Cities where you can live car-free with a child (credit, home)

[gladhands]

Honestly, NYC is the only city where I can image living car-free with a kid. Even Car free cities like Boston, Chicago and DC have a really long “last mile” commutes, or require waiting in the elements for busses. Easy enough for a healthy adult, but it’s got to be a pain with little ones.

[kyle19125]

People live quite well in many cities minus a car with children, and it's more or less about what you're used to and/or can adapt to. If your experiences are exclusively rooted in a suburban culture where one drives a couple of blocks versus walking, of course most any option involving a walk will seem "too much".

[qworldorder]

In the case of other walkable cities besides NYC, I'd say doable, but location greatly matters. Center City Philadelphia would offer a different experience than Mt. Airy, for example.

[BurnInTheMil]

San Francisco wouldn’t be too bad I’d imagine. BART goes to most places. Plus you have MUNI, Bus lines, and ferry’s to other areas. None of which are expensive.

[bluecarebear]

Congratulations, you have debunked the myth of public transportation.

[mhays25]

If you choose to live near transit and don't sign the kid up for travel teams etc., the "last mile" point becomes largely moot.

Even in those exceptions, a mile is a pretty easy walk except for the handicapped, unless the kid needs to be carried.

I credit my growing up largely without a car for my love of walking, and being healthier than most.

[Gerania]

With a kid? Nowhere. Unless you live a block or two from a Pediatrician and a hospital, it doesn't work.

[ckhthankgod]

Probably in many cities, as long as you are strategic in terms of where you live and if that location has everything you need within close proximity or within relatively quick access.

[PhilliesPhan2013]

I don't have children yet, but I fully intend on raising them in Philadelphia once I get to that point! Many family-oriented neighborhoods, such as Lower Moyamensing in South Philly, are walking distance from a subway stop. There are also family-oriented neighborhoods that surround the El (ex. Fishtown) and the subway-surface trolleys (ex. Spruce Hill). If one needs a bigger home but still wishes to live car-free, then Northwest Philly is perfect since it is served by two Regional Rail lines and several 24/7 buses.

[Minervah]

My mom never learned to drive. She schlepped three kids on buses, Els and subways to the doctors, shopping and everywhere else she needed to take my two sisters and me in Chicago.