Take the Challenge: Join Us for a Week Without Driving!

Think about your daily trip to campus. For many of us, the default is to hop in a car. It’s convenient, it’s what we know, but what if we challenged ourselves to try something different? What would we learn about our community, our environment, and ourselves?

From September 29th to October 5th, 2025, we’re excited to be supporting Transit Matters Charlottetown in their annual Week Without Driving campaign, and we’re encouraging the entire UPEI community to get involved!

What is the Week Without Driving?

It’s a simple but powerful idea: a week-long challenge where we consciously try to use alternatives to driving alone. This means embracing public transportation, digging your bike out of storage, putting on your walking shoes, or coordinating a carpool.

The goal isn’t about perfection; it’s about reflection. It’s a chance to step back and see how much we rely on our cars and to understand the real-world experiences of those who rely on other forms of transportation every day.

Why This Challenge Matters

At its heart, this campaign is about building a more sustainable and equitable community.

For Our Planet: Transportation is a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions. Every bus ride taken, every trip made by bike, and every walk to campus is a small but meaningful step toward reducing our collective carbon footprint.

For Our Community: Not everyone has access to a car. This week is an exercise in empathy, helping us understand the challenges and opportunities related to Charlottetown’s public transit and active transportation networks. It highlights the need for a system that works for everyone.

For You: You might be surprised by the benefits! Walking and cycling are fantastic for your physical and mental health. You might save money on gas and parking, or discover a new favourite coffee shop on your new route to campus.

How You Can Participate

Getting involved is easy, and you can participate in a way that works for you.

Take the Pledge: Try to go the entire week (or even just a few days!) without driving. See what it’s like to navigate your schedule using the bus, your bike, or your feet.

Share Your Story: This is the most important part! We want to see and hear about your experiences. Post a photo or a thought from your journey on social media. What was easy? What was a challenge? What did you notice? Use the hashtag #WeekWithoutDrivingPEI so we can all follow along.

Spread the Word: Even if you can’t fully participate, you can help by talking about the campaign and encouraging others. Look for our posters on campus and share our posts on social media!

This is a chance to come together as a campus and have a real conversation about the future of transportation in our city. We can't wait to see your stories.

To learn more about the initiative, visit the official page at Transit Matters Charlottetown.