WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Officials with NAOMI want residents of the Wausau area to put themselves in the shoes of someone without access to a reliable vehicle for three days in November.
The Greater Wausau Metro Area Transit Challenge will run from November 13th-15th with the goal of educating the public on some of the struggles that those without cars go through every day. Cheng Khang is the community organizer for NAOMI, he says he hopes the challenge helps people better understand what it’s like to rely on public transportation. “There’s a population here in the City of Wausau that depends on the transit and the bussing issue.”
Those issues include the limited route service of Wausau Metro Ride and the fact that the buses currently can’t run outside of city limits, leaving industrial areas such as Schofield and Rothschild along with the retail stores at Rib Mountain out of the question for some.
Khang says the challenge involves filling out a diary for each day documenting details of how participants got around without their cars. That includes taking city buses, taxi cabs, or calling friends and family for a ride. “If you had to call four people before you got a ride to where you wanted to go, we want you to put that down in the journal so we can have real-life examples of how transit affects you.”
Those who do have to utilize a cab can be reimbursed for the fare for up to $50 for taking part. Additionally, a monthly bus pass for Wausau Metro Ride will be provided to anyone taking part.
In the end, the group will compile the date from the diaries into a presentation early next year about the struggles of public transportation. Khang says he hopes to invite local and state lawmakers to that event to speak with those who took part about how they had to get creative to get around without their vehicle.
Participants are still being accepcted if you’d like more information on how to sign up you are encouraged to visit the NAOMI Facebook Page.
