"Walkable" cities in the US are a joke and I'd rather live in the burbs, amirite?

Bikeable resort areas have shown me my dream infrastructure. I don't want to live in a city but having the grocery store be an easy bike ride down the road is the dream. A sushi place en route would be lovely as well. I'm simple.

by Willyfritsch 2 weeks ago

What parking?

by Puzzleheaded-Tea1761 2 weeks ago

Considering roughly 52% of the country lives in 'burbs, this isn't unpopular.

by Ferrymarcelle 2 weeks ago

Half of Americans live in the burbs. Definitely popular

by astrid96 2 weeks ago

Lol

by Steve54 2 weeks ago

Pretty sure most of the white millennials on this site were hipsters in their 20s. The politics, obsession with biking everywhere and concentration in coastal cities gives it away

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

To be fair, the global population is concentrated in costal cities.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

What he means is "I don't want people to want walkable cities or have the freedom to avoid driving" "I like driving so I want to force that on everyone."

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Not that odd when you look at the auto manufacturers in the us and wonder if they might have had any influence

by NoPhotograph1345 2 weeks ago

High demand relative to supply, anyway. Supply is always going to be pretty limited in desirable urban areas.

by Top-Camera 2 weeks ago

Gotta love the auto lobby

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Kinda the same here, multiple grocery stores within a few miles, and given our county, its like 5ish-10ish minutes to drive out to a semi large city for fun, variety of foods and whatnot, and probably like 20ish-25 mins to get out to the main city of the county

by Plenty_Cup 2 weeks ago

I live in the burbs that's a 5 minute walk from the grocery store

by Cute-Basil 2 weeks ago

I live in the country. It's awesome. Grocery store still 25 minutes away.

by Upper-Homework8299 2 weeks ago

I live rural and drive 25 minutes to the grocery store, it's really not that bad we are all used to it

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

While the city bears the infrastructure cost - at least there needs to be parking - of your 10-15 minute drive.

by BigProtection8130 2 weeks ago

"Walkable cities are a joke, except in other countries" -guy who hauls stuff for a living and didn't have to do that job abroad while on vacation

by Pretend-Fuel4808 2 weeks ago

Too many Americans seem to think that since our country iS NoT HoMoGenEoUs like those other countries we shouldn't even attempt a single goddamned thing that could conceivably improve the average person's quality of life.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

If only! Sounds expensive. That type of living situation in LA, you're paying at least $3k for a 1 bedroom.

by Emiliano22 2 weeks ago

My mortgage is around 2k, so a bit less than that but it's still not cheap. But at least I own the joint and will be able to rent it out for a pretty penny if I ever want to.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Yes, it's expensive because it's recognized as a good place to live and therefore in high demand (but unfortunately not built in sufficient quantities, largely due to zoning restrictions).

by keanu20 2 weeks ago

Live in a beach city, which are generally the more walkable cities and then say that. You'd rather be stuck in traffic for a store run than walking five minutes from your spot to get what you need? I mean, do you, but doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

by trompname 2 weeks ago

When you live outside the city, you plan your shopping differently. Between a well stocked pantry and a toolshed, an urgent store run usually means one to the pharmacy.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I never once was stuck in traffic for a store run, most of what we need is a 5/10 minutes drive max and there's never traffic in that zone because they're not important roads, mostly residential. Being able to reach everything I need with a 5/10 minutes walk would mean that the neighborhood would be very animated and populated. I prefer the quiet and space of our residential neighborhood over being able to walk to every single place. I struggle to walk anyway.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

To each their own but most people don't struggle to walk

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

The problem I have is that a neighborhood where everything is in walking distance is a neighborhood with not that much there. Thats a fun and fine neighborhood in your 20s, but afterwards? I need lots of groceries, I need pet suppil3s, I need lumber from the home imporvment store, I need plants from the nursury, I want to eat out and have more selection than the few places right outside my door, one kid goes to that school, one kid goes to this school, and the other kid is getting swimming lessons at the pool. Walkable neighborhoods are fun, but not useful. You just cant fit more than a few base needs within a walkable radius.

by Padbergdave 2 weeks ago

Yeah, this is absolutely not true. Maybe in your area, but literally every walkable beach city I've been in in Southern California has had stores with EVERYTHING you listed. It's like yall walked around one city and decided they all must be that way. Calling a walkable city only good for a younger crowd is really showing an ignorance.

by trompname 2 weeks ago

Ive traveled across the usa, lived next to a beach and lived in walkable areas. Souds like you live in one area and assume it must all be like that. Everythings walkable until you need two boxes of cat litter and some lumber.

by Padbergdave 2 weeks ago

Most people don't regularly need lumber and if you do an urban environment probably isn't for you anyway And the point of having a walkable neighborhood is there are shopping options that you can pop into quickly on the day to day… you don't need to buy 2 boxes of cat litter, because you aren't doing a massive haul every week or two

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

… that's when you rent a truck to go get some lumber? Walkable cities doesn't mean they're only ever there for walking. But that most of your activities can easily be done nearby. Where you take smaller trips, and don't need as many "huge superstore" visits because a lot of the common stuff is available on your way home, or to work, or to get snacks.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Do you think that just cause you're in a city that's deemed walkable you're prohibited from driving? You know if you need lumber or cat litter you can still hop in your car, right? It doesn't mean that those stores being within walking distance isn't efficient.

by trompname 2 weeks ago

The problem is... when you need more than a few things... the amount of stores that are needed nearby exceed the amount of available parcels that would still be in a walkable distance! Then the amount of residents needed to support the commerce for a store exceed what can be nearby. How many weekly shoppers does it take to keep a grocery store in business? Can all those shoppers homes fit nearby? Same for a home improvement store, or a petsmart. If I need to get in a car to get weekly stables then its not walkable! And if im close enough to walk to those places, not everyone else can be due to needing a large enough customer base! So to you a neighborhood is walkable if... what? Theres a bar and a corner store? Whats the walkable definition?

by Padbergdave 2 weeks ago

Lumber LOL

by Flimsy_Awareness 2 weeks ago

Cat litter? Pretty much everyone orders from Chewy. Random lumber? Just go pick it up from your local ace hardware. But realistically, how often are people going to need lumber in a city? So far, I've only bought lumber once in my time living in the city.

by KeyMusician7535 2 weeks ago

Baltimore has some beautiful walkable neighborhoods. Canton, Fells Point, Mt. Vernon, Locust Point, Riverside. There is way more to Baltimore than The Wire.

by Opening_Owl_6482 2 weeks ago

I am sure. I havent been to Baltimore yet. My brother has, says its got lots of beautiful history and architecture but also is depressing and sketchy. I mean crime stats dont lie, either. But I been to St. Louis which is known for urban blight and crime but St. Louis still has beautiful architecture and great historic neighbourhoods. I root for all these cities. These are the backbone of America.

by darronwuckert 2 weeks ago

Lol not Baltimore catching an unwarranted stray yet again! As someone who lived in Boston proper, Boston is depressing as hell and has the unfriendliest culture in all of North America. I'm sorry lol. I couldn't get away from Boston fast enough, it's a truly third rate city that pretends it's one of the best. I've also spent a considerable amount of time in Baltimore and the good areas are so much nicer and more relaxed than that of Boston, but the bad areas are obviously worse. You should visit sometime for yourself.

by Beautiful_Stretch 2 weeks ago

What cities are you talking about anyway? NYC is extremely walkable, Austin is not.

by Known-Departure-1252 2 weeks ago

The us has 6 truly walkable cities

by Financial-Potato 2 weeks ago

If you lived in a walkable city, why would you be driving congested roads? You'd be walking, so would others. You aren't stuck there, you can still have a car and leave when you want. Things are just closer and you don't need your car. You aren't forced to walk. In actual walkable cities, the rent wouldn't be that different because everything is near a metro/bus station. I'm like frustrated that this is somehow a political opinion these days. "Let's build more grocery stores, parks, metro routes, bike lanes that are closer to our homes!" "Those damn liberals are gonna take our cars!!" Don't get me wrong, I actually like driving too, but I just don't want to be required to drive everywhere all the time. I still want my car for weekend get aways.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I moved to a big city, but my office is in the industrial/office park area, and the neighborhoods around it are expensive even by tech hub standards. So even if I lived downtown where all the mass transit kind of works… I'd still need a car to drive to work. Even in big cities it takes some luck for job + apartment + transit to be colocated within your budget

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

"I don't like walkable cities" Didn't walk in them.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Cities in the USA aren't currently walkable, that's why people are agitating for it. Also this is obviously a popular opinion

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Just say you enjoy driving. You can still enjoy driving in your car while being in a walkable city.

by Able_Caregiver_9895 2 weeks ago

You don't really say why you think walkable cities are a joke. You mean they are not well executed in the US or you don't like the idea?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

That's the whole point of demanding walkable cities. There are no good ones in North America yet. People saying walkable cities are the goal are talking about actual walkable cities, not their shoddy American imitations.

by deondre00 2 weeks ago

Cities aren't loud, cars are loud.

by Financial-Potato 2 weeks ago

Cities and cars are loud.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I prefer having 20 acres to hunt, fish and do whatever I want on. Never the city.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I feel its pretty well known that the infrastructure in the US has pigeon held people into driving. There are very fee legitimately walkable cities in the US, and even for those walkable cities, it is usually only sections

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

The walkable cities are great. The problem is that they are the most expensive places to live.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Unless you grew up in NYC, DC or maybe Boston you never had a truly walkable city in the US. So of course you prefer what's familiar. The "walkable" cities you probably experienced in the US suck. So of course you don't like em. Also in Europe and Asia you don't need a car to leave your bubble. In my 4 years living in Korea I saw every nook and cranny of the country without a car. Good Public transit does wonders.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Nope. Neighbors and I live on 2+acres. Rather watch the wildlife than people.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Thats nice. I like the countryside. But... you guys act like theres no wildlife in the city lol I live 4 minutes from the Minneapolis city line and in my yard/area theres always deer. In the metro and the city I seen: Bald eagles Otters Beavers Muskrat Muskellunge Owls Foxes Deer (as mentioned) Turkeys Ducks Loons Geese Frogs Snakes Rabbits Squirrels Turtles Cardinals Robins Hummingbirds Fireflies The list goes on

by darronwuckert 2 weeks ago

I caught an eagle on my room in Brooklyn. It was in some thing on our roof idk what it's called. My dad and I put it in a cage and released it by prospect park

by External-Pumpkin 2 weeks ago

The sad part is that precisely the people who appreciate wildlife are the ones who displace a lot of it from its habitat. I wish I had a solution for that. With 2+ acres, at least the smaller animals would feel safe enough to co-inhabit with you. If you don't "maintain" it, that is. The amount of land you need, so you can live on it without disturbing any wildlife, is appalling. You basically need to designate parts of your land which you intentionally avoid.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

When does public transit punish people for owning a car?

by Lbogisich 2 weeks ago

This isn't an unpopular opinion

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Living in a walkable city, I wouldn't have it any other way. I also deal with a car. Annoying, but worth it.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

This not an unpopular opinion

by rempeleve 2 weeks ago

Man the burbs in America are a whole other level of depressing. I lived in my parents house in Arizona for a few months and it felt like I was in a time warp, like I was waking up to the exact same day every day Also cities aren't walkable cause everyone insists on having a car and not funding public transit, even in walkable cities like Boston something like 80% of trips are done by car

by Dry_Feedback 2 weeks ago

Yeah I have seizures so it's walkable city or die basically. It's fine to not like a walkable city, it's not for you. However, without cities a lot of people would be without a life worth living.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Yeah I'm from the Philippines walkable has its own definition I assume in the first world countries. But to us we have sidewalks that cant even fit 1 person and is right on the motorcycle lane. Most cases cars & motorcycles are parked on the sidewalk. Forcing us to walk on the road where cars drive 20 mph over speedlimit or motorcycles weave thru traffic like its a GTA game

by Odd_Doctor_9184 2 weeks ago

This is so short sighted it's obnoxious.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

It's great that you've made personal choices that have brought you happiness!

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

To each their own

by Valuable-Sir5180 2 weeks ago

Why do Americans hate walking so much

by Personal-Beach 2 weeks ago

We have a lot of ground to cover.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Im not American but I live there. I like walking, even though it's hard for me, but it's walkable neighborhoods that I'm not a big fan of. Same for my husband, he's very athletic and loves hiking, that doesn't make him like walkable neighborhoods.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

You like having to drive to the nearest shop? I mean fair enough if you find walking hard, I just can't see why that would be an advantage all else being equal

by Personal-Beach 2 weeks ago

I don't mind having to drive to all shops because it means that my neighborhood is super calm, that I have a 180 square meters house with a cozy garden and that it's full of birds in the early morning. The finding it hard to walk is beside the point. The quality of life is just much better than busy walkable neighborhoods in my opinion, driving 4 minutes to go to the grocery store really isn't such a struggle.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

You like having to drive to the nearest shop? Many people do all over the world, really shouldn't be that surprising. Yeah, being able to buy more groceries etc than what you can personally carry is nice.

by Top-Camera 2 weeks ago

Japan's trains are full of completely smashed men most nights. Let's not romanticize too much now.

by Elian74 2 weeks ago

I think what you're saying is public transit sucks in the US

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Holy L

by Minimum_Increase 2 weeks ago

To each their own.

by Remarkable-Army 2 weeks ago

Wait. You have non congested burbs in southern Ontario they have more road congestion than the one big city. Like the city is miserable, but the burbs around it never built wide enough roads the handle all the cars going in and out.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

There are tons of reasons to like the burbs but it's never as accessible or walkable as the city. I can have multiple grocery options, restaurants and bars, coffee shops, retail shops, and other things all within a 1-2mi radius. Living in the burbs, it could be 2mi just to get to a Walgreens. Not all burbs are the same and not all cities are the same but for the most part living in a city makes things way more accessible with little effort to put into doing things.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

You enjoy driving non-conjested roads but don't like walkable cities?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I don't know if this is unpopular. You don't need to live in a city to enjoy walking through a city

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

there aren't even many walkable U.S. cities, and the issue your describing sounds like an underfunded public transportation. if it was an actual "walkable" city the rent wouldn't change if close to a station

by Krystelgutkowsk 2 weeks ago

But there are people. My circle is small.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I'd love in a big city if I could afford it - but that isn't in the cards for a family of four...

by Fluffy-Trouble7988 2 weeks ago

This is unpopular?

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I had the same experience with the public transportation in Singapore. Made the Bay Area transit systems look like a joke, on every level.

by BillSimple 2 weeks ago

no american cities are walkable except nyc

by Competitive_Bad7608 2 weeks ago

I'm curious what city OP is talking about. I'm convinced it's Dallas or something not walkable.

by Sufficient-Welder722 2 weeks ago

NYC is walkable. SF is partly walkable. It's the way the city has been laid out. Older cities designed and built before the automobile invention are different. In America many cities (and towns) grew after 1900. Most of them are not walk friendly. Public transportation is a total different issue.

by pdoyle 2 weeks ago

Walkable US cities are only affordable for the rich

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

I find my city to be incredibly walkable. This is a pretty vast generalization based on your personal opinion of what "walkable" means.

by IntelligentBlock 2 weeks ago

Incredibly based

by Mysterious-Square 2 weeks ago

I am not sure why living in a walkable area means I have to sell my car. However, I have a real question for tradesmen like OP. How does having more traffic congestion, none walkable communities, work in your favor?

by Yesenia02 2 weeks ago

Truly unpopular opinion.... Enjoy your applebees dinner!

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Do you own birds?

by Altruistic_Story6381 2 weeks ago

Walkable neighborhoods in the US are a chicken and egg problem. You need density and infrastructure to make neighborhoods livable without a car but none of that happens if people just nope out to the burbs and refuse to commit to it. More than anything it's a matter of political will. Think it's a joke and the situation perpetuates itself forever.

by Anonymous 2 weeks ago

Driving in the US is way better. Our "walkable cities" with the exception of a few, are way different than European cities

by InnerSignificance 2 weeks ago