If you are someone who doesn't have a car, or who doesn’t want to use your car anymore, then you might have an issue getting around town. We have compiled a list of ten United States cities where you can live without a car.
If you decide to live without a car, here are some benefits:
- Save money on gas, insurance, as well as maintenance
- Get to know your city better by walking around
- Fewer cars on the road mean fewer emissions being released
We looked at the walkability, bicycling, as well as transit in the top American towns and came up with the top 10 cities where you don’t need a car.
New York City
Of course, the number one city on our list is New York City, New York. Not only are the walkability and bicycling scores high, but you also have options for transit including subways, taxis, as well as buses.
NYC has over 1,000 miles of bike lanes that you can choose from, and they also offer a bicycling rideshare program.
Here are some New York City facts:
- Population: 8 million
- Times Square is actually named after the New York Times
- NYC was the first capital of the United States in 1789
- New York City’s original name was New Amsterdam, changed in 1664 after the Duke of York
Boston
Boston is one of the most walkable cities in the country. The city also offers some biking, as well as many transit options to get to wherever you need to go.
Transit options include subway, trolley car, boat/ferry, as well as bus services.
Here are some Boston facts:
- Boston is home to America’s first subway, built in 1897
- The city loves baked beans with molasses so much the name "Beantown" was created
- Boston was host to the first-ever Thanksgiving in 1621
San Francisco
San Francisco is the second most walkable city in the United States. San Francisco also offers plenty of biking, with lots of bike paths.
Transit options include buses, Metro trains, and the famous cable car.
Here are some facts:
- San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is larger than Central Park in New York City
- The fortune cookie was invented in San Fran
- The Golden Gate Bridge was originally meant to be black and gold in color
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a very walkable city in the U.S. LA offers great transit options and is bikeable (somewhat). This is probably surprising since you picture Los Angeles with lots of traffic (there definitely is), but you can feasibly walk the city.
Transit options include buses, taxis, bike/scooter shares, and the Metro.
Interesting facts about L.A.:
- L.A. takes up 470 square miles
- Population: 3.9 million
- The city’s “birthday” is May 1781 (44 Mexican villagers founded it)
Washington D.C.
The capital of the United States, Washington D.C., is another very walkable city. You can walk to many of the tourist destinations, and Mount Vernon Square is an extremely walkable area. Biking is great in D.C. with plenty of trails in parks, as well as bike paths on the street.
Transit options include The Metro, buses, as well as electric scooters, and bikes to rent.
Some interesting D.C. facts are:
- The Metro in DC is the second busiest Metro (the first is NYC)
- D.C gets more rain than Seattle
- George Washington never lived in the White House
Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii is another walkable city in the United States. While it isn’t as walkable as some of the other cities on the list, it is still fairly easy to get around town. It is also bikeable.
Transit options include buses, taxis, rental cars, as well as a trolley.
Here are some interesting Honolulu facts:
- The word Honolulu means “sheltered harbor”
- The city is one of the most expensive places to live in the US
- Population: 350 thousand
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah has a decent walkability score. The downtown area of Salt Lake is extremely walkable and is also very friendly to bicycles.
Salt Lake has transit options, such as commuter trains, light-rail lines, buses, and taxis.
Some facts about Salt Lake City are:
- Population: 200 thousand
- Elevation: 4,330 feet
- Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Brigham Young (along with 150 Mormons)
Chicago
Chicago, IL is a very walkable city. It offers great options for walking, transit, as well as biking. Chicago’s best walkable location is the West Loop area. There are rideshares for bikes in the city, with multiple bike share stations all over.
Transit options include buses, water taxis, and trains.
Some interesting facts about Chicago:
- Population: 2.8 million
- Chicago features an underground pedestrian system that covers 5 miles
- The great Chicago Fire destroyed over a third of the city in 1871
Philadelphia
Philly is another great US city that is good for walking. The most walkable area of Philadelphia is in Rittenhouse Square. Philly also boasts bike paths, as well as bike-share programs.
Some transit options include: SEPTA (train lines, trolley lines, and buses)
Some interesting facts about this historic city are:
- Population: 1.7 million
- Philly is where the nation’s oldest zoo is
- The first business in Philly was a brewery
Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey is one of the nation’s most walkable cities. The historic downtown area is the most walkable part of Jersey City, and there are plenty of walking paths all over. The city offers a bike-sharing program, and there are lots of biking paths to use.
Transit options include buses, Metro trains, and a cable car.
Some facts about Jersey City are:
- The Statue of Liberty is actually in Jersey City
- 40% of households in JC do not own a car
- Population: 245 thousand