Lisa Varley's fundraiser for Local Motion

Before the advent of Uber, getting to work without access to a car was tough. Options for traveling to work were:

1)  Walk 8 miles = 2 hours on good days, 3 hours if poor weather. Too trecharous to walk to work in icy conditions.

2)  Ride a bike = 30 minutes. Try not to get hit by cars or pop wheels on broken glass when approaching main roads. Cannot ride to work in the winter.

3)  Carpool with a family member = 15 minutes. This is the only reliable option when there's ice and snow outside. However, you have to be dropped off at 6 am and sit in the break room for 7 hours before your shift begins, because that's the only time your family member is available for a ride.

4)  PACE bus = 1 hour. Hope the PACE bus arrives as scheduled and doesn't skip your stop.

5)  Taxi = 20 minutes or more. Pay a minimum of $30 for 8 miles. The Taxi driver might take an extended route to increase the fare.

When you live near the poverty line, traveling from point A to B is a daily struggle. 

In addition, no access to a car kept me isolated from jobs that paid over $10/hour, even though I'm a scientist by trade and had a bachelors degree. But most industry laboratories could only be reached by car, limiting what I could apply for. Wthout a co-signer, I wouldn't be approved to a take out a loan for a used car, leading to a circular cycle that was difficult to escape from.

That's why I support Local Motion's mission for transportation equity Over the last 10 years, they have advocated for policies which provide better transportation options and safety for pedestrians. At Columbia City Council Meetings to State-level events, they push policies aimed at building:

- pedestrian friendly intersections

- pedestrian bridges

- rail-to-trail upgrades

- seperate car and bike lanes on roads

- traffic calming measures

-  and expanding bus route networks

Everyone deserves transportation to a job that pays a livable wage. Please donate today!