Cities where you don't need a car...

[Mblova]

NYC and Philly.

 

[P-K-L]

In theory you do not need a car in Moscow due to the Metro - still I would hate to use it on a daily basis...

 

[RSS]

Originally Posted by binge

I don't even have a valid driver's license.
Bravo! Seriously.

 

[nilshg]

Berlin most definitely, great public transport system that gets you around cheaply and efficiently, plus owning a car is annoying in many areas when it comes to parking (or left-wing activists torching it).
Also, most South-East Asian cities I've been to, driving is just a hassle there and taxis are usually so cheap and ubiquitous that cars aren't necessary. Even more so in cities like Bangkok where a half-decent public transport system exists.

 

[Hannerhan]

You could get by without a car in some areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin, or to a lesser extent here in Fort Worth. But part of the fun of living in Texas is owning a big 4x4 SUV (I have two myself) and driving around like you own the place.

 

[Pezzaturra]

Originally Posted by P-K-L

In theory you do not need a car in Moscow due to the Metro - still I would hate to use it on a daily basis...

If you use Metro during off hours like I do it is not a problem. Rush hour is a no no.

 

[P-K-L]

Originally Posted by Pezzaturra

If you use Metro during off hours like I do it is not a problem. Rush hour is a no no.

Driving the car off rush hours also is no problem

 

[js0930]

Bangkok. Taxes make cars expensive, police "fines" make cars expensive, and once you live here you quickly discover that the sky train, subway and buses can take you anywhere, with motorcycle taxis for the braver among us and taxis for the drunk to get home in. Though I am considering a motorcycle for myself, even though it will probably lead to some serious damage to my body.

 

[juliette2000]

Originally Posted by project2501

Regarding someone's comment about Portland having good public transportation. It is pretty amazing. The light rail, streetcar and bus are all free within the downtown area. In addition, it's also very easy to just walk places as the city blocks are pedestrian friendly. There is an alarming absence of cars driving around downtown even during rush hour. It's a great food city also.

"Alarming absence"?

There are cars aplenty in downtown Portland - heck, the whole metro area - during rush hour. More of an "alarming presence" and certainly no absence. Unfortunately, there's a lot of traffic at pretty much any time, not just rush hour.

 

[JesseJB]

If it was worth visiting, there'd be a train, plane or bus to take me there. I see cities that don't have adequate PT as cities that just don't want younger people around. And all those places are decaying anyways so good riddance.

 

[cncrd]

I really envy you guys in cities/regions in the US where public transportation is not only provided, but embraced by the inhabitants. Most of the South has been a nightmare for urban planners for decades because of the attitude toward public trans of any kind.

No matter how cool they make light rail or any other form of public transportation sound, the popular opinion in most places (outside of very small areas of dense/cool/hip/chic/artsy/whatever highly-focused urban development) seems to be that the only reasons not to drive are because you're too poor, lazy, poor, stupid, or poor to own a car. Also because you're poor. Trains are for poor people in slightly larger cities.

I hope the attitude changes. It was pretty depressing when I worked on task groups for a couple of planning commissions and we kept getting the above responses to potential user surveys. It's hard for a lot of people to shake that attitude. Fun thing about going to DC or Chicago for me is not having to hop from place to place in car all day long.

 

[Hannerhan]

Originally Posted by cncrd

I really envy you guys in cities/regions in the US where public transportation is not only provided, but embraced by the inhabitants. Most of the South has been a nightmare for urban planners for decades because of the attitude toward public trans of any kind.

No matter how cool they make light rail or any other form of public transportation sound, the popular opinion in most places (outside of very small areas of dense/cool/hip/chic/artsy/whatever highly-focused urban development) seems to be that the only reasons not to drive are because you're too poor, lazy, poor, stupid, or poor to own a car. Also because you're poor. Trains are for poor people in slightly larger cities.

I hope the attitude changes. It was pretty depressing when I worked on task groups for a couple of planning commissions and we kept getting the above responses to potential user surveys. It's hard for a lot of people to shake that attitude. Fun thing about going to DC or Chicago for me is not having to hop from place to place in car all day long.

I think it's more a question of density and practicality than anything. If we see sustained high energy prices over the next decade, things will start moving in this area (because people will start moving back toward the city centers). But for now, most cities in the South are spread out enough that it really doesn't make economic sense for people to use mass transit.

I'd love to see light rail in Fort Worth just because I want the cool urban feel of it. But let's face it; there is no real benefit today in terms of efficiency because the population is so spread out. Without exception, it would take me longer to get ANYWHERE by using mass transit. The tipping point is when the density is high enough that people can get around just as easily via train as via car, and most cities in the South aren't there yet.

 

[gastarbeider]

amsterdam. obviously.

btw - living car free is overrated.

 

[ocelot_ark]

One of the reasons I'm planning on moving from rural east texas to manhattan is because I am sick of having to drive everywhere. I spend upwards of $8000 each year right now on car payments/insurance. I should be able to save something like $5000 a year as long as I don't go crazy on taxis. That should help with the extra $15000 I'm estimating in housing costs.

 

[gastarbeider]

Originally Posted by ocelot_ark

One of the reasons I'm planning on moving from rural east texas to manhattan is because I am sick of having to drive everywhere. I spend upwards of $8000 each year right now on car payments/insurance. I should be able to save something like $5000 a year as long as I don't go crazy on taxis. That should help with the extra $15000 I'm estimating in housing costs.

i can think of many, many, many more reasons.