Dallas vs. Atlanta with limited car use? (living, state, map)
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I realize both of these cities are car dependent southern metros...but is there any difference between the two in terms of which would allow for a less car dependent lifestyle, even if not totally car free? How do they stack up against eachother in terms of walkable/bikeable neighborhoods, and public transportation?
Dallas has more miles of light rail than Atlanta has of heavy rail, but MARTA in Atlanta has higher ridership and hits most of the important areas of the inner metro area. Not really sure how their bus systems compare to each other. I think Atlanta may have an edge with respect to walkable neighborhoods, but your decisions should largely be dependent on where you might be working and living in each city.
Atlanta's MARTA pretty much hits all of the major business districts in the city(Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead), the central shopping core(Buckhead/Lenox) and the airport along with cool neighborhoods like Inman Park, Little Five Points, Grant Park, Midtown, Decatur etc.
Atlanta is far more bikable IMO in the fact that it has more bike lanes and it has the beltline which makes easy access from Midtown/Piedmont Park through all of the Eastern neighborhoods. It's not even close.
Here's a video of someone biking the 2.1 mile trail of the Eastern portion of the Beltline. They start around Piedmont Park and goes south all the way near the southern end of Inman Park/Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. It'll be expanding further south in the next few years.
The Beltline will eventually be 22 miles surrounding the entire city core and hopefully transit will eventually run parallel to the trail itself. Right now about 10-12 miles have been built out(the trail, not transit)? I think.
As for the neighborhoods on the Beltline itself, here's a few pictures of a few neighborhoods on or near the Beltline itself.
Inman Park:
Old Fourth Ward
Midtown
Shot on the Beltline itself
I understand you've been trying to make a decision on a new city for awhile now....hope this gives a little more information on Atlanta itself. Good luck on your search.
I can tell you in Dallas, a car-free lifestyle would be rather inconvenient. While there are some urban areas by Dallas standards, the city is very large and spread out. So, you'll still need a car to venture out in the Metroplex. And you will drive ALOT here. DART (rail), while improving doesn't have a large footprint or much ridership as of yet. It's mostly used by suburban commuters during rush hour and pretty dead the rest of the time, unless people are taking it to the State Fair in October or similar events.
My impressions, fwiw, are that these two cities are fairly even in this respect. I am totally impartial and like both metros a lot.
They've both come incredibly far in reversing their sprawl and incentivizing infill development, and they both offer decent transit options.
I think a lot will come down to other specifics, most importantly as Mutiny stated, where you will be living and working. Also, I have the impression that there are more affordable walkable areas in Atlanta...but I have not looked too much.
Really both are dominantly car cities. They're spread out and made up of little cities. What your essentially saying is "Should I choose lead or iron waterwings". You're gonna sink either way, iron is just a tad lighter.
Really both are dominantly car cities. They're spread out and made up of little cities. What your essentially saying is "Should I choose lead or iron waterwings". You're gonna sink either way, iron is just a tad lighter.
Oh, come on! Over generalize much?
It is very doable in both depending on your work/living circumstances, particularly in Atlanta's core.
It is very doable in both depending on your work/living circumstances, particularly in Atlanta's core.
Thank you. I could very well park my car for the next year and get around just fine in Atlanta from my house in Kirkwood. No, Atlanta's mass transit system isn't as complex as the ones up North, but Jesus Christ, folks act like MARTA goes from no where to no where.
I wouldn't advise either but if you have to choose, Atlanta will be slightly easier.
A lot.
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