9 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Tim's avatar

Making a list of the best cities in the United States is easy: NYC, SF, Chicago, DC, Boston. You can live life without a car and all the associated costs and stress that comes with it. Unfortunately these are some of the most expensive cities to live in as well. Also unfortunately, the convenience provided by cars and the entitlement that comes with them has fried the brains of our elders who own all the homes and control the policy setting in these cities, which makes building apartments and new bike lanes an absolute knock down drag out war.

Expand full comment
Stephen's avatar

I live a half decade in New Orleans without a car. Between streetcar, bicycle, and walking, I had no trouble. Granted, I was young and had no family. Might have been tougher with kids.

Expand full comment
Tim's avatar

I'm glad to hear car free living was a real possibility there. We can add it to the best cities list then.

Expand full comment
Ilene's avatar

Your elders didn’t make this system capitalism did. Your elders are trapped by it more than you can imagine. When we can’t drive any more we are completely stuck. And the so-called 55 and over communities are located in the middle of nowhere.

Expand full comment
Damone5000's avatar

You’re missing Philly. It’s actually the most walkable city of all of them and mixes office, food/entertainment, and housing pretty well for a huge chunk of the city.

Expand full comment
Ryan fyan do fyan's avatar

DC and Boston? Nobody likes those cities. Philly and Chicago are the answers. Seattle is better too

Expand full comment
Peter D Sheppard's avatar

Have you ever tried traversing DC on foot? It's a living hell. Nothing like NYC or Boston. It's basically an office park sharing space with some of the most deprived slums in the country.

Expand full comment
defineandredefine's avatar

My wife is a travel nurse. Last year, she was in Boston for 6 months. She managed to snag a really nice apartment that wasn't too expensive (at least comparatively) in Jamaica Plain. I loved visiting that neighborhood - tons of nice bars, restaurants, cafes, shops, a metro stop and at least a couple of grocery stores, all within a 10 minute walk. It was the kind of place I wanna live and should absolutely be the model of a city.

Expand full comment
Adam Lasnik's avatar

I lived in Jamaica Plain and concur!

Expand full comment