Living without a Car : Is it possible in Ann Arbor? (Detroit: to rent, buses)

[Bhaalspawn]

Originally Posted by Geologic

I think that may change when people realise that ditching the car, allows people to use the $5-8000 per annum saved to pay down a mortgage - This BUILDS wealth, rather than depleting it

It depends on your definition of "wealth". Investing money for the future builds future wealth--at the cost of present wealth. I wouldn't call maintaining a modest vehicle a depletion of wealth; it's just a different form of wealth. The freedom of being able to travel where you want to when you want to with little effort is a type of present-day wealth.

[Geologic]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

It depends on your definition of "wealth". Investing money for the future builds future wealth--at the cost of present wealth. I wouldn't call maintaining a modest vehicle a depletion of wealth; it's just a different form of wealth. The freedom of being able to travel where you want to when you want to with little effort is a type of present-day wealth.

I mean the sort of wealth that can be measured.

SE Asian countries like Singapore are now ahead of the US



Transport is one of the reasons for that IMHO : RANT: Let's stop the US Transit Cash drain !

[Geologic]

Originally Posted by Meemur

I lived in an apartment near the corner of Jackson Rd and West Stadium. It was the 48103 zip as I recall. It's the west side of Ann Arbor, bordered by the freeway.

I will take a Walkscore reading in that location...

Walkscore : 94- Walkers Paradise
Transit -- : 67- Good Transit
St. Score : 99- Paradise
========
http://www.walkscore.com/report/Jack...m-ann-arbor-mi

These are great scores, apart from Transport.

[Coldjensens]

Not sure anyone ever addressed your question: YES.

Ann Arbor is probably the only place in S.E. Mi where you can readily live without a car. Tens of thousands do it (mostly students). You will however need access to borrow or rent a car on occasion when you want to leave Ann Arbor. You will also need ot live within walking distance of downtown.

[Geologic]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Not sure anyone ever addressed your question: YES.

Ann Arbor is probably the only place in S.E. Mi where you can readily live without a car. Tens of thousands do it (mostly students). You will however need access to borrow or rent a car on occasion when you want to leave Ann Arbor. You will also need ot live within walking distance of downtown.

That's a very fair summary. Thanks.

I grew up in Detroit (and its suburbs), and felt it important look somewhere in the state - hence my interest in Ann Arbor. Upon further reflect, I wonder if the "walkable downtown pocket" is going to be interesting enough for an older person like me, who is years away from his student days.
( It might make me feel "really old". Haha)

But I appreciate everyone's comments here.

[Meemur]

There's a fair number of age 35+ residents. That's why I suggested the west side, rather than downtown. A number of seniors live out that way, as well. I'm in my 50s and still have friends there.

As I wrote, I'd recommend Ann Arbor over Columbus for your needs, plus it's closer to Chicago, with both buses and AmTrak going there, if you like the Michigan area.

If you want a truly walkable city with endless culture, you might like San Francisco better. A2 is much cheaper! However, there is also a limit to the entertainment and cultural venues. Chicago can fill some of that void, but it's a three/four hour trip one way, depending on traffic and construction.

There's a lot to weigh.

I left Michigan because of the terrible economy. Ohio was much better, but that's not as true, now. There is a high unemployment rate in both states, and the stats can't be trusted because a lot of people have just dropped off unemployment without getting work. I saw a chart somewhere that Ohio now has more people on welfare than working. I haven't been able to find it again, but I don't doubt it. I know very few people who have a 40-hour a week job, unless they are self-employed.

For what that's worth . . .

[Geologic]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

It depends on your definition of "wealth". Investing money for the future builds future wealth--at the cost of present wealth. I wouldn't call maintaining a modest vehicle a depletion of wealth; it's just a different form of wealth. The freedom of being able to travel where you want to when you want to with little effort is a type of present-day wealth.

Well, my definition would be different from yours:
"travel(-ing) where you want to when you want to with little effort" - sounds more like consumption to me.

Sacrificing that freedom to paydown a mortgage is my idea of saving to build wealth.

Americans have been told to be "good consumers" for years. Some have forgotten how to be thrifting, and do things that build a better future tomorrow.

[tuebor]

YES you can live without a car in Ann Arbor, especially if you work from home. As was said above, A2 has a decent bus system (AATA) for a city that size and is bike-friendly. Most of the city is walkable. There are bus (Greyhound) and train connections to other cities. There are zipcars. The local culture is sympathetic to those who want to leave a smaller footprint (though I suspect not having a car will limit your choice of potential partners if you are unattached and looking for a mate). Go for it!

[Cliffie]

It's much easier to live without a car than with it in Ann Arbor. Let me tell you why:

A) The bus system is excellent and takes you to 98% of the possible locales you would want to get to in the whole area.
B) Because the main-campus area has never really caught up to the fact that most adults own cars now, parking in the UofM district is almost nonexistent, even after they broke down and added a few public parking structures. When I lived there people would park, literally, 3 miles from work to simultaneously find a frikkin' place to park AND avoid the hailstorm of parking tickets that is a major source of income for the city.
C) The main campus area is a hideous tangle of one-way streets, dead ends and twistarounds, not counting areas closed off for road repair, that makes it much, much easier to get places on foot. A trip that takes you ten minutes on foot in Ann Arbor can take 45 minutes or longer if the parking structure is full, and even if it's not you'll pay to park when you finally do find a space. AND there's gas, license tags, insurance...Walking is way easier.

[Sasha's]

I lived at Eisenhower and State street by Briarwood Mall a few years ago. It was easy to ride our bikes to most everything. aA has good bike lanes and good sidewalks to ride on. There are places where it is just too dangerous to ride on the road....wether you are supposed to or not!
Do it!