Most walkable city (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio: rent, home, find a job)

[homeinatx]

None of the big Texas cities are very walkable, but there are walkable pockets in all of them. Unfortunately, they tend to be some of the more desirable neighborhoods, so more expensive. In Dallas: Uptown, Oaklawn, Lower Greenville, North Oak Cliff. In Houston: Montrose, the Heights, Rice Village. In Austin - nearly all of Central Austin is pretty walkable, but especially Clarksville, Hyde Park, Travis Heights and the near East side. In San Antonio, Southtown and King William. Public transportation sucks in all of them, so you would also need to be in biking, if not walking, distance from where you work. All of the above neighborhoods have some cheaper older apartments where it might be possible to find a studio for around $500, but you will have to look quite hard, and get a little lucky.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by Dallaz

The Gulf Coast is very flat but the rest of the state isn't.

Huh?

West Texas & the Pan Handle are also very flat.

[Dr.drew]

Isn't most of the state fairly flat, with it getting more hilly as you go west?

[Dr.drew]

Is Austin easy to get around in?

[MtnLion512]

Originally Posted by Dr.drew

Is Austin easy to get around in?

I get around by bike a lot, and we walk lots of places and manage to share one car (have a 'weekend wagon' for emergencies too), but it would be inconvenient but probably doable to be car-less here, but only if you live pretty central and have a bicycle- Austin has lots of bike lanes, paths and pretty decent bike infrastructure. The flip side of the coin is that living central can be pretty darn expensive. Depends on how much convenience you're willing to give up, but with proper planning and lifestyle adjustment it's very doable.

Conversely, Houston and Dallas both have higher Walk Scores than Austin.
http://www.walkscore.com/rankings/cities/

[txsizzler]

Corpus Christi has alot of good areas along South Padre Dr. that would be easy for the pedestrian. Apartments abound, and its next to areas that there is alot of retail and food industry. Do a Google Maps search, and see for yourself.

Plus, it stays pretty warm here, even in the midst of winter, so walking would be much less of a hassle than further north (although the heat of summer might not be so nice... but this is the case ANYWHERE in Texas!!).


Ian

[Dr.drew]

Originally Posted by txsizzler

Corpus Christi has alot of good areas along South Padre Dr. that would be easy for the pedestrian. Apartments abound, and its next to areas that there is alot of retail and food industry. Do a Google Maps search, and see for yourself.

Plus, it stays pretty warm here, even in the midst of winter, so walking would be much less of a hassle than further north (although the heat of summer might not be so nice... but this is the case ANYWHERE in Texas!!).


Ian

I walk through the winter in Minnesota. I'm sure I could handle the heat fine. I like hot better than cold

[jdrtx]

Nope, from June through September you will be homebound. Temps are okay but with humidity at 100% no way.

[dallasboi]

The transportation infrastructure in central Dallas is alot better than it's given credit for. Dallas and Houston both have fairly walkable neighborhoods.To me Dallas' advantage is that its walkable neighborhoods are all grouped closer together around downtown. And on top of that,all of the major transportation hubs are downtown which causes all of the walkable neighborhoods to be even more connected;giving a car-less person not just more options, but also quicker options to get around(a short walk,a quick trolley ride,a quick train ride).Houston...not so much.

[vantexan]

Originally Posted by jdrtx

Nope, from June through September you will be homebound. Temps are okay but with humidity at 100% no way.

In the early 90's I walked 3 miles each way to work in McAllen. Did it for about 6 months including the summer then got a closer apartment that was only a half mile away. Even worse I did without a car in Eagle Pass for two years 2002-2004. If one is determined he can get used to anything. Walked 7/10ths of a mile to work in Topeka, even in -70 windchill. And I agree, cold is worse!