September is Transit Month
September is Transit Month! CRTP celebrated with events and public education about the crucial role public transit plays in supporting our local economy, our local communities, and our local environment. Events included:
- Ride Contest. Twenty-six local transit riders logged 602 transit trips totaling almost 5,000 miles during the month of September as part of our local Ride Contest. Congratulations to riders Jon O, Bestofthebus, and OS for winning great prizes donated by the Humboldt Transit Authority!
- A public talk on protecting transit’s role in multi-racial inclusive democracy. This talk by Laurel Paget-Seekins discussed how the Trump administration’s attack on multi-racial inclusive democracy is impacting public transit and what we can do in California to protect and strengthen transit.
- Bus Driver Meet & Greet. Humboldt Transit Authority bus drivers joined CRTP at Friends of the Eel River’s monthly Solidarity Gathering. They answered a lot of great questions about our local transit system and what it’s like to drive the bus around Humboldt. Special thanks to AFSCME Local 1684 for co-sponsoring this event.
- Transit Rider Gathering. Local riders and transit supporters gathered to strategize about how to protect transit service from impending funding cuts.
- Transit Ride-Alongs.Several bus riders led local decision-makers on a typical transit trip, providing first-hand insights into the experiences of local bus riders.
October Kicked Off with the Week Without Driving
What if you couldn’t drive? What if taking the bus, riding a bike, walking or asking for rides weren’t a choice you could make, but a necessity? What would it be like getting around without driving yourself?
For people who can drive, and can afford a car, this isn’t something you think about. But for people with disabilities, young people, seniors and people who can’t afford cars or gas — this is their every day.
To help local residents and decision-makers understand the experiences of non-drivers, CRTP and Tri-County Independent Living host the National Week Without Driving in Humboldt County.
Here is what it means to participate in the Week Without Driving:
- Participate for as much of the week as you can. If that’s one day, great! If it’s the whole week, even better!
- You can get around however you want, but the challenge is not to drive yourself in any car. If you end up driving, you won’t get in any trouble. We just ask that you reflect on why you ended up driving, and what you would have done if you didn’t have that option.
- The Week Without Driving applies to all your activities — not just your work commute. If you normally transport other family members or friends, it applies to those trips too.
- You can ask someone else to drive you, but make a note of how much you “owe” this person in their time, and if you felt obligated to support them in other ways. You can use taxis or ride hail if they exist where you need to go, but again, think about how the cost could impact your decision to take this trip if this was regularly your only option.
- We’ll provide you with prompts during the week to reflect on what you’re learning. We strongly encourage you to share your reflections with CRTP, with your community, and with other participants in the Week Without Driving.
- This isn’t a disability simulation or a test of how easily you can find alternatives. We know that it is far easier to give up your keys if you can afford to live in a walkable area well served by transit, or can outsource your driving and other transport and delivery needs to other people. Having to drive does not signify failure. The point is to consider how someone without that option would have coped, and what choices they might have made.
The 2026 Week Without Driving ran from Thursday, October 1st through Thursday, October 8th.
How have participants done in the past, and what did they learn?
