By Amy Scrivner, BikeWalkKC Director of Development
Five years ago, our family had to take the car keys away from my dad. It remains one of the worst things I’ve ever done to another human being. It meant he had to leave his home in the suburbs and move to an assisted living facility.
Dad accused me of taking away his freedom. While it was no longer safe for Dad to drive, I knew that denying him his car was equal to stripping him of his freedom.
As Americans, we have created a terrible dilemma. Our car-centric culture promotes driving and car ownership as symbols of freedom and independence. If we truly valued these things, we would create a transportation system that supports a person’s freedom and independence when they are no longer able to drive.
Dad gave up driving at age 70. In the next ten years in the U.S., there will be more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 18. Do we have the transportation system needed to meet these changing demographics?
If your family faces a similar situation to mine, I urge you to contact your elected officials at the local, regional, and national levels during this year’s Week Without Driving. Share with them your loved one’s stories and the consequences of a transportation system that prioritizes cars over people.
Cars don’t value freedom. People do.
Let’s be real: Our streets aren’t designed for people who don't drive. Amy's story is part of our #WeekWithoutDriving blog series from the perspective of Kansas Citians who know first-hand the struggles of getting around a city that was built for cars. Read Shawn's story: I need a transportation system designed for people, not cars 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