Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance is a combination of drivers and non-drivers who want transit for all. An estimated 31% of the state’s population in 2024 was non-driver. Non-driving populations include aging adults, youths, low-income individuals, those with physical, mental or intellectual/developmental disabilities, and those who prefer not to drive. In 2020 the Wisconsin Department of Transportation created a Non-Driver Advisory Committee, saying that This diverse committee identifies transportation barriers for non-drivers and develops recommendations to reduce these challenges and improve mobility for all travelers in Wisconsin.

Juxtaposing DMV and Census data, it had found that non-drivers are located across the state, in every county — including in both urban and rural areas. Alhough some people might associate non-driver populations with urban areas, an article that came out in 2024 depicts a non-driver scene easily reflective of rural Wisconsin.

While showing the widespread distribution of non-drivers throughout Wisconsin, the map above also shows a product of WisDOT research staff’s development of an ArcGIS interactive mapping tool designed … to assist in understanding … where non-drivers are located in Wisconsin. Estimates range from 10-20% to 40+% of the population, the deeper the green, the higher the estimate. Although we show a county-level map, the tool goes down to the level of cities, villages, towns, U.S. Census Tracts, and U.S. Census Block Groups.

A campaign designed to highlight attention to the plight of non-drivers in our society has been the Week Without Driving event in the Fall. The event was started in 2021 in Washington State by Disability Rights – Washington. Two years later, the campaign was extended nationwide by America Walks. Wisconsin has participated in this campaign since it went nationwide, and State Senator Ratcliff issued a Citation of Commendation for the Week Wihout Driving in 2025. Going even further now, the national campaign has a life of its own.

Also beginning in 2026, there is forming a nationwide Non-Driver Alliance. That Alliance is changing as this is being written. Come back for more.

Page Last Updated March 11, 2026