Cities or towns where you don't need a car

Don't focus solely on public transportation, there are alternatives. Lift, Uber, taxi, private drivers, I live rual but see a couple of senior citizen shuttle vans running people around, which is a free benefit for the community.
 
Freezing my tail standing at bus stops as a teen-ager forever has made me want to never be dependent on public transportation.

When I can no longer drive, I will move into an old folks home.
 

dilettante said:
Small towns used to be far more viable. Sadly many of their few remaining local businesses are hanging by a thread. Large consolidated national chains have pretty much wiped them out and those chains have little interest in operating a small town presence where profit margins are too low to satisfy Wall Street.
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Agree...and I live in a small town.
 
Candi1 said:
And San Francisco is the second most expensive city to live in in the U.S. (second only I believe to be Hawaii). Plus the crime in San Francisco is even worse than here in N.Y. I've been to San Francisco twice and it used to be a beautiful city.....not so any more.
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I am a former resident of San Francisco, and now live across the Bay In Marin. There are areas in San Francisco, generally frequented by tourists, where I would NEVER park a car. Leaving a locked car with a package on a seat is an invitation to break a window. There is a neighborhood where some residents leave parked cars with an open trunk lid to reassure the thieves there is nothing worth stealing.
 
The walk score for my address is 96.

Walker’s Paradise​

Daily errands do not require a car.
96 Walk Score of 41 Prince Street Paterson NJ 07505


64 Transit Score of 41 Prince Street Paterson NJ 07505

Good Transit​

Many nearby public transportation options.


53 Bike Score of 41 Prince Street Paterson NJ 07505

Bikeable​

Some bike infrastructure.

The walk score site gives information about what transportation and amenities are available for whatever address or neighborhood you input. The site also provides information about housing in the city you enter.
https://www.walkscore.com/score/

Here is a list of cities with great transit scores. Keep scrolling for a list of more cities and their walk/transit scores.
https://www.walkscore.com/cities-and-neighborhoods/
 
OneEyedDiva said:
The walk score for my address is 96.

Walker’s Paradise​

Daily errands do not require a car.
96 Walk Score of 41 Prince Street Paterson NJ 07505


64 Transit Score of 41 Prince Street Paterson NJ 07505

Good Transit​

Many nearby public transportation options.


53 Bike Score of 41 Prince Street Paterson NJ 07505

Bikeable​

Some bike infrastructure.

The walk score site gives information about what transportation and amenities are available for whatever address or neighborhood you input. The site also provides information about housing in the city you enter.
https://www.walkscore.com/score/

Here is a list of cities with great transit scores. Keep scrolling for a list of more cities and their walk/transit scores.
https://www.walkscore.com/cities-and-neighborhoods/
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What part of New Jersey do you live in? Even though I pretty much decided to stay in New York, New Jersey might still be an option.
 
My female cousin moved to NYC, back in 1965 . @ that time she had a Corvair convertible , she sold it [after a year of it sitting in a parking garage] and never drove again . i asked her why, she said she just didn't need to drive any longer, and her parking spot was worth a good price, and the Corvair was just sitting anyway. She got top $$ for it, as they were worth more up there.

We're not close, but as far as I know, she never drove again. She's now 81, and a true N/Yorker .
 
Candi1 said:
I currently live in NYC and am researching areas to retire that are walkable to supermarkets, pharmacies, public libraries, etc. I don't drive, never had, and it seems most affordable cities, towns outside of New York are car dependent. Any suggestions out there?
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I apologize for my first response. I didn't give any suggestions, only a related story. Sorry but I really have no suggestions. Except to say, in most towns if you live "in" there should be some convenience . Even here in my little village , if ya live just a mile closer than I to town-center, many restaurants, bars, coffee shops ,etc. can be walked to. And on-line grocery shopping is available from three stores. Kroger, Meijer, and now Aldi. The local Walgreen's does not deliver [they say a staff shortage prevents it] ? I am considering calling the other two in the area and ask.
 
rgp said:
In most towns if you live "in" there should be some convenience . Even here in my little village , if ya live just a mile closer than I to town-center, many restaurants, bars, coffee shops ,etc. can be walked to. And on-line grocery shopping is available from three stores. Kroger, Meijer, and now Aldi. The local Walgreen's does not deliver [they say a staff shortage prevents it] ? I am considering calling the other two in the area and ask.
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I agree, RGP. These days, people can manage without driving in most US small towns through large cities.

A dear friend in her early 70s in San Diego gave up driving a couple of years ago due to eye issues. Between relocating to a condo very near a large shopping center with all manner of stores, taking advantage of Amazon & other home deliveries, learning the the local public transportation system, hiring Uber/Lyft when necessary, and taking Greyhound buses for travel farther away, she manages nearly as well as she did when driving.

Before seeing how she'd adapted, I'd feared the day when DH & I might have to give up driving. She's living proof that independence is possible with or without a car in the driveway.
 
Yeah, basic independence is possible, @StarSong but life is more fun and spontaneous and convenient WITH a car. You wouldn't believe how many shopping centers with big parking lots now available in Big Apple.

To go to my favorite small park by bus would take me 90 minutes. By car, 15 or 20.
 
Pepper said:
Yeah, basic independence is possible, @StarSong but life is more fun and spontaneous and convenient WITH a car
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Well it’s more fun for some people—not me; I absolutely hate drving (and am terrible at it anyway)—but all that ends with the fender-bender that takes your license away. And let’s face it: doesn’t matter who you are, if you live long enough that will happen.
 
Pepper said:
Yeah, basic independence is possible, but life is more fun and spontaneous and convenient WITH a car. You wouldn't believe how many shopping centers with big parking lots now available in Big Apple.

To go to my favorite small park by bus would take me 90 minutes. By car, 15 or 20.
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No doubt you're right. My point is that when driving isn't possible, cobbling together local shopping options along with public and private transportation offers independence. Sure it takes her longer to get places. But she gets there, undaunted. Her attitude is admirable and inspiring.
 
You can get most places in a small/medium city. I walk lots and am content to only use the nearby stores most of the time. I use bus services that are great in the summer, maybe not so much fun waiting in the winter. Taxis and Ubers add up quickly, even if only a few miles. It’s when you need to go any distance that costs can escalate. We’re thankful that we chose to live in a core area of the city.
 
StarSong said:
I agree, RGP. These days, people can manage without driving in most US small towns through large cities.

A dear friend in her early 70s in San Diego gave up driving a couple of years ago due to eye issues. Between relocating to a condo very near a large shopping center with all manner of stores, taking advantage of Amazon & other home deliveries, learning the the local public transportation system, hiring Uber/Lyft when necessary, and taking Greyhound buses for travel farther away, she manages nearly as well as she did when driving.

Before seeing how she'd adapted, I'd feared the day when DH & I might have to give up driving. She's living proof that independence is possible with or without a car in the driveway.
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Well, ........ I might give it up voluntarily , other than the bank & drug store, I really don't need to drive. And yes I know the bank can easily be switched to electronic. And I'm sure I can find some solution to the drug store, I just haven't looked hard enough.

I just can't be away from home that long anyway .... my bladder calls ;) . And after traveling by motorcycle all over the country, doing it in my truck would fail miserably !! even if I could do it.

My neighbors would love it , the ones on each side have "hinted" about parking here anyway. The street gets crowded .... all the little kids are now teens , and drive . So 4-5 cars p/house is becoming the norm.
 
David777 said:
Start by looking at the city chart on this web page:

https://www.governing.com/archive/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html

Those with high numbers of people without vehicles will have more public transportation.

The below link has a rating listing for public transportation of larger cities that also includes average market rental prices:

https://www.redfin.com/blog/us-cities-with-the-best-public-transportation/

The chart shows Philadelphia has both great transportation and lower cost rentals. In any case, any senior planning to live in a city via public transportation may find desirable, safe, walkable, residential rentals are also expensive despite average market rental prices.

I visit San Francisco frequently. News media descriptions of crime in the city usually fail to mention there are plenty of sections of that city that are relatively safe and that crime ridden areas tend to be concentrated in some downtown, tourist, and historically poor areas. That noted, it is also true that residential rentals have also become expensive over the last 2 decades since it is such an exceptionally desirable place to live...if one can afford it.
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So expensive Sanfran has its own minimum, which is higher. At least it did.
 
Candi1 said:
I would love to relocate and retire to England (not necessarily London though) but I understand it is almost impossible, as an American citizen with no ties to England, to be allowed to permanently take up residence there.
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I'm looking for people who are open to moving to a different area who need but can't afford independent and assisted living facilities in the usa. I am now in Pennsylvania but would like to relocate to an area i find more cheerful. I have debilitating depression.
 
I live in a nice little town on the south east side of Syracuse in an apt that I have been in for 6 yrs. There is an opening now. The town has everything top notch that you need. I can walk to my Dr, there are 2 food stores I can walk to, 2 pharms, eateries, a paid rescue squad, a fire dept, all within walking distance. There are 2 vetrinarians one walkable, a hardware store ( my cousin owns that), 3 banks and the list goes on. Very little if any crime . I like it here. My apt building has issues but they are being worked out.

Pets are allowed but smoking on any level is not. It is very quiet and pretty friendly. There is a maintenance staff and a manager here 3 days a week. Contolled security entrance and low income.
 
Years ago when we lived in Providence, RI I walked everywhere. Not only was it very convenient but it was attractive with great architecture. I just looked it up on on the walk score and it gets a 99. The East Side has Brown U and the Rhode Island School of Design with great little shops
 
dusty said:
I live in a nice little town on the south east side of Syracuse in an apt that I have been in for 6 yrs. There is an opening now. The town has everything top notch that you need. I can walk to my Dr, there are 2 food stores I can walk to, 2 pharms, eateries, a paid rescue squad, a fire dept, all within walking distance. There are 2 vetrinarians one walkable, a hardware store ( my cousin owns that), 3 banks and the list goes on. Very little if any crime . I like it here. My apt building has issues but they are being worked out.

Pets are allowed but smoking on any level is not. It is very quiet and pretty friendly. There is a maintenance staff and a manager here 3 days a week. Contolled security entrance and low income.
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I would love to live somewhere like that so much; I just know I'm gonna die out here in the sticks. :cautious:
 
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