Your letters: Writer encourages public to learn about public transportation benefits

As a former Wausau City Council member who was on the Metro Transit Commission, as well as Finance, Wausau Housing Authority, CISM and Wausau Historic Landmark Commission, I have recently become a member of the board of directors for the Wisconsin Transit Riders.

Here are some things happening in the next few days/weeks that you might want to connect with – things happening in transit around our state. We in Wausau can learn from other municipalities that are decades ahead of us in transit around the state.

Week Without Driving* is coming up Sept. 30 through Oct. 6. This is a great opportunity to get conversations started about how transportation policies, priorities and budgets help or hinder equity and access to a full life. This week we also promote better public transit for health and safety, environment, community and family finances, and climate action.

Please sign up to take the WWD Challenge at https://weekwithoutdriving.org and invite your city or town council member, your county board reps, and other community leaders to sign up, too.

*Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. online. As part of WWD, the La Crosse Public Library will host an online book chat with Anna Zivarts, WWD organizer and disability rights advocate, about her new book “When Driving is Not an Option – Steering Away from Car Dependency.” (https://islandpress.org/books/when-driving-not-option#desc). The program is free and open to all no matter where you live. More information and registration for a Zoom link is here: When Driving Is Not an Option: A Virtual Panel on Steering Away from Car Dependency

Debra Ryan of Wausau

Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email [email protected] or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403.