#WeekWithoutDriving - in Charlottesville

My world does not really allow for being car-free. I can have car-light days, or car-free days when I’m working at home.

This week is the national #WeekWithoutDriving. Livable Charlottesville promoted it locally.

I rode my e-bike a bit more around Charlottesville. Tried to schedule things to minimize driving, and was able to have one car-free day.

In tweets

(ok, not “tweets” but Bluesky tweets, or whatever they’re called)

Doing a no car day. Bus from Crozet is 15 minutes late because of Charlottesville/Ivy rd traffic. And no bike rack on the bus. But the bus is 75% full. #WeekWithoutDriving
Two stops later, and we are 90% full. One woman sat down next to another woman and said, “hi bus buddy!” 15 people + driver. I’d bet every one of us would had been sole occupants in our respective cars.
About 25 minutes late to the downtown bus stop. It’s a good thing that my day has flexibility.Notably, I was the only one left on the bus. Everyone else got off at the University of Virginia stops.
Picked up a VEO for the last leg of my journey to the office.Cost me $3.32 to ride less than one mile. If I hadn’t been late I’d have walked.

And the return to Crozet

On the way home. Walked from office to bus stop. About a mile; it’s a beautiful day. Would be nice to have wider sidewalks. Easy detour to get a baguette at ABC.

Only 7 people on the early bus out to crozet. Again, I was the only one at the downtown stop. UVA people were the other passengers.
And home. Short little bike ride from the bus stop to the house. All in about an hour that would’ve taken me 35 minutes or so in my car Not viable for every day of my life, but certainly a fantastic option

Verdict

Did getting to and from my office take a bit longer? Yes.

Could I have shown a house if a client asked? Yes, so long as it was in the City or the immediate urban ring, I would have ridden my e-bike, and been mindful of the return bus.

Was it a bit less stressful as I wasn’t driving, and my meetings did not have hard start/stop times? Also yes.

Admittedly, this morning I was a couple minutes away from riding back home and getting my car because the bus was about 15 minutes late. I stayed in part because another passenger called the bus office and confirmed that the bus was in Crozet and was close — both the affirmation that the bus was there, and that a neighbor communicated that message to the group of 5 or 6 was a reason to stay.

Observing the afternoon regulars greet the driver by name and smile, and then talk to their fellow regulars was a nice thing to observe. A bit of community on our little public transit.

Could I do this every day? Nope.

Being a real estate agent in Charlottesville/Albemarle requires a car, flexibility, and spontaneity. And I’ll still make the effort to do it again.

Was it a successful day? Absolutely.