Nearly one-third of eligible residents in the United States do not have a driver's license. An even larger share of the population likely lives without driving for various reasons, including disability, aging, financial constraints, or anxiety related to driving. Given the substantial size of this population, their perspectives and needs should be more fully integrated into transportation planning and policy. This study explores how these nondrivers meet their mobility needs and the travel barriers they encounter, drawing on in-depth interviews with 163 nondriving residents (with greater representation of people with disabilities) and a follow-up Transportation Security Index (TSI) survey with 67 nondrivers in Washington State. The interviews revealed that public transit and walking or rolling were the predominant means of transportation among nondrivers. The most frequently reported barriers included a lack of reliable transit services and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. The TSI survey results highlighted both the prevalence and severity of transportation insecurity within this group, calling for greater attention to this issue. Overall, framing nondrivers as a collective and distinct population group provides a more inclusive and representative basis for advocating policy changes and infrastructure investments that improve the mobility of those living without driving. • Nondrivers are a distinct and diverse population needing focused policy attention. • Transportation insecurity is both prevalent and severe for nondrivers. • Public transit and walking or rolling are the most common modes for nondrivers. • Key barriers include unreliable transit service and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. • Expanding transit access and pedestrian networks can improve nondrivers' mobility.
Lee et al. (Tue,) studied this question.