With automobile possession dearer than ever and fuel costs averaging $3 a gallon, many metropolis dwellers are ditching their wheels for his or her heels. This can be good for his or her wallets and their well being.
“Automotive-free days inherently scale back environmental impacts similar to power consumption and car emissions, in addition to well being impacts similar to driver stress and resident publicity to air pollution,” mentioned J. Patrick Abulencia, Affiliate Professor, Chemical Engineering at Manhattan School.
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With that in thoughts, LawnStarter lately ranked one of the best cities to reside with out a automobile in 2023, measuring them on 19 indicators of car-free-friendliness, together with walkability, transit ridership, local weather, pedestrian security, and climate.
Among the outcomes have been anticipated, however others have been shocking.
Large cities ranked excessive
Densely populated cities like San Francisco and New York ranked excessive on the checklist. Why? The extra packed a metropolis, the much less distance to journey and the extra transportation choices accessible. In large suburbs or sprawling cities, commuters typically must personal vehicles to get round.
LawnStarter ranked San Francisco as the #1 metropolis to reside with out a automobile. Town acquired excessive marks for strolling, biking, and public transportation.
Listed here are the highest 5 cities on the checklist:
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
- Washington, DC
- New York, NY
- Seattle, WA
Some surprises
Minneapolis ranked quantity 8 — the identical metropolis that, simply final week throughout an arctic blizzard, was a crisp minus-6 levels Fahrenheit. However Minneapolis staff do not must courageous the chilly. Downtown is related by way of a system of glass-enclosed footbridges referred to as Skyways, permitting individuals to maneuver warmly by way of town with out going outdoors. When temps heat up, Minneapolis is a “bicycle owner’s paradise.” Town has the sixteenth finest entry to bike leases, the eighth highest share of motorcycle commuters, and means fewer pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents than in 177 different cities.
On the opposite aspect of the car-free spectrum is Memphis, which was ranked the fifth-worst metropolis to go with out wheels.
LawnStarter gave town low marks for biking, security, and strolling. A lot for Strolling in Memphis.
Memphis’s climate additionally is not favorable for a carless existence.
“Though Memphis ranked an honest 56 in air high quality, its comparatively punishing local weather (No. 181) makes it uncomfortable to be outside,” in line with the survey.
A lot of the worst cities to reside with out a automobile have been within the South. Why? Unhealthy climate and dangerous public transportation. Additionally, the cities down South are principally constructed for vehicles. The exception was Alexandria, Virginia, at #31 — in the event you can name that the South.
Listed here are the worst cities to reside with out a automobile:
- Memphis, TN
- Shreveport, LA
- Little Rock, AR
- Clarksville, TN
- Cell, AL
