Undriving Ballard
From Sustainable Ballard
Visit our Undriving website and blog for the all the latest scoop and to share YOUR Undriving stories!
For more information on Undriving, contact Julia Field
WE ARE "UNDRIVING BALLARD...AND BEYOND!"
Woohoo! In 2006, we saved 11,570 car trips together through Ballard in Motion, SB's successful collaboration with King County METRO and the Ballard Chamber of Commerce.
In 2007, Sustainable Ballard dreamed up a new program called "Undriving." This playful initiative encourages neighbors to experiment with getting out of their cars and onto bikes and scooters, into buses and carpools, and walking (not to mention skateboarding, rollerblading, unicycling, dog-team.....the sky's the limit!).
Our working hypothesis is that Undriving can be habit-forming. Many of us are already discovering the joys of Undriving, some of them unexpected: fresh air, exercise, more community connections, being in touch with the elements, saving money, even having more time.
UNDRIVING LAUNCHES AT SUSTAINABLE BALLARD'S FALL FESTIVAL!
At the 4th Annual Sustainable Ballard Festival September 29-30, 2007, we issued 436 Undriver Licenses to people of all ages who made a pledge for the month of October, to drive less in a way that works for them. We also gave each one 10 free bus tickets from our friends at King County METRO! Our Undrive Advisors helped people shape their pledge, and resourceful folks from Cascade Bicycle Club, the Bicycle Alliance, Transportation Choices, and Feet First were on hand to help troubleshoot and offer ideas and resources. In addition we encouraged people to Undrive to get to the Fest - by offering 2 free bus tickets courtesy of King County METRO to anyone who arrived by any other means than car.
While Undrivers were getting licensed, the Festival's Transportation Row was abuzz with activity: the Dutch Bike Company's Conference Bike, a dog scooter, SB's own Shufflebus, and Weston Ross's "chopper" bikes were all wheeling and padding about, while students from Ballard High School demonstrated how to make Biodiesel and people checked out the Solar Washington's Solar Car and other motorized options.
Our follow-up research with Undrivers demonstrated such success that we are now taking our Undriver Licensing Station on the road.
GET LICENSED AT THE UNDRIVER LICENSING STATION!
At the Undriver Licensing Station, you can get your Undriver License in exchange for making a pledge to drive less (in a way that works for you) in the coming month. Your pledge might be to try out commuting by bus or bike several days a week, continue bicycling even when it's raining, form a carpool to a weekly meeting; walk to the Farmers Market or to the grocery store with a rolling cart, establish a mileage limit for the month, commit to not drive in a car alone...maybe even to sell the second car! And If you're already a committed Undriver, that's great - maybe you'd like to pledge to tell five friends or coworkers about the benefits of Undriving! You'll get your pcture taken with the props of your choice (bike helmet, crown, propeller-beanie, etc), and your license will be laminated on the spot. You're good to go - Undrive safely! One of the best parts: there is no age requirement for Undriving - kids can get licensed too. (And don't be afraid to suggest Undriving to your parents - you'll be licensed!)
Where do you find the Undriver Licensing Station? Check out our Calendar of Undriving Events - and watch for more news, as many exciting possibliities are ahead. We are just getting rolling with Undriving!
YOU ARE AN UNDRIVER!
One of the cool things about Undriving is that everyone already knows how to do it. You undrive every time you walk, bike, take the bus, carpool, scooter, or stay home instead of running a non-essential errand. Undrivers commute by bike, walk to the Farmers Market, form a carpool or walk-pool to for different activities, have a car-free day every week....Use your creativity and come up with a pledge for how you'd like to try Undriving! Then keep us posted - let us know what you discover and how many car trips you save.
KEEP UP WITH THE KIDS!
Don't get left behind - catch up with what the kids are already doing. For Bike to School Month in May, 2007, 85 Adams Elementary School students rode their bikes to school instead of coming by car. Together they saved 1500 car trips! And last Occtober, Adams start a bunch of Walking School Buses, one adult walking with five or six kids along each route. Go, Adams, Go!
GET ON BOARD THE UNDRIVING SHUFFLEBUS!
At the Festival, Sustainable Ballard's Fred-Flintstone-styled "Shufflebus" circulated around the grounds. People of all ages stepped on board and kept on stepping - this human-powered "bus" got folks around the Fest, in good company and good spirits. Rep. Jim McDermott, our opening speaker, and "Neighbor Power" advocate Jim Diers, our rousing closing speaker, both took the Shufflebus to get to the stage. The Shufflebus was Inspired by the FeetBus by Feet Theatre, in Australia. It'll be making more ventures around town - you never know where it will turn up next! The Shufflebus was featured in the Seattle P-I and also on Canadian Broadcast Television. 
UNDRIVING SURVEY RESULTS, FROM THE 4th ANNUAL SUSTAINBLE BALLARD FESTIVAL!
We sent out a follow-up survey at the end of the October pledge month, and we got a remarkable 30% response from those we had email addresses for. The results are in! We heard from 83 Intrepid Undrivers who formed carpools, got raingear to bicycle even in the rain, tried bus commuting and found community and less stress, combined dog-walks with grocery trips, started walking the kids to school, and lots more – one person even donated their car! One respondent said, “I felt like we were given permission to raise the issue with others.†Yup - we’re all in this together. 96% of respondents followed through on their pledge, and 70% established a new habit or pattern as a result of the Undriving program. Way to go, Undrivers!
You can peruse the responses here. Click on the “view†tabs and page through all the great stories and comments! Also visit our Undriving website.
SHARE YOUR UNDRIVING STORIES!
We want to hear YOUR Undriving stories. Visit our Undriving blog and tell us about your Undriving experiences, discoveries, epiphanies, and challenges. You can also post your stories here on Sustainable Ballard's wiki-based website. If you've never done this before, fear not! All you need to do is create a login, then hit the "edit" tab on this page and start writing.