Press Release: Author and Disability Advocate Anna Zivarts Illuminates Tucson’s Deadly Car Dependency in Book Tour Stop
Contact Info:
Emily Yetman, Executive Director
Living Streets Alliance
AUTHOR AND DISABILITY ADVOCATE ANNA ZIVARTS ILLUMINATES TUCSON’S DEADLY CAR DEPENDENCY IN BOOK TOUR STOP
Tucson, AZ (September 10, 2024) – Living Streets Alliance (LSA) is proud to host bestselling author, disability advocate, and former Tucsonan, Anna Zivarts as she stops in Tucson promoting her new book, When Driving is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency.
Tucsonans are invited to meet Zivarts at a Social Hour & Book Signing event that will take place at the Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition space (311 E. 7th Street) on Friday, September 13 from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. RSVP is required, as space is limited. Register at bit.ly/AnnaZivarts.
During this event, Zivarts will explain that when the needs of involuntary nondrivers are viewed as essential to how we design our transportation systems and our communities, not only will we be able to more easily get where we need to go, but the changes will lead to healthier, climate-friendly communities for everyone.
It can be easy to assume that everyone in the United States drives given the auto dominance in American culture. But the reality is much different. By one measure, one-third of Americans – around 110 million people – do not drive. Many involuntary nondrivers, including disabled, lower income, and elderly people, are marginalized, resulting in a driver-centric mobility system with health, environmental, and quality-of-life costs for all of us.
When Driving is Not an Option shines a light on the frustrating, dangerous, and sometimes deadly situations involuntary nondrivers face every day and outlines steps to center the voices of nondrivers and make transportation more inclusive. The divergent realities between nondrivers and drivers are especially stark in Tucson, a city like many in the US, where transportation and mobility infrastructure largely benefit cars and drivers. Public transportation is infrequent, inconsistent, and many bus stops do not have basic components like shade, or structures to protect riders from the weather or to rest comfortably while they wait.
The most urgent reality for nondrivers in Tucson is the city’s ranking as the third deadliest metro area in the US for people walking. Tucson jumped from 13th deadliest in the nation to third within the last two years, according to the Dangerous By Design 2024 report from Smart Growth America.
The challenges for nondrivers that are highlighted in When Driving is Not an Option and the findings in Dangerous by Design are intricately linked. Creating more welcoming mobility systems for nondrivers has a domino effect; making roads more welcoming for nondrivers inherently makes them safer for everyone, and even reduces the number of cars on the roads.
Envision a multi-modal Tucson with LSA and Anna Zivarts on September 13, 2024 from 7-8p at the Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition space at 311 E 7th St. RSVP required as space is limited. Register at bit.ly/AnnaZivarts.
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About the Author
Anna Zivarts is a low-vision parent, nondriver and author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024). Anna created the #WeekWithoutDriving challenge and is passionate about bringing the voices of nondrivers to the planning and policy-making tables. Anna sits on the boards of the League of American Bicyclists, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium and the Washington State Transportation Innovation Council. She also serves as a member of TRB's Committee on Public Health and Transportation (AME70) and the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center Coordinating Committee.
About Living Streets Alliance
Living Streets Alliance (LSA) is a Tucson nonprofit organization working to transform our streets into vibrant public places that bring people together and provide safe, accessible, and attractive transportation options. Learn more about other ways that LSA is promoting healthy, dignified, sustainable transportation in Tucson through outreach, education, and advocacy at www.livingstreetsalliance.org.