bicycle with the bus to get the most efficiency as well as distance I can, but this becomes a major problem when the bus you are waiting for already has two other bicycles loaded on it, or it never arrives, and it’s an hour between buses. This means one missed bus can be a two hour wait.
There are other concerns as well. Weather is an ever-present concern when riding a bicycle or riding the bus. Will it rain or snow, be too hot, too cold? Will the roads or sidewalks be plowed enough to walk safely to my bus stop or ride where I need to go? Will I arrive sweaty from the heat, or soaking wet from the rain? Will I have a place to change clothing, and will the place I go have secure bicycle parking? Will my destination have a bag policy that prevents me from bringing them with me forcing me to leave them unsecured on my bicycle? What will be my route today, how much time do I have to add in to do the things I need to do? What do I do if I break down or get a flat while out? Where can I use the bathroom? These are just some of the issues I must ask on a daily basis.
Having protected bicycle lanes, public restrooms, bus shelters with benches protected from the elements, and bus-only lanes on the road would make my daily life much safer, more predictable, and more comfortable.
Let’s be real: Our streets aren’t designed for people who don't drive. Shawn's story is part of our #WeekWithoutDriving blog series from the perspective of Kansas Citians who don't drive and know first-hand the struggles of getting around a city that was built for cars. Next up: When Dad had to give up driving, he had to give up his freedom, by Amy Scrivner. Stay tuned for more stories from community members coming soon!
Join the Week Without Driving from Sept 29-Oct 5, 2025 and see firsthand what it’s like to navigate your community without driving. What will you experience? What will you learn? What needs to change? Click here to learn more about Week Without Driving