This year’s Week Without Driving, September 29 to October 5, inspired thousands of people around the country to learn how to navigate their communities without picking up their car keys. In Boulder, not driving comes naturally to many residents of the city’s compact, centrally located, transit-oriented community, Boulder Junction (BJAD).
Boulder Chamber Transportation Connections’ TDM Outreach Specialist (and unofficial “Mayor of Boulder Junction”), Will Shepherd, works directly with BJAD residents, property managers and employers to help everyone in the neighborhood access the transportation benefits available to them through the special taxing district. Through the relationships he has built with Boulder Junction residents, Will and our team have collected several vignettes, featured below, that show how people in the neighborhood are living happily car-free or “car-lite.”
A European lifestyle on Colorado’s Front Range
Raven and her husband Dave relocated to Boulder from Berlin, Germany, earlier this year, and they do not own a car. Moving to the S’Park Meredith House Apartments made that transition surprisingly seamless. Coming from one of Europe’s most transit-friendly cities, they had high expectations for accessibility. “The biggest thing about Berlin is that it’s just so connected,” Raven said. “Now, with the HOP bus circulating around the city just like [we had access to] there, I can’t believe how easy it is” to live car-free in Boulder.
What particularly impresses her is Boulder’s cycling infrastructure. Raven and Dave take full advantage of the BCycle membership that is one of their BJAD transportation benefits, and they love that it is so easy to use the BCycle e-bikes for errands and activities around town.
“I cannot believe that this place has so many bike paths that are separate from the roads,” Raven added. “There are also walkable and bikeable paths that are very wide and accommodating. It’s so bikeable, it begs to be used. I just love the planning. It’s genuinely wonderful, and I can’t believe how well thought out the city is.”
The hidden benefits of walking
Phil, who lives in the S’Park Platform Apartments, has discovered that ditching his car has brought unexpected health advantages, along with financial savings. “I’ve been walking more to stay healthy,” he said. “It does add to my commute, but I’ve been getting better daily steps in and saving money on gas and parking.”
Living in BJAD, Phil has found that everyday errands are accessible by walking. “It’s great living here because I can walk to the grocery store, I can walk to get food, pick up coffee and everything is super close by,” he said. A recent discovery has made his lifestyle even more convenient: “I just learned there’s a bus pass [EcoPass] included in our rent here. I go to the airport every few months and I’ve always been uncomfortable leaving my car parked there and driving in general, so I think it’s great that I can take the bus down there without having the hassle of parking and worrying about my car.”
Reducing car dependency
Rêve Apartments resident Karen represents a growing demographic: older adults thriving without vehicle ownership. “My son asked if I need a car, and I said no I don’t!” Karen recalled. “Everything is very walkable here in the neighborhood, the airport bus is great, and the HOP bus for getting downtown is easy.”
Another Rêve resident, Monica, echoes this sentiment, finding that her car has become more of a burden than a convenience. “I love to walk around the neighborhood with my dog,” she said. “In our building it’s actually more effort to get down to the garage and take the car out than to just walk to any of the other places I want to go.”
Monica’s neighbor Diane enjoys being able to start her journeys at the newly reopened Boulder Junction at Depot Square Station. “I love being the first on the bus so I can get the best seat! Also, I lived in New York for years, so walking is my natural first choice for getting around.”
Year-round commitment
For couple Kaylie and Paul, where to live was driven entirely by their transportation priorities. “We chose to move to the [BJAD] neighborhood so I could walk to work and Paul could be closer to work since he bikes year-round for his commute,” Kaylie explained. The strategic decision has paid off in daily quality of life: “The location is great because we can take the trails to our favorite grocery stores and shopping at 29th Street.”
Even Boulder’s winters don’t deter them from their car-free lifestyle. “We don’t even use our car in the winter unless we really need to because all of the public transportation options or paths are usually pretty clear and nice to use,” Kaylie noted.
A model for the future
These BJAD residents demonstrate that the principles behind the Week Without Driving can form the foundation of a fulfilling, sustainable lifestyle. With thoughtful urban planning, robust public transit, extensive bike infrastructure, and walkable neighborhoods, Boulder Junction shows how American cities can create environments where cars become optional rather than essential.
As conversations about climate change, public health, and urban livability intensify nationwide, Boulder’s car-free and “car-lite” residents offer living proof that alternatives to automobile dependency are upgrades to daily life.
*This article was written with the assistance of Claude AI and was revised and edited by our staff for accuracy, readability and flow. All quotes were collected directly from the BJAD residents named here.