Getting from Here to There without Your Car

By Amy Brewer & Kevin Batson - Apr 25, 2024

We need to go to the grocery store, the pharmacy, the library or the sports field. Our “Car Culture” makes it so easy to hop into the car for all our transportation needs without even thinking about it. Let’s stop for a moment and see if together we can change the way we choose to use our cars and pivot to something different. We all have different important reasons for wanting to decrease our solo driving in cars; it’s increasingly expensive, emissions are harmful to our earth, we may not have access to a working car, we may want the health benefit of people-powered transportation. Whatever your reason, here are a few ideas to get you moving down the path of transportation without solely relying on a car.

Benefits of People Powered Transportation

To boost your health without even having to “exercise,” walking and biking are simple, easy and often delightful forms of transportation. There is no carbon emission, no fuel source, and often it can help you slow down and see the community in a new and different way. It even helps combat stress and helps boost your mood! The Town of Williston works hard to fill in its sidewalk and bike infrastructure gaps. For many neighborhoods, especially north of the Interstate, you CAN get there from here. For many, it is not necessarily a direct route, and it may take longer. But you can generally find a safe route and the more you do it, the greater the health benefits. You’ll be crushing that recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week in no time – without even trying!

Dividing your Trip Between the Car and Walking/Biking

Can’t walk/bike from where you live? Try driving part way to a central location and walking/biking the rest of the way! Taft Corners, Finney Crossing, and the Village Center have sidewalks and rec paths throughout as well as pedestrian crossing signals across Routes 2, and 2A and N. Williston Rd. You can even connect from the Village/WCS/Village Park to Taft Corners through the Southridge Neighborhood. It’s marked, but you might want to keep your eyes peeled for the signs the first couple of times you travel through.

Electric Bike - Move Further and Faster

The increased availability and affordability of electric bikes (e-Bikes) can help many folks move around or move further. They can even help you get to where you’re going without the sweat. Scooters, skateboards and others might be your wheeled device of choice. Please remember, however, that a helmet is a great way to protect your brain and be sure to obey all the rules of the road.

Trains and Buses Instead of the Automobile

Riding the bus or a train for a longer trip are also great forms of transportation that only get more economical and better for the environment the more folks use them. Williston is fortunate to have regular Green Mountain Transit (GMT) bus service that connects us to S. Burlington (University Mall/Dorset St.) and Burlington (UVM, Champlain College, and Church St.). Bus #10 connects Taft Corners with Essex Junction and the Essex Experience and Bus #2 connects Essex Junction (Amtrak Station) to Winooski, UVM Medical Center and Downtown Burlington. 

To avoid the perpetual parking headaches of Burlington, you could try parking at (or walking or biking to) the Amtrak Station in Essex Junction and taking the bus. It’s very frequent, direct and easy. 

You can also take the GMT Link Commuter bus (Route 86) to Waterbury and Montpelier from the Park and Rides in Williston and Richmond. For more on that, visit www.ridegmt.com.

If you work, shop and/or like to visit any of those areas, the bus can get you there. Does it involve a bit more planning than driving yourself? Yes, it does. Do you have to go and come back on the GMT/Amtrak schedule? Yes. Can you read a book, listen to music, catch up on work/emails, or even zone out while you’re traveling? Yes – you can! And it’s not all or nothing. You can do some modes of travel sometimes and try others at other times. Even adding in some of these options a day or two a week has great benefits all the way around.

If you’re trying them out but finding barriers such as sidewalks/rec paths in disrepair, missing bus stop signs, or other challenges, reach out to your town or GMT so they can keep track of changes or upkeep needed.

There is opportunity for all of us to try moving around without cars to get from here to there and back again. The more we all do it, the greater the benefits to both the community and to ourselves and the more the community will be designed to support it. We look forward to seeing you out there!

To participate in Williston’s energy future, reach out to your Williston Energy Committee at energy@willistonvt.org or attend a public meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The agenda for upcoming meetings is posted on the Town of Williston website (www.town.williston.vt.us). For more information, visit: https://www.willistonvtenergycommittee.org.