“As someone who can’t drive and loves to be outside walking, running and biking, there is a real lack of awareness of how difficult it is to get to ‘outdoor’ opportunities without a car. Kimberly has tapped into a deep need here, both for those of us who don’t have other options, and those who want to recreate more sustainably. And after joining her in one of her Transit Treks, I can tell you she is a super organized planner who doesn’t leave any detail, from where to recharge batteries to where to find a good beer, unconsidered. I can’t wait to use these treks to access new and beautiful places throughout our state and our country!”

— Anna Zivarts, Seattle

Crowdfunding for Transit Trekker is here! Your contribution will support the completion of The Transit Trekker Manual: Washington State, the first guide to car-free recreation for the state of Washington. This is your chance to contribute to my work and get some sweet premiums while being a part of getting this thing off the presses, into your hands, and into many more hands.

I have invested a lot of personal time and resources in researching and writing and I knew self-publishing would be a lot of work. Even so, I underestimated what it would take. So I am asking for your help.

MORE THAN A TRAVEL GUIDE

The Transit Trekker Manual is a different kind of travel guide. It’s part manual and part manifesto — a travel guide with a mission to make it easier for everyone to get to outdoor destinations by transit now, and to engage its readers to advocate for rural mobility so that our transportation system better serves not just recreational travelers but also serves rural residents. The value of a truly connected transportation system that serves all communities well cannot be overstated in terms of overall wellbeing, climate justice, better public health, less traffic violence, and the potential to strengthen local economies. (You can read more here and here.)

WHAT YOUR SUPPORT DOES

Your financial support will help make the manual a reality! Your contribution will go toward hiring a copy editor;  transportation and travel to complete featured trip guides; office supplies; software costs; living expenses; and other associated costs. More questions? See the FAQ below.

Note! Sales tax will be added at the point of sale for all tiers — except the Donate option. (Here’s why.) All tiers including the donation tier will receive brief twice monthly updates on progress.

INVEST NOW

FAQ

So the Transit Trekker Manual is about more than just transit? 

Yes! I focus on using transit to get to destinations or to get closer to destinations that are reachable within reasonable walking or rolling distance. A few itineraries are bicycle-centric and many include bicycle-friendly options.

What is this Transit Trekker Information Kiosk?

The kiosk is a place for you to ask all your questions about Transit Trekking. Look to the manual for specific itineraries and details. Visit the kiosk for general advice, suggestions, brainstorming — anything related to car-free or transit-based recreation or rural transit that you want to talk about. If I can’t give you helpful answers, I will do my best to point you in a worthwhile direction. The kiosk will generally be open on a remote basis with the ability to schedule visits in advance. I might offer IRL sessions at some point.

Where else will the revenue from crowdfunding go?

Anything left over will reimburse personal funds I’ve already used to produce the manual or will go into producing the next manual, featuring a different U.S. state or region.

What’s the Mini Manual? 

The Mini Manual is an abbreviated, limited edition of The Transit Trekker Manual, featuring quick guides to some of the featured trips that appear in the Manual. 

Tell me more about the launch party?

I expect the launch party to be at a Seattle-area location in a covered but open-air space that provides lots of ventilation that is kid-friendly and accessible within easy reach of frequent transit and decent cycling routes. It will be a simple affair with some catered snacks and non-alcoholic beverages and, hopefully, a local mobility justice luminary or two. I might offer a similar online/remote launch event; TBD. 

Do you offer refunds?

Nope! I’m confident I’ll get a great tool into everyone’s hands. But, just like with a formal crowdfunding platform, when you support the project with money you are taking a risk. You should only support this work if you are comfortable with that risk — life happens and there are no guarantees. But know that I am committed to meeting the promises I’m making here. I expect to fulfill premiums by the first quarter of 2024, or sooner. Update: yup, behind schedule with the mini-manual but working on it!

I’m having a tech or other issue I need help with. 

If you feel certain the issue is something I can address, please use the contact form linked later in this answer. I will prioritize addressing any issues. Use this form — and please provide as much detail as possible, including the kind of device, operating system, and basic details of the issue. 

I wasn’t charged any tax. Is that OK?

I was overly optimistic about the ease of my chosen platform handling sales tax. This means that if you didn’t get charged sales tax, I will need to calculate it from your contribution and pay the appropriate jurisdiction. Fun times (/s) for me, but nothing you need act on. It just means that a portion of your contribution will go to sales tax. Edited to add: However, if you made a donation rather than “purchasing” a tier, you did not need to pay any sales tax.