Nashville....good city for those who do not drive? (apartments, how much)

[BonaFide84]

Hello. I am looking at gradschools to do my doctorate and Vanderbilt (for education) is on my list. I am concerned though. I do not know much about the city. I do not drive due to a visual impairment, so I must rely on my own two feet and public transit. Is Nashville a safe and convenient place to live for those without a car? How is the cost of living? Are there any particular areas you'd reccomend that have all the amenities within walking distance? Public transit, grocery store, bookstore, shops, restaurants, bars, etc? I would be coming from Pittsburgh and besides going to class/work I really don't have to leave my neighborhood for anything......

Thanks...

[Mike in TN]

Nashville is ranked the second least walkable city in the US. If you stay confined to a small area you wouldn't need a car, but it might be tough.

Step carefully, Nashville | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean

[bnewman]

Mike in TN is correct; however, If you're able to afford to live near Vanderbilt's campus, you should be fine without a car...there are shops, grocery stores, bars and social life all within walking or biking distance.

[BonaFide84]

oh wow, i really had no idea! thanks for the heads up. :-/

[rossc]

We haven't been here all that long, but we find the downtown area quite walkable. When you venture outside of the small downtown area and get out in the burbs a bit you notice the walkability issues, and that is because of the limited public transportation not because it is dangerous to walk. I think the ranking rates cities against other cities. For instance, Washington DC has an excellent public transportation system. You can live anywhere within about a 50 mile radius of DC and never really need a car. Compare that to Nashville and you where the low ranking comes from.

[denawilliams]

As as been mentioned much of the area is not walkable. However, since you are going to be at Vanderbilt, it is very possible, if your budget allows, for you to be within walking distance to many things if you live in one of the following areas: Hillsboro Village, Belmont, or West End. When you start to investigate certain places, check the addresses out on Get Your Walk Score - A Walkability Score For Any Address to see how close they are to everything you'd want within walking distance.

[2martins]

if you stay right near vandy you will be ok, but otherwise, forget it. There are plenty of students that stay right near vandy and almost never go anywhere else. There is everything you could need or want right there EXCEPT things like walmart. If you make friends with someone with a car though you will be golden. Near the university the pedestrian crossings beep for visually impaired people. I don't know enough about visual impairments to be able to address other issues related to it, but i did have several friends at VU when i went there that did not have cars. Nashville overall is not someplace i would ever live without a car, but attending Vanderbilt is different. you won't have time to do much besides study, and if you are a go out and party person you will likely meet friends with cars. your choice of apartment will be CRITICAL though.

[mad fiddler]

Originally Posted by 2martins

if you stay right near vandy you will be ok, but otherwise, forget it. There are plenty of students that stay right near vandy and almost never go anywhere else. There is everything you could need or want right there EXCEPT things like walmart. If you make friends with someone with a car though you will be golden. Near the university the pedestrian crossings beep for visually impaired people. I don't know enough about visual impairments to be able to address other issues related to it, but i did have several friends at VU when i went there that did not have cars. Nashville overall is not someplace i would ever live without a car, but attending Vanderbilt is different. you won't have time to do much besides study, and if you are a go out and party person you will likely meet friends with cars. your choice of apartment will be CRITICAL though.

2martins is right. One of my colleagues in grad school at Vandy was visually impaired. She lived nearby, and had few problems with getting around, even with her service dog. I lived a block off campus, and found the neighborhood very walkable almost twenty years ago. There are even more amenities in the area now. Apartments have gotten more expensive, however, but there may still be a few bargains with all the older houses around there that have been converted into apartments.

[BonaFide84]

when you say expensive, what do you mean? about how much would a 1BR cost around the Vandy campus?

[Diane Giam]

You can check out this site____

Vanderbilt University Apartments | Nashville Apartments | Commodores Apartments