Our wildly successful City for Life event series is back! Are you an elected official or professional working in planning or policy? Email [email protected] to learn more about attending this free policy session.
Join us for an engaging policy session with Anna Zivarts, a nationally recognized leader in transportation equity and accessibility from Seattle, as she challenges you to reimagine how our cities and systems serve those who can’t or don’t drive.
Anna Zivarts, a low-vision parent and author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024), brings firsthand insight and international expertise to the urgent need for more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable transportation systems. Through her advocacy, research, and popular #WeekWithoutDriving campaign, Anna has ignited a powerful conversation about who is left behind in car-centric planning and how prioritizing involuntary nondrivers can benefit everyone.
In this session, we’ll explore:
- What it means to centre the needs of nondrivers in transportation and urban planning
- How car dependency intersects with public health, climate resilience, and social equity
- Real-world examples of communities and policies moving toward accessible, multimodal systems
- Actionable steps for planners, engineers, and elected officials to begin reshaping priorities
Whether you’re designing streets, shaping transit policy, or approving development plans, this session will challenge and inspire you to envision communities that are safer, healthier, and more connected — for all.
Itinerary – Friday September 12, 2025:
- 8:30 AM: Doors Open – Opportunity to network and grab a beverage, pastry and fresh fruit
- 9:15 AM: Session Begins
- 10:30 AM: Session Ends
Event Organizers
This session is hosted by Paths for People and Edmonton Transit Riders, two volunteer-run non-profit organizations in Edmonton that are working to make transportation options safe, convenient and accessible for everyone.
Thank you to our event sponsors:
- Edmonton Transit Services
- University of Alberta’s School of Urban and Regional Planning and Sustainability Council