Can one be car-free and still live a comfortable life in Burlington? (rent, daycares)

[bouncing rain]

My husband and I are thinking about moving from Seattle, WA to Burlington, VT with our two year old son. Neither one of us have owned a car for over 15 years (mainly for environmental reasons) and we really don't ever want to own one again. We use public transit, biking and walking to get around and have always lived somewhere that we can depend on at least one of these modes (I like walking the best!). A friend of mine just told me I would have to have a car in VT, that it wasn't negotiable, that "it's too cold to walk around". But she lived there for less than a year and she did not live in Burlington. I'm sure living anywhere without a car is "possible" but I'm wondering, would it be a hardship in Burlington? Has anyone had a good experience with this? Or know someone who has? Any input is greatly appreciated!

[thunderkat59]

Burlington is a very beautiful and walkable town, but overall, you need a car in Vermont. You are sort of tied to your car. Im an avowed car hater and rode my bicycle year 'round in VT, but I still needed the car regularly. Sorry, but I think your friend is correct.

Best wishes on your move.

[Vermonr]

You do need a car in Vermont. Burlington is extremely walkable, but to have the best quality of life a car will be necessary. There is public transportation, but it really only goes to the "suburbs" of Burlington and some of the big box stores. Eventually you will need to go to the dentist, doctor, etc. And that being said, there is SO much of Vermont that you should take the time to see. You can't get to the hiking trails and mountains from public transportation, and much of amusement in Vermont is based on the great outdoors.

There is a grocery store right downtown, but I find City Market expensive and prefer to do the bulk of my shopping elsewhere. Don't listen to your friend; you can walk anywhere in the wintertime. Just bundle up and you'll be fine. I walk at least a mile a day even in the dead of winter.

[joe moving]

Hard to say--you could always give it a try. We have a bus here, that only runs during the winter. I think you could do pretty well without a car until that bus stopped running. But this is far from Burlington.

But if you wanted to go skiing or hiking , I don't even know how you'd get there from Burlington without a car... taxi?

[68vette]

There are some people who can make a go of it without a car. It all depends on many, many factors. Work, entertainment choices, grocery shopping, etc. There is pubic transportation here, but to say it politely, it's not that great. My step-son and his girlfriend had to buy a car in April. They live on a bus line in Burlington, but things like appointments and work made it very difficult to rely on the public transportation. He would have to arrive at work about an hour early every day, if he took the later bus he would be late. You can walk as well, but the area is very spread out. I have been to the Pacific Northwest, it is much more bike friendly and the public transportation is quite a bit better. That area is also much larger. Burlington is the largest town in the state with around 40,000 people. Most of those people are not located in the downtown area. It's a big town and people are spread out.

[bouncing rain]

Thank you for the replies! This is very helpful. We do use a car-share, Zipcar, mainly for donation runs to the thrift store and day trips outside the area. We probably use Zipcar about 4 - 5 times a year. If we want to do an extended road trip, we rent a car. But things like doctor appts., grocery shopping (or any kind of shopping), hikes, and other outdoor activities are easily accessible without a car here, so it would be a big change.

[ColoTroutlHntr]

Oh yeah, I can't imagine a more perfect fit for today's Vermont. From Seattle, uses "public transit" or a "car share"...uh huh... "5 times a year"...wow, getting good.. to do "donation runs" and to "go to the thrift shop"... Heehum...their gonna love you up there, probably even elect you ... There's also yoga outfits on every corner, expensive "local" "organic" places to blow money on and much, much more...

[toobusytoday]

There is a local sort of zip car service in Burlington - CarShare Vermont - An easy alternative that can change the way you get around UVM and Champlain College offers a year membership for free.

[j_jimerino]

I'd definitely describe not having a car up here as a hardship, even in Burlington. You could do in Burlington I'd think, but you'd have to give a lot and plan a lot more.

[VTisforMe]

Originally Posted by bouncing rain

Thank you for the replies! This is very helpful. We do use a car-share, Zipcar, mainly for donation runs to the thrift store and day trips outside the area. We probably use Zipcar about 4 - 5 times a year. If we want to do an extended road trip, we rent a car. But things like doctor appts., grocery shopping (or any kind of shopping), hikes, and other outdoor activities are easily accessible without a car here, so it would be a big change.

I would suggest looking at housing in 5 Sisters or the Addition (further south). People who live in those areas have access to the Route 7 and Pine Street bus lines. Pine Street bus now runs every 15 minutes in rush hour and nightly late runs back to the garage, which you can grab at Cherry Street for a late ride home. Both streets are on the Sunday service loop as well.

Within an EASY walk of these neighborhoods you will find doctors, dentists, schools, a post office, restaurants, thrift stores, parks (wooded and lake), bike path to downtown, daycares, galleries, yoga studios, etc. What you might struggle with is a walkable veterinarian, a library that is only downtown, and a few other inconveniences but nothing that would absolutely require a car purchase. Real grocery (not convenience store) options from 5 sisters are a bit farther to reach on foot, whereas the Addition is an easy walk to two large grocery stores. There are also several farm CSAs that deliver to certain locations and year-round farmers markets downtown for produce, meats, breads, cheese, and eggs.

It would not be easy to live without a car if you didn't work in Burlington itself, worked odd hours, and/or if you lived outside of Burlington. Be careful about trying to live car-free in the New North End of Burlington, where the walking and bus options are much more limited and things are far more spread out.

Hiking and skiiing will be a challenge to reach without a car (though not entirely impossible), but a carshare membership would be the best choice for that.