Verona council adopts resolution recognizing Week Without Driving

The Verona City Council on Monday approved Resolution No. 2025-025 recognizing Sept. 29 through Oct. 5, 2025, as the city's Week Without Driving and encouraging residents and decision makers to try the weeklong challenge.

The resolution, moved by Alder Tucker Long and seconded by Alder Swanson, cites federal and county data about the cost of car ownership and local climate goals. "I move that we approve resolution number 20 25 dash 25 recognizing September 29 through 10/05/2025 as week without driving in the city of Verona," Tucker Long said when making the motion. The resolution passed by voice vote.

The measure notes the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics' 2023 estimate that the average cost to own and operate a car was $12,182 and refers to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Dane County findings that transportation accounts for roughly 29% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and Dane County. It encourages residents to try walking, rolling, bicycling or public transit for work, school, errands and social activities for one week to understand barriers faced by non-drivers.

Council members who spoke in support described personal experience with the prior year's challenge. "Participating in this last year really highlighted for me just how overwhelmingly difficult it is to not have a vehicle," Alder Chagalong said, adding she planned to try the challenge again for a longer period.

The resolution is a city proclamation and does not create new regulations or funding. The clerk indicated it had been listed under mayor's business but is recorded as a resolution for the public record.