As the July Fourth holiday approaches, I’d like to get a little patriotic on you.

I think many people would agree that Freedom and Independence are strong American values.  Who doesn’t want to be able to do what they want, when they want?  Who doesn’t want to be able to voice their opinion, show their support for an important cause, or dance in the streets?

And isn’t Freedom and Independence about having Choices?  And the Freedom to choose between as many options as you can?

That’s what getDowntown is trying to do out here, people!

I think many of us would agree we would rather not be a slave to our cars.  Instead, we would all like to be able to come and go as we please, regardless of if our car breaks down, we can no longer afford gas, etc.

That’s where getDowntown and programs like ours come in.  Because isn’t it nice to know that should your car break down, you’re not completely stranded?  And for the most part, no one really is.

If you live close to work in Ann Arbor  (like I do) if you don’t have your car, you can still bus, bike and walk.  You can even call up a friend or neighbor and hitch a ride with them.

If you don’t live close to work (like many of you do), that’s no reason to be a slave to your car.  Many people who commute find people to carpool with.  And all it takes is going on a rideshare website or talking to some of your friends, co-workers and neighbors.

And then you’re all set.  You can get anywhere you need to go using all sorts of transportation.  Which seems pretty nice to me.

That’s why I can’t understand why people are so hesitant to at least know their options.  Knowing that you could perhaps take the bus to work if your car breaks down seem like a nice safety net to me.  But it’s not always easy to get people to think about it, or even care, until they have to.

But I’ll tell you this.  There are lots of people living in Ann Arbor that know the Freedom and Independence that comes with knowing your options.  They know how to use the bus system (if they have to do so).  They have a Zipcar account.  They have a bike, just in case.  And they know a couple of friends or co-workers they can call in case they need a ride.  They’ve moved from being auto-dependent to auto-independent.

When you are auto-independent, you don’t have to be a slave to your car.  You can come and go as you please, with or without your car, and save money and get exercise at the same time.  Doesn’t that sound nice?

And all it takes is just a little effort on your part.  Can you try a different way to get to work one time a month?  Can you think of a list of people you might be able to share rides with every now and then?  On the more challenging front, can you consider living closer to where you work?  I know this one is hard for many people right now, but maybe it’s something you could think about.

Finally, as many of us know, sometimes our Freedom and Independence can be taken away.  Even if we don’t take advantage of every freedom we have, no one really likes to think about one of them being taken away.  So even if you never use the bus, or get on a bike, why not support these options?  If not for you, than for those in the world who only have freedom if they have these options.  Do it for the elderly, for those with disabilities, for teens, and for those who can’t stand the thought of harming the environment without reason.

Maybe you feel like you are a slave to your car and that pisses you off.  Well know that there are organizations out there that can advocate for you (including this one).  Let them, and your elected officials know how you feel.

So this July Fourth as you enjoy the weekend, remember all of those things that make America (and this region) great.  And perhaps spend a moment or two to think about how transportation fits into that picture.