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While living in Europe, not only in the big cities but the small ones as well, you can live there and get around without owning a car. Go to work, go on dates, whatever. No car required. Of course in the US it's virtually impossible. So where does Canada fall on this? Not just Toronto and Montreal but other cities such as Calgary, Windsor, Ottawa, is it possible to live without a car and just use public transportation? What is the quality of public transportation in Canada?
Pretty much the same as the U.S. North America is a very Car dependant continent and the Automobile is built into our culture as symbol of freedom to go anywhere, anytime and to do anything.
Its not virtually impossible to go car free in the US lol where have you been lately pretty much any metro area with 1.5 million and up has transportation such as streetcar system, light rail system, bus system, Subways, trolley, system some cities in the US even have waterways for transportation like boats such as Seattle. America is currently in the process of building a high speed rail across the country.
I'd say it's improving, at least in my neck of the woods. Transit is clean and frequent in Vancouver, many live without cars.
That said I do have a car since transit can't take you everywhere and it comes in handy for camping, trips and bringing home large amounts of shopping.
The same can be said for Europe. There is no lack of cars in Europe, although the transit there can be very good.
yeah, taking the bus to work should be fun. Waiting for the bus at -15 degrees for 15 minutes is even better.
in large cities, subways show how good transit is.
yeah, taking the bus to work should be fun. Waiting for the bus at -15 degrees for 15 minutes is even better.
in large cities, subways show how good transit is.
Cold climates in Europe do well with a bus, streetcar, subway mix. With streetcars or LRT you have more stations so chances are one will be closer to where you live than a subway station. Many take a bus or a streetcar to get to a subway station, so regardless someone is going to have to wait.
Dress warmly.
Precisely! If one looks at public transit usage in Canadian cities as compared to the cities in USA, Australia and New Zealnd, they are some of the highest. One big reason, from what I have read is the transfer (ie from bus to subway/train) works, or have been working quite well.
But of course Canada is still very car dependant regardless. But at least in big cities I believe one can live without a car living relatively close to the city (from my experience in Toronto and Vancouver anyway).
The issue in Ottawa is the city is massive land wise if you live way out in the suburbs but work downtown your looking at a long trip by bus.
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