Is a car really needed (Silver Spring, Bethesda: apartments, home, living in)

[Va83]

More than likely I’m keeping my car because I literally just bought it. I know public transportation is better in the DC area than Richmond. Is it good enough to go without a car?

[DoughLow805]

Originally Posted by Va83

More than likely I’m keeping my car because I literally just bought it. I know public transportation is better in the DC area than Richmond. Is it good enough to go without a car?

I think that largely depends on where you choose to live...I know several people who live in the area without cars very easily, but they prioritize staying in housing/apartments very close to the metro, with jobs also very close to metro, and walking distance to essential retail...so if we are in PG county, I feel like apartments near PG Plaza offer this very easily, I lived in the Mosiac apartments there for years with a car that never moved bc I didn't need it.

[North Beach Person]

It would depend on where you live as far as work.

But:
Want to go to the ocean? No trains or buses there. Maybe go to Annapolis for crabs? Same thing. Just go out to the country to a state park? See above. Gambling at Maryland Live!? Your church probably runs excursions there.

[DoughLow805]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

It would depend on where you live as far as work.

But:
Want to go to the ocean? No trains or buses there. Maybe go to Annapolis for crabs? Same thing. Just go out to the country to a state park? See above. Gambling at Maryland Live!? Your church probably runs excursions there.

I think you can summarize this as anywhere in America, there is some place you can't get to without a car. It's a general convenience at some point to own a car. If you accept that you live in DC now and whatever thing you are looking to do generally can be accomplished in this city within the WMATA boundary...you MIGHT need to take an uber from time to time..if you are going places in the city, it'll be 10x easier than finding and cheaper than paying for parking...otherwise want a state park to hike go to Great Falls or Rock Creek, want to sit by the water go to the harbor, want to gamble go to MGM.

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by Va83

More than likely I’m keeping my car because I literally just bought it. I know public transportation is better in the DC area than Richmond. Is it good enough to go without a car?

Extremely easy in some parts of the metro area. Effectively impossible in other parts.

[Va83]

...in Montgomery County?

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by Va83

...in Montgomery County?

Montgomery County is home to over a million people who range from living in a 300' tall North Bethesda apartment building to living on a 300 acre farm in the agricultural reserve. 92% of county households have cars as the vast majority of the county is suburban or exurban.

The few urbanized parts of the county, however, are more commonly car-free, e.g. 32% of downtown Silver Spring households don't have a car. Ditto for 26% of downtown Bethesda households. Downtown Rockville, Wheaton, Twinbrook, and North Bethesda are also doable w/o a car, though would be a bit tougher as they're further away from DC, have fewer bus lines, and aren't quite as large/amenity-rich as downtown Bethesda, Silver Spring, or DC proper.

Ultimately, if your day-to-day (work, dining, entertainment, grocer, etc.) is within walking/biking distance or easily accessible via mass transit, going car-free is easy. You'll just need a smartrip card (metro and buses), Uber/Lyft on your phone, and probably a Zipcar membership if you want to periodically explore other parts of MD.

[Ginger34]

Yes absolutely you need car. Why is that even a question

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Ultimately, if your day-to-day (work, dining, entertainment, grocer, etc.) is within walking/biking distance or easily accessible via mass transit, going car-free is easy. You'll just need a smartrip card (metro and buses), Uber/Lyft on your phone, and probably a Zipcar membership if you want to periodically explore other parts of MD.

This is why it's a question. Some people in the area are able to do fine without a car. It just depends on how close they live to amenities.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Va83

...in Montgomery County?

We went 4 months without a car when we lived in Gaithersburg. We were fine except that the job was in a location that required a car. If we worked where we didn't need a car, it could be done.