Ok here's the deal...I do NOT drive a car at all and I don't plan on ever getting my driver's license (for various reasons)
That being said, what are some good cities in the US where you do not need a car to live or work as a nurse? I am single and am going to be graduating soon. I am looking into moving to the states from Canada sometime after I graduate if it all works out.
I am not picky about much really....
I don't care what state I live in really that much (higher paying salaried states are a bonus...) and somewhere relatively warm would be nice. I don't like snow that much but I can live with it if I have to.
I guess somewhere with a good subway or bus system would be essential. I dont mind walking too.
I already know about NYC and Chicago is apparently a good place to live if you dont have a car...can anyone recommend any other places to live? What about Seattle? I heard that was nice!
Scratch Atlanta off that list. There is public transportation (bus, rail) but you will be limited to where you can go. I may be wrong, but I was told the train stops running at 12am. It is doable, but you will have to stay in a pretty small area. You will miss out on lots more of what the city has to offer until you meet friends or you plan to rent a car to travel around.
i haven't been to los angeles but i heard on the news when gas prices were high in 2008 the riders on their subway or metro increased
The increased gas prices certainly got more people interested in alternative modes of travel in the LA area. But it would take an extended period of time of that for a more comprehensive mass transit system to be developed. Options are improving (yeah!), but it's a slow process.
I'll bet many of the people who accessed the metro actually drove from their home to the nearest station and took the train from there. That still beats everyone driving in their own car from far flung suburbs. But only a few destinations are connected by speedy mass transit lines. Taking regular bus lines through most suburbs takes about 3X longer than driving oneself - that is if you can find a bus line that will take you where you want to go.
Again, it's POSSIBLE to live without a car in LA but you would have to strategically get a home and job accessible to major transit lines/hubs. And it would mean drastically circumscribing one's options of destinations and/or spending LOTS of time waiting for and riding buses. Only a few key lines run as frequently as every 10-15 minutes and fewer still run late in the evening.
Cross jacksonville, Fl off your list for sure. You can't do anything at all without a car.
My cousin lives in Miami and they never owned a car. The bus takes you everywhere. Plus with the amount of people, everything is close by. Especially near Miami Beach.
Driving there is a nightmare. Trust me. When we go visit we leave the car at there place and walk everywhere. Living there is costly though, and they have a very big hospital. Only if you want someplace hot all year around. I personally would never live there.
Actually the idea that we can not live with out a car is a belief thrust onto us the the big business and the automotive industries decades ago. I live almost 20 miles from work. I routinely ride my bike. I ride my bike bike to go shopping, I have a little bike trailer behind it. I live a little north of Dallas. Yes we have DART Bus and Rail also. I ride my bike to and from the gym. Yes I have a car. In fact I have a few cars. For the most part for when I want to use my car I use my electric one. Did you notice that I used the word "Want" as opposed to need to drive my car. I recognize the difference here. We would all be healthier biking when we could. If we all biked it would be safer for bikers also. Less cars to endanger us.Imagine that.
I'm planning to start riding a bike to work soon. Now I just have to be ready to leave earlier - as it will take somewhat longer than driving. Many of us COULD ride bikes instead of driving but you do have to change the way you plan your time. For a destination 10 miles away and up a hill, it will take much longer to bike along surface streets than to drive on a freeway there during non-traffic times. The return trip wouldn't take so long!
In regard to riding to work, I have to decide what to do about clothes. Dress code is somewhere between business and office casual, and I'd rather bike in more comfortable clothing than that. But what a pain to have to lug a whole change of clothes and shoes with me each day. A bike trailer sounds like a great idea. That way you can carry more than just a backpack or small basket of stuff with you. Does the trailer make parking and locking the bike more difficult though?
actually no parking with the bike trailer is not more difficult. In fact depending on how it is designed it can also be used like one of those roiling briefcases.
For dressing that can always be worked out. I change in the locker room at work.
bananabubbletea
93 Posts
i haven't been to los angeles but i heard on the news when gas prices were high in 2008 the riders on their subway or metro increased