National #WeekWithoutDriving is happening from September 29th until October 5th, and you’re invited to join the Clean Air Council!

We’re asking elected officials, community leaders, and anyone else to step into the shoes of the almost one-third of Americans who don’t drive. So many groups don’t drive – youths, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and those who can’t afford cars or gas, or just don’t want to – relying on public transportation, cycling, or walking to get around every day.

Week Without Driving highlights how car-centered public spaces ignore the needs and safety of pedestrians with infrastructure. We invite you to join us in this experience, whether you try not to drive for the entire week or embrace transit, walking, rolling, and biking for a few trips! Every effort counts towards creating a more connected and equitable world. If you’re already a non-driver, please encourage your friends, family, and your elected officials to go a Week Without Driving! 

Transit Forward Philly is hosting a Week Without Driving Kick-Off event on Monday, September 29th, at 5:30 PM at their office on Walnut to learn more about the event, and meet mobility advocates from all over the city. Learn more about the event and RSVP here.

Using public transportation like trains and buses is one of the greenest ways to commute. By riding together instead of in individual cars, we save energy and emissions — and even money! But, as any commuter knows, trains and buses don’t always run on time. People often hesitate to rely on mass transit because they worry about being late to work or being stranded in an emergency without a car nearby.

That’s what the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Emergency Ride Home program is all about, and Clean Air Council has just expanded it with a pilot project in Media, Pennsylvania. The Emergency Ride Home program uses cost reimbursement to support transit riders when emergencies disrupt their commute plans and serves those who live and/or work in southeastern Pennsylvania. 

This new pilot specifically serves transit riders on four routes (SEPTA bus routes 110, 111, 114, and 117) that access Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Media. Qualifying commuters can receive an Uber voucher of up to $50 during an emergency—like when transit is seriously delayed, canceled, or can’t get you to the site of the emergency—and can redeem a voucher up to two times for the duration of the program through June 30, 2026.

If you’ve ever wanted to try taking SEPTA to work or around town but were afraid to take the plunge, signing up for this program might just put your mind at ease. Interested? Find out more below!

Who Qualifies for the Pilot Program?

To participate in this program, you must:
Be dedicated to taking SEPTA bus routes 110, 111, 114, and/or 117 at least twice a week to work
OR Live or work within the Fair Acres region

What Counts as an “Emergency”?

• Unexpected personal or family emergency or illness
• Unscheduled overtime
• If a rider cannot reach the site of the emergency via transit in a timely fashion
• If the rider’s regular route is delayed for over 30 minutes or cancelled, and this will cause an unsafe situation or undue expense for the rider (e.g. late fees for daycare or missed medical appointment)

How Do I Participate in the Pilot?

Step 1: Check your eligibility, register, and complete your profile at ShareARide.AgileMile.com/CAC 

Step 2: In a qualifying emergency situation, request a free ride (up to $50) through the Share-A-Ride website. You will receive a unique code to use when paying through the Uber app. 

Step 3: Download the Uber app and create an account.

Step 4: Use the Uber app to schedule a ride and apply your unique code at checkout.

The budget deadline was missed again by the Pennsylvania legislature, which means it’s time to reach out and put the pressure on. Let your representatives know NO BUDGET WITHOUT TRANSIT!

Legislators across PA need to pass a budget that will prevent the collapse of mass transit, something nearly 4 million Pennsylvanians rely on every day.

The PA House passed HB 1364, which expands the Governor’s transit funding proposal, but it’s not enough. This bill buys us time to fight for a long-term, stable funding solution, so reach out now! We need legislators to implement the funding outlined in the bill at minimum, and expand on it to avoid the gutting of mass transit across the state. 

Take action now. Contact your legislators and ask them to ensure NO BUDGET WITHOUT TRANSIT!

Other ways to help:

• Share this link to contact legislators to fund public transit
  • Text 5 friends and ask them to take action
  • Share on social media. You can also share a post from Transit Forward Philly here
  • Post in your group texts and get your networks involved
    
• Call your State and Senator – ask them to oppose any budget without transit funding

Visit Transit For All PA and learn about other ways to get involved and help us secure funding for transit systems across the state.