A great transit system isn’t just about getting from point A to B—it’s about equity, accessibility, and sustainability. That’s why, at this year’s EnviroCentre Annual Symposium, Connecting the Dots on Transit, we’re bringing together bold thinkers and change-makers to explore how we can build a transit system that works for everyone.
One of those voices is Anna Zivarts—a low-vision parent, nondriver, and author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024).
As a leading advocate for nondrivers, Anna has spent years challenging the assumption that driving is the default and highlighting the one-third of people in the U.S. who don’t have a driver’s license. (Did you know that here in Ottawa, the numbers are similar? 27% of Ottawans don’t drive.)
Many of these individuals—including disabled people (for info on why we used this term, and not ‘people with disabilities’ please read this), lower-income people, newcomers, youth, and seniors—are largely invisible in transportation planning, which has long prioritized drivers and car owners.
Anna is the creator of the #WeekWithoutDriving challenge, which encourages policymakers and community leaders to experience what it’s like to navigate daily life without a car and incorporate those experiences into their decision-making.
She serves on the boards of the League of American Bicyclists, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium, and the Washington State Transportation Innovation Council.
She is also a member of the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center Coordinating Committee and the Transportation Research Board’s Committee on Public Health and Transportation.
Her advocacy pushes for rethinking access, ensuring that communities are designed for everyone—not just those who can drive. From making transit accessible to improving reliability to integrating rural transit options that serve both youth and adult nondrivers, Anna’s work illustrates how valuing nondrivers creates more inclusive transportation policies, leading to stronger, more connected, and more resilient communities.
If we design our cities and transportation networks with nondrivers in mind, we create scalable, sustainable solutions—more reliable transit, better active transportation infrastructure, and fewer barriers to mobility for people of all ages and abilities. Instead of forcing individuals into car dependency, we can provide freedom of movement for everyone.
Join Us for Anna Zivarts’ Keynote Talk
We’re thrilled to welcome Anna Zivarts to Ottawa. Her insights will challenge us to rethink our approach to mobility and consider the needs of all residents as we work towards a more accessible and sustainable transit system.
Join us for Anna’s Keynote Talk at 7 p.m. on March 27 at the University of Ottawa (FHS, Lees Room 142). Tickets are $15; reserve yours here!
Want to be part of the conversation? Apply to participate in our Annual Symposium on March 28, dedicated to Connecting the Dots on Transit.
