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The average cost of a new car is inching towards $50,000, and the average monthly American car payment has passed $700. This and nationwide $5.00 per gallon gas, with rents reaching all time highs.
With those real world facts in mind, consider this hypothetical scenario:
You are looking at imminent work relocation to one of these metro areas. On your budget, private car ownership is well out of reach. You will rely completely on public transit in one of these three metro areas which all have a few things in common:
They are between 2-3 million population.
In a country of skyrocketing COL, it has gotten cheaper to live in these places over the years, while "up and coming" metro areas, some which lack the most basic city amenities, have gotten wildly expensive.
Cleveland:
2.1 miilion metro population, light and heavy rail with one of the few airport terminal connections in the nation.
Pittsburgh:
2.4 million metro, light rail that goes underground downtown, arguably the nation's premiere BRT system. Also things like incline trams and water taxis.
St. Louis:
2.8 million metro, the largest (46 miles) interurban rail system of any of these three (second in midwest ridership behind Minneapolis)
Which one for completely car free living and why? Please don't invoke/compare larger cities to argue why any of these systems are failures.
Consider everything, bike paths, pedestrian walkways, utilization of waterways, etc.
Interesting info. For instance St. Louis’ car-free census tracts conform to low-income areas, not transit-areas. The university was the only area that overlapped the car-free with the rail system.
I am not familiar with rapid transit in Cleveland or Pittsburgh.
I know if you are commuting suburb to suburb in St. Louis, it is almost impossible to commute less than an hour. City to suburb can be done depending upon where you are going. Commuting within the city or inner suburbs like, Brentwood, Shrewsbury, Richmond Heights, Clayton and Maplewood is the most favorable situation.
You definitely have to plan your life around the central corridor to be carless in St. Louis without inconvenience. Downtown and Downtown West has some decent rentals with great walkability for a decent price.
Metro Link is a good system for what it does. Three major universities, The Galleria, two airports, Scott Airforce Base, major employment centers like Downtown, Midtown, Central West End, Cortex and Clayton. The trains are always clean and on time. I would avoid the system totally after 11 o'clock for safety reasons.
Last edited by mjtinmemphis; 06-19-2022 at 10:29 PM..
Probably St Louis? I say that based on weather. Cleveland and Pittsburgh have terrible weather 8 months out of the year (I know terrible is subjective, not all snow is terrible). I don’t think I’d like to stand around waiting on a bus in Cleveland or Pittsburgh in January. Geography also makes Pittsburgh a little more challenging. If you are walking a few blocks to make connections, the hilly landscape can prove exhausting (carrying groceries and other items).
Probably St Louis? I say that based on weather. Cleveland and Pittsburgh have terrible weather 8 months out of the year (I know terrible is subjective, not all snow is terrible). I don’t think I’d like to stand around waiting on a bus in Cleveland or Pittsburgh in January. Geography also makes Pittsburgh a little more challenging. If you are walking a few blocks to make connections, the hilly landscape can prove exhausting (carrying groceries and other items).
The thing is, it's gloomy and overcast in Cleveland and Pittsburgh for a lot more of the year, than a lot of other regions in the US. Plus, Cleveland gets that lake effect snowfall also.
St Louis will have less harsh winters than either city. But St Louis gets its fair share of snow and cloudiness as well--just not to the extend of Cleveland or Pittsburgh. Of the 3, it's definitely a bit nicer overall weather.
Also, Pittsburgh is my choice in general, out of these 3 cities for the OP. Pittsburgh has a more east coast vibe to its downtown and adjoining nice neighborhoods, and seems a bit more of a draw for the creative/digital/tech white collar workers these days. Google, Facebook, Uber, Duolingo and more tech companies have set up good sized offices in Pittsburgh.
If someone lives in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside, for example, car-free living would be a breeze. It's super walkable with beautiful vibrant neighborhood blocks.
Also, travel to major east coast cities is closer, than Cleveland or St Louis. You can get to DC, Philly, NYC and Boston relatively easily and efficientily from Pittsburgh.
Also, travel to major east coast cities is closer, than Cleveland or St Louis. You can get to DC, Philly, NYC and Boston relatively easily and efficientily from Pittsburgh.
Just like travel to cities like Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Minneapolis and Denver is easier from St. Louis.
Also, staying on topic of car-free living, St. Louis has six daily Amtrak departures for Chicago, compared to one or two Pittsburgh-NYC trip per day.
Pittsburgh is the clear winner. The city is more compact and its downtown is more vibrant with things to do. I like the low cost of living and proximity to other Northeastern cities. It is also significantly safer than the other cities and more educated.
Pittsburgh and St. Louis has the same level of education attainment. Costs of living to income ratio of the three are about as close as they can get. Walkscore, bikes score and transit score for Cleveland, Pittsburgh and St Louis are about the same. I think OP should narrow down to neighborhoods and get an idea where he or she would be working and shop different areas to live in so when they visit each city there would be a focus.
Pittsburgh and St. Louis has the same level of education attainment. Costs of living to income ratio of the three are about as close as they can get. Walkscore, bikes score and transit score for Cleveland, Pittsburgh and St Louis are about the same. I think OP should narrow down to neighborhoods and get an idea where he or she would be working and shop different areas to live in so when they visit each city there would be a focus.
I'm not moving its a completely fictional scenario.
Though I voted for Pittsburgh also, I find it strange that Pittsburgh gets credit for being "close to northeast cities", but St.Louis doesn't get credit for being closer to Chicago, etc.
I'm not moving its a completely fictional scenario.
Though I voted for Pittsburgh also, I find it strange that Pittsburgh gets credit for being "close to northeast cities", but St.Louis doesn't get credit for being closer to Chicago, etc.
Ok. Since it is a fictional scenario I vote Pittsburgh as well for the downtown and something different.
St. Louis has some Chicago flavor. Especially in the neighborhoods. I hear so many Chicago transplants compare Central West End to Evanston. St. Louis doesn't get credit for a lot of things.
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