Living in Clayton/DeMun Without a Car? (St. Louis, Washington: loft, hotels)

[Fleurdelis]

Is it feasible to live in the Clayton DeMun area without a car? We would have bicycles and we love to walk, but would probably need some other transportation options for shopping, etc. Is public transportation available?

Thanks for any help and information you can give!

[RickMG]

Originally Posted by Fleurdelis

Is it feasible to live in the Clayton DeMun area without a car? We would have bicycles and we love to walk, but would probably need some other transportation options for shopping, etc. Is public transportation available?
Thanks for any help and information you can give!

It would be possible, but very difficult in the winter since the nearest large grocery store is close to a mile away. I'm talking about the Schnucks on Clayton near Big Bend. There is nothing in the Clayton DeMun area outside of a few shops that don't stretch a city block. There is Forest Park very close by, but I imagine on a daily basis that might get boring as the main place you could go. Bus routes can take you to anywhere you would want to go but you'd probably would have to transfer and, if there is one downfall in St. Louis, I believe it's the public bus system. Great routes, but busses are few and far between. I would vote for any tax that would increase our bus service as I think good convenient public transportation is vital in any large city.

In otherwords....I strongly suggest you have a car.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

Ya. It would probably good to either have a car, or move closer into the city.

[Fleurdelis]

Thanks for the replies.

Actually, a mile seems like a short walk to us. :-) Though it can get tedious if you're trudging through the snow carrying groceries.

Also, we don't actually need to commute to work since we both do freelance work out of the house, so getting downtown would not be a big issue.

[RickMG]

Originally Posted by Fleurdelis

Thanks for the replies.

Actually, a mile seems like a short walk to us. :-) Though it can get tedious if you're trudging through the snow carrying groceries.

Also, we don't actually need to commute to work since we both do freelance work out of the house, so getting downtown would not be a big issue.

A mile is not too far for me either. Carrying five bags of groceries back that same mile is.

Good thing is, if you don't consider a mile too far to walk for groceries, you're okay because there is a hospital in between. Also, within a three or four mile radious is just about everything you could want with the Galleria, downtown Clayton, the loop and the Central West End very close, and it's all pretty flat terrain so easy when biking. Just know that St. Louis is a city where you will need some type of motorized transportation every now and then.

[Fleurdelis]

Originally Posted by RickMG

A mile is not too far for me either. Carrying five bags of groceries back that same mile is.

Good thing is, if you don't consider a mile too far to walk for groceries, you're okay because there is a hospital in between. Also, within a three or four mile radious is just about everything you could want with the Galleria, downtown Clayton, the loop and the Central West End very close, and it's all pretty flat terrain so easy when biking. Just know that St. Louis is a city where you will need some type of motorized transportation every now and then.

Thanks, this is useful information.

Is DeMun the kind of area where you can get a taxi easily? I'm assuming it's not like New York, where you can step outside and hail one anytime -- except when it's raining, of course. :-)

[RickMG]

Originally Posted by Fleurdelis

Thanks, this is useful information.

Is DeMun the kind of area where you can get a taxi easily? I'm assuming it's not like New York, where you can step outside and hail one anytime -- except when it's raining, of course. :-)

You're welcome. No, you will not be able to hail a cab. You can call for one and I'm sure you'd get one very quick as Clayton is full of Hotels where they hang out.

[aragx6]

It's pretty much impossible to get a cab anywhere in St. Louis without calling.
We actually had a major issue on New year's eve down at the Landing- bar closes at 3 a.m., about 500 people get thrown out of bar into freezing cold, no one can find a taxi, call our hotel to see if they can call us one, none are available, after an hour our LDD (and the only person who had driven) says he can drive the 10 blocks to our hotel. It was nightmarish.

Anyway, the two most easily walkable neighborhoods in St. Louis are probably the Central West End and the Washington Loft district downtown.

[Fleurdelis]

Thanks for replies. Sounds like the taxi situation is pretty grim.

[aragx6]

I've been sucessful with calling in the past on non-holidays. But when 100 bars close at the same time, St. Louis doesn't have enough to cover it.

We also could have taken metrolink, but it's shut down by the time most bars close.