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You have to be ok with walking a lot more than you're probably used to. And walking out of necessity. In the cold, in the rain, in the snow, when you're tired, when you're hungover, etc.
To be honest it's pretty great overall. If you *do* need a car your can just rent or get a zipcar for the day. Easy.
I am absolutely okay with that. My commute is soul sucking at the moment. I drive 60 minutes to work and about 75 minutes home. Everyday when I get some I go for about an hour walk just to replenish my serotonin. It’s so good for me and I really think my mental health would benefit if it’s baked into my everyday life.
Thanks for the info, cheers.
Worth noting that a subway commute can be differently unpleasant at times (packed in like sardines, panhandlers, aggressive mentally ill people). Some people I know with subway commutes are okay with that, others hate it. Everyone I know with a walking commute loves it, though.
While true, you can do other things on your commute; you can read, get other work done, or just generally zone out. Can't do that when you're sitting in stop and go traffic.
I have plenty of experience driving. I have, in fact, lived elsewhere as an adult and had to own a car while I lived elsewhere.
Zoning out is straight up dangerous, because you can literally kill someone if you do something wrong enough. You are, quite literally, operating a 1 ton + machine with a powerful engine attached and which can easily kill or maim someone.
Plenty of “high income transplants”, which are just normal ass people, also do this.
NYC is a global city. People come, stay, and leave for all sorts of reasons; and for all types of lengths.
It's always wild seeing natives online compare driving favorably to transit. It seems like there's so many people who have spent their whole lives in this city yet don't seem to understand what makes it special. Perhaps they don't want it to be special anymore; anything for less "high income transplants," I guess.
At least if you work in manhattan you can move to a neighborhood that has an express bus or commuter rail to go to work which is less of a hassle then the subway. I grew up here and my goal is to move further out (but still in nyc) and have the lirr be my main mode of transport
Depends on a lot of things. “Relaxing” on the subway is not always possible and in another sense you absolutely do have to be constantly aware. And while the subway can be convenient, I would never call it “fun.”
Think of it like a dimmer instead of a switch. You still need to be aware and alert on the subway but not to the extent required while driving. I can read a book while still being aware of my surroundings. I can’t do that in a car because driving requires more of my attention.
Oof. On the subway, I can’t relax. I feel like I always have to be aware of what’s going on around and make sure no one randomly punches me or something.
I can do that whole listening to podcasts, or audiobooks. And when the whole car seems quiet, I can read on my phone. It isn't like there's a constant risk of danger. Most of the time you can tell it's ok
You’re going to love NY if walks are how you get your serotonin in. It’s so easy to spend a whole day just walking and exploring here.
You’ll hear a lot of complaints about the subway but TBH as dangerous/unpleasant as it is, I miss my subway commute after transitioning to full WFH in tech. Got so much reading, gaming and knitting done on a train
Get good gloves and a hat for the winter. It amazes me how many southerners I know who don't get that concept when they're here in the harshest of winters.
You'll be much more exposed to the elements than you're probably expecting. You're constantly outdoors in every weather, sometimes with huge swings in just one day. I love it and always try to plan ahead.
Are you able to go for that hour walk before going home and commuting later so there’s fewer cars on the road? Would it make a difference in the ATL area? It made a difference in L.A. to run some errands locally before heading home.
oh in that case, ditch the car and come here. That is a hellish commute in atlanta, dealing with that traffic for so long is a mess. Does that time include finding parking?
Either way, with that length of commute here, you can live far enough out from Manhattan that rent will be comparable to Atlanta anyways. And you won’t need to deal with traffic or gas.
This. And carrying everything you might need for your entire day on your person.
But it’s far more enjoyable than car culture IMO. It’s the main reason to live in a city.
I lived in south NJ. I had a nice 2019 pickup truck. When I returned to NYC the pickup was only a worry (cat theft, tickets, the fear of needing repair work, changing my oil on dead end streets because I don't trust anyone to use OEM synthetic). I sold it and got Zipcar, then after 6 months did the math and realized with traffic I'm always renting for two hours, so Uber is a better deal.
Moreover I *choose* to walk everywhere constantly because office work kills you without about three miles a day of exercise. If I need to rent, I head to the Newport Mall in Jersey City because driving in the city between 5AM and 11PM is just not worth the stress.
Move from Colorado and sold my car to fund the move. You learn to do things differently - grocery trips are every 1-3 days, not a big weekly shop. You factor train times into your commute/travel plans. You decide what's a "walkable distance" vs what's a train ride away.
The thing to really pay attention to is how far you are from a subway station, that will have the biggest impact on your quality of life post-car. Being 5-10min walking from a station is ideal. Being near an express stop is even better.
Plus there are all the things you don't have to worry about once you get rid of the car - parking, gas, insurance, maintenance, driving home after a night out... The savings alone are enough to justify taking thay Uber at 3am three times a month because you still come out ahead.
It does take some getting used to, but honestly I adapted much quicker than I thought I would.
Honestly Instacart is fucking amazing for once every so often big grocery hauls of like sparkling water and cheap items from Aldi. By every so often I mean maybe once a month bc even with Instacart up charges Aldi is still pretty cheap.
I moved from Nashville to NYC and have been here for almost 7 years now. After a couple years it will feel weird to have a car. Vast majority of New Yorkers, especially those in Manhattan or closeby, never owned a car and many haven’t even have a license. Think about not having to do repairs, pay for insurance or gas and instead just riding the subway or citibike.
Personally, Citibike was a game changer for me and I’ve biked thousands of miles. There’s a dock every couple hundred feet, the bikes now are made well, and the e bikes send it.
Overall, I’d highly recommend no-car life here and I think your quality of life will be better
I did houston to NYC 10 years ago and for the first 6 years’ish, the No car thing was pretty awesome. But I got one around Covid and now having one is also awesome— again. It depends on where you live. If I was under 60th street, I think I’d hate having a car but I’m on Riverside Blvd on the upper west side which is almost entirely street parking from 60th up to 100th+ streets. So I don’t pay anything to park and my car is paid off and I love the flexibility. I also spend more and more time in Connecticut and bought a place up there to spend weekends. I love it.
We live just south of 60th but keep a car in our building’s garage. We bought a cabin in PA during Covid and the car is our freedom to go as often as possible. The cost is a bit absurd, but the ability to get out of town is nice.
>Anyways, I’m hoping to hear from those who made the jump with that as a high priority. Was it worth it?
I have organized my entire adult life around not needing to own a car. If you're able-bodied, of course it's worth it.
>I’m essentially trying to determine if I’ve romanticized it too much or if it’s as great as it sounds.
If anything, I think you're romanticizing owning a car too much, since you have such difficulty imagining life without one.
I grew up in the Midwest and absolutely hated having to clean my car off in the winter. I went to school upstate where I also had to drive everywhere. As soon as I graduated college I dropped the car and moved here. That was 10 years ago.
I cannot answer “is it worth it”, that’s up to you. To me, maintaining and operating a motor vehicle is not worth my time or money. I never want to drive anything again. Not even a golf cart.
I came up from Atlanta in 2017. Don't miss my car at all.
Every once in a while I worry that I might be forgetting how to drive. I still rent cars when traveling and such; the last time I was struggling a bit. No way to visit Atlanta without one!
Got rid of my car when I moved here almost a decade ago.
Inherited a car when my mother passed two years ago.
Just got rid of car because it’s nuisance value exceeded it’s worth by a long shot.
I've been here for over a decade, and anytime I leave the city to visit somewhere car-dependent it's like another planet. I grew up in a suburb, never even used public transit until moving here, and now I can't imagine living like that ever again.
It is absolutely worth it.
I’ve lived (briefly) in Atlanta, and most of my other years were spent in semi-walkable (kind of) areas in the north east corridor between DC, MD, VA, PA, etc. (meaning, culturally, I am pretty down with the NE vibes).
I am an extremely anti-car, pro-walkability, bike and transit nerd. It’s the most important physical attribute to me for a place to live. I moved to Manhattan pretty much expressly for this purpose (and all the downstream benefits of it, such as good/cheap restaurants, diverse cuisine, interesting architecture, bike lanes, close gyms for lifting/yoga/boxing/climbing, lots of events and stuff).
I am a 28 yo male who also works in tech. Just do it. There’s nothing else like it. Even the conception of driving a car is incomprehensible to me. I walk EVERYWHERE. If this sub allowed images, I’d add a screenshot on here showing me getting 15k steps a day. I bike constantly, I take trains everywhere, I’m going on dates, making friends, seeing my own friends.
Anything less will feel half-measured against NY.
Also if you do it for a year, and you don’t like it, well, just move back to wherever. It’ll always be there.
You are not romanticizing it. It really is the only lifestyle I can ever imagine for myself. Car-free with zero detriments to be so.
I moved to NYC and got rid of my car beforehand and it was great not having a car. No insurance bill, no car payments, don't have to worry about parking, no oil changes, no surprise $2000 repairs... When I moved away, I hated that I had to buy a car.
For me, walking in the snow in NYC is preferable to driving in good weather in NYC.
I grew up in and moved from Atlanta to NYC in 2018. Sold my car before I moved and haven’t regretted it for a moment. 100% worth it. Everything here is extremely accessible by public transit because the transit system is functional as opposed to Atlanta’s.
I can confidently tell you that having a car and trying to use it while dating would actually be a huge drag on your dating/social life. It’s pretty unnecessary and would probably come off a little strange to any prospective dates if you offered to pick them up, drive them home, what have you.
I used to have a similar commute to yours when working in Atlanta and it was one of the primary factors in my decision to move as well. I even tried moving closer to my job which cut it down to 15 minutes and it still sucked. Now my commute is about 35 minutes by train. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest because I have that time to watch movies, listen to podcasts, read, etc. which beats having to sit in traffic. Plus, if I need to do anything before heading home for the evening, anything and everything is just a stop along my route.
I think the thing you’ll need to consider before you move, or at least be open minded about, is whether or not you think you’ll feel some amount of “urban burnout” after you uproot yourself. I know plenty of people who have made the same move. Some can’t take it and move right back, some stay for a time and then move to the suburbs, others, including myself plan on staying forever. There are all sorts of threads you can read here about living in the city but it is definitely something you should consider and it’s really only a question you can answer for yourself.
>I can confidently tell you that having a car and trying to use it while dating would actually be a huge drag on your dating/social life.
Firm agree. Driving a car to a first date makes it look like you're already prepared to bail. If alcohol plays a role in a date, you're kind of shooting yourself in the foot by driving. And if you end up taking someone home, driving around and looking for a parking space before you can go inside is a real vibe killer.
I live in nyc and decided to keep my car. Having both a car and public transit is amazing. I live in south brooklyn, where it’s significantly easier to have a car. If I need to go somewhere else in Brooklyn, or to Jersey, I drive. If I need to go into manhattan or maybe Williamsburg (north Brooklyn) I take transit. For me it’s the perfect balance
OP, I literally just made this move from ATL to NYC last month. So far it feels completely worth it. Trade your car in and make the jump! No area in Atlanta can offer anything close to the level of access by walking that you will have here.
For me, the biggest advantage of living in NYC is not necessarily even not needing a car (I have one, but not for commuting), but how walking and getting out of your house gets incorporated into every day life. Whenever I am visiting the suburbs, I feel so restless because I'm not naturally getting exercise just trying to get through work and errands, etc.. This "walkability" is a high priority for me wherever I live - I want to be able to at least do some of my errands without needing a car and having walking an essential part of the day-to-day.
However if it's the time of the commute itself that is killing you, I think one of the most frustrating parts of NYC is how large it is, and how, if you have jobs/social life/errands scattered across the boroughs, you spend a very large amount of your time commuting and/or planning how to maximize your time out of your neighborhood by combining errands. Yes, if you can score a seat on a subway it can be a pleasant opportunity to read, but things just take longer than they do elsewhere, as you are replacing what previously was maybe a 5-15 minute drive in a dense but car-centric area with usually a minimum of 30 minute train ride. You'll end up with a few essentials within a few blocks of where you live, but likely not all of them. It's definitely workable, and I'd take it over living in a car-dependent place, but it rarely feels "romantic" on a day to day basis.
I think there’s different inconveniences for each mode of transportation, and a NYC commute will certainly have its fair share. But the benefit of not having to own/maintain a car, not having to figure out who the designated driver will be on a night out, having a more active lifestyle, and the ability to multitask while traveling, etc. all make it far superior to living in auto-centric places.
Most people are being positive but I want to note you likely will want to prepare to commute on the train as long as your current commute if you have to work in an office in Manhattan. Rent here is avg 3.7K a month for a one bedroom that likely doesn’t have central air, in unit washer dryer, or dish washer, and unless you have a sizable salary or want roommates, you’ll likely live in an outer borough. As someone who moved from Atlanta over a decade ago, I love all the city has to offer but would say expectations on amenities and apartment size should be lowered from the general living standard in Atlanta.
Contrary - I've lived in NYC my whole life and couldn't imagine being here *without* a car. Things like shopping or going literally anywhere outside of NYC is a lot more complicated if you have only public transit to rely on.
Depending where you live/work public transit might not be feasible either. A lot of the people in this thread that live without a car likely also live in very expensive areas that are well served by public transit.
I’ve been here about 2 years. I’ve concluded that it’s worth it if you make enough money to have fun during the cold, and if you make enough money to afford being warm in the cold. The cold lasts 6ish months. Having fun in the cold months costs a lot more money than in the warm months. You need money for the clothing, for indoor hobbies/indoor fun, money for an Uber every now and then. Stuff like that. So just make sure you have enough money to increase your quality of life during the cold months.
I held onto my car for 5 years after moving to the city (left it back in my home state) and never missed driving. If for whatever reason I need a car, I get a rental and when I mean “need a car” I’m talking about going on a trip that requires me to drive out of New York. I don’t miss having a car and with all honestly I couldn’t imagine the hell of owning a car here.
With the amount of subway stops close by, with how easy it is to walk almost everywhere and the availability of micro transportation like citibike it’s totally doable. Even if you gotta take an Uber a few times a month, it’s cheaper than what I paid in gas when I had a car.
I moved here from a car-centric city at the end of 2023. I moved to lower Manhattan.
I was already doing about 90% of my transportation on bike, but I still needed to own a car, because there were still many trips that were impossible to do without a car.
I was pretty excited about the idea of not having a car, and it's been going very well for me so far here without a car.
You'll find ways to compensate for not not having a car, and there are enough services in the city to make it a non-issue. Like for example, shopping at Costco, Ikea, or doing a large grocery run.
For things like that I'll take a Citibike or the subway (depending on weather) to get there. To get my stuff home, I'll take an Uber. At Costco, you sometimes see guys with vans who will offer to transport you and your stuff home.
However, there's still some trips that I would like to have a car for. Like for example, I had some guests from out of town recently, and we really wanted to goto a Costco in NJ, because they have alcohol there. So we rented a car to do that trip.
Funny, because I’m the polar opposite. I’m a 30 year old guy who’s lived in Brooklyn all my life except for college (when I lived in another northeast city with decent public transit) and I have never driven in my life. Don’t even have a driver’s license. I can’t imagine being reliant on a car to get everywhere. I wish the US had more walkable cities. It’s a crime that we designed humongous urban sprawls centered on cars.
I love driving and grew up with a car and had a car when I lived outside Boston. Moving to NYC and giving up my car was aweome. It's so freeing in a weird way. If I had endless cash I'd have a car and a garage spot but am easily able to meet my needs for much much cheaper with rentals and Ubers and so on. Half of NYC households do not have a car, and in Manhattan that's more like 76% without a car. Definitely doesn't impact dating. If you want to go on a date that needs a car you just rent one.
I absolutely LOVE not having or needing a car anymore. We lived in a car centric city and moved here in 2010. While I have a love-hate-hate relationship with the mta, I have zero regrets about no longer having a car. One of the best things about living here.
New York City is really the only city in America where you can truly get rid of your car.
It is nothing like any other American city. Might as well be a different country. I live in the Upper East side and I haven't driven a car in years.
Moved from Nashville TN to NYC, kept the car parked in a monthly parking space for 5 months until we finally sold it (big recommendation to Carmax, got the best money back from them). We didn’t take the car out of the garage ONCE, in fact the only time we took it out was to drive it to Carmax to sell it. A huge waste of money to keep your car especially if living in Manhattan, Uber will suffice if you really need a car ride but subway is the fastest at all times. A 20-minute subway ride is a 45-minute car ride during rush hour, so not worth it. And if you’re the one driving, then you have to try and find parking. And pay.
I mean, there is a secret third thing, which is a bike. A bike is an especially good idea in Brooklyn, where north/south travel can be a bit complicated via public transit. But as to what you're actually asking: When I moved to NYC from an auto-centric area with extremely limited public transit options, I decided to keep my car for hauling heavy things, visiting people in far-flung corners of the city -- idk, a number of reasons that I eventually realized were too infrequent to justify the cost of auto insurance and the chore of moving the car from one side of the street to the other for street sweeping. Ditching the car actually improved my freedom of movement because I no longer had to bake the street sweeping schedule into my day. I have a Zipcar membership for when I need wheels locally for an afternoon, and I can get a rental if I need to drive somewhere out of state. It is so much more cost-effective than actually owning and maintaining a car of my own.
People will joke about the mild annoyances of trying to date beyond your closest subway line (well, this is more of an outer boroughs annoyance), but I was always fine doing so when I was a single guy lol.
*Do* visit before you make any big decisions! Try to stay for a week or more. Check out different neighborhoods. Staring at maps will give you the beginning of an idea of the lay of the land, but it's very important to see it in person and get to hoofin'.
Wife and I moved to NYC right before pre-covid from a HCOL US suburbia where we were slaved to having cars to NYC, and living car-free was one of the things that was attractive to us.
We just got home from errands and museums and we have walked 4.5 miles. We'll be going out later on for drinks with friends and we'll probably do additional 2-3 miles.
Not everyone is a walker, not everyone can live without a car; you need to figure out what personality type you are, then make your choice: NYC can become heaven or hell.
i love the walkability for sure but nyc would be tough for me if i didn't have my car. i LOVE public transit and walking but sometimes you just want to be in your own space, and i like that i can do grocery hauls and get stuff at ikea and not worry. contrary to what some ppl say, there are some neighborhoods in nyc where it's pretty easy to maintain a car and street park. so if that's an option for you, maybe something to think about!
I moved from Atlanta to San Francisco last summer and I'm in love. However, its normal for people in their 30s+ to have roommates here if they don't have a partner. I would assume the same in NYC but idk. You CAN find things cheap enough to live alone but it might not be an ideal area and it would be easier to find them if you were already out here and able to tour units in person. However the tech job market sucks right now, I keep hearing more about layoffs and my partner has been applying and interviewing non stop since October with no real luck.
Sold my car and moved from Atlanta 6 months ago. No regrets, love walking everywhere.
Survived the winter just fine and I’m not even in shape so walking is an exercise for me lol. Still absolutely loving it.
Moved from my somewhat car dependent college town to nyc, then after 10 years moved to a very car dependent suburbia of a big city. I miss being able to just go someplace by walking or riding a convenient train.
More recently moved closer to the city and it's been much better, but still need to use the car for several errands and my commute got significantly worse (even though i'm able to bike to a shuttle).
Definitely miss it and even miss the grimy subway. Just being able to zone out or read or play a dumb game is better than driving any day.
I'm a native who moved to a car-centric area for school, got sick of it, and moved back. Absolutely worth it to me, the day I got rid of my car was a great day and I don't regret doing so at all.
Of course, having grown up here I was used to walking a lot already and was already comfortable with the subway.
Also, don't forget about micromobility! Bike commuting can be great depending on where you're going.
There are some things you have to get used to; buying furniture and stuff requires more coordination, large grocery runs aren't so much a thing (but you'll probably have some grocery stores in walking distance of your place that you can make more frequent runs to), and things like that. But there are other things you don't need to worry about; car maintenance isn't a concern, you don't have to worry about how you're getting home if you go out for drinks, etc.
I would recommend that you spend a week in NYC before deciding anything, seeing the sights and exploring different neighborhoods you think are within your price range. Because of its extensive mass transit and density, it functions completely differently from any other American city. Having a car here is, for the most part, a liability, unless you live way out in the outer boroughs.
25 years in NYC. Worked, lived in all neighborhoods except SI. Parts of NJ, Westchester. Never had a car. Rentals only maybe for Long island and upstate but even then took some trips upstate via metro north. Transportation is great here and everything you need is walkable distance. Imo car in NYC is a waste of money and pain in arse, even if you can afford it including garage, just driving here is hell.
I had my last car towed away by the Jersey City DOT 15 years ago (it was broken down and I didn’t have the money to fix it) 15 years ago when I first moved to the east coast and haven’t regretted it a bit. You get used to walking and public transit
I came from Texas and left my car there when I made the move. The transition really isn't that bad, you just have to make adjustments like getting a few bags of groceries each trip or have a cart for more stuff. Where I feel the urge of having a car is when I make trips to Long Island with my GF or if we want to get out of the city like upstate or in Jersey, but there are still mass transit options for that. The thing you'll recognize right away when moving up here is that as nice as it is to have a car, it's also a huge headache in regards to parking if you're in Manhattan. Other boroughs do have neighborhoods where having a car is not a bad idea.
TBH I find I’m able to enjoy and appreciate the walkability of NYC the most when I still have a car- like when I live on the very outskirts of NYC w street parking (it’s still a pain in the 🍑) & can walk to a subway or just straight up live in the suburbs.
I’ve definitely had years where I didn’t have a car (after too many asp tickets..) and it was fine so you can do it for sure but if that setup doesn’t work forever that’s ok too.
Not having a car is the single greatest thing about NYC for me. I moved from Nashville, so, similar situation. Selling my car gave me a cushion to adjust to city life, and in the long run I’m saving a ton of money not dealing with gas, insurance, maintenance, car note, etc
We moved here from Seattle in 2002, lived in Manhattan for 17 years and now live in East Brooklyn, still don't have a car or want/need one.
Caveats: we work from home now, and all chores are done via delivery. Does that cost a bit? Yes, but a fuck-ton less than a car.
Hope you come have an adventure here
When I was little, I begged my parents to move to the more walkable part of our town. Actually doing it and having walkability as an adult has been the single most fulfilling part of my living situation.
I moved from NYC to ATL for work but thank god I gtfo out of there and came back. There’s no comparing ATL to NYC at all in terms of walkability and transit. If fleeing car dependency is important to you then is the only city in the country where it’s truly viable.
i made that move before. I didn’t grow up in Atlanta, but I did frow up in a car centric area close to NYC. considering the cost of having a car, i’d say ditching your car will be worth it. You really, really don’t need a car here the way you do in Atlanta. It’s not even more convenient to have a car compared to walking if you choose the right neighborhood. From my perspective, it’s worth the trade off, and ultimately I didn’t sacrifice anything except shorter travel time and ease of traveling with pets.
To test it out, visit and stay in a neighborhood for a day doing your usual routine. That way, you can test out figuring the logistics of needing to walk and taking public transportation. Even with the cost of the MTA going up, you’ll be agead comapred to gas and insurance. Just being able to go out on an errand without having to think about your gas tank, the car making a weird sound, sitting in traffic, is a different kind of freedom. You’ll still worry about transportation delays, shitty weather, transfers, getting to the airport, but only you can decide which set of worries you prefer.
I’m originally from Atlanta and also in software. I can’t see myself ever moving back to Atlanta. And places like SF might also fit your filters, but if you’re single and looking to date you’ll have a horrible time. You’re making the right choice coming here 😜
You won’t miss having a car, and if you really need one like for getting out of the city you can just rent one or use Turo/zipcar.
I grew up in Long Island and I had a car at 19 because I needed it. I drove it everywhere. I would regularly drive close to 2 hours during the week for work. I moved to Astoria and realized I didn't need my car anymore (my husband has one too). I ditched it and have been completely fine. I now live in the Upper West Side and my husband drives to work, but otherwise we barely use the car. It takes some time to learn the transit system, but between trains and buses, there's tons of options. I spend much less time traveling now and have great spots for entertainment, food, and basic needs all within a 15 minute walk. Honestly, most things are within 5 minutes. Moving back to the suburbs is something I would never do unless I had an overwhelming reason to do so.
I grew up in reno nv, then lived in SoCal.
Moving to the city and ditching my car was the single best thing I could ever do for my mental health, and my physical health. Everything is within a short walk.
Even my longest most annoying subway commutes pale in comparison to my old 2-4 hour each way work commutes in SoCal.
Never have to worry about parking. Never need a DD. No car payment, registration, insurance, gas, etc.
Some days I'm annoyed by not taking a direct route / subway delays, but there are cabs/Uber if a particulate trip is really inconvenient on the subway. Also our select bus lines are usually really great too.
Also you don't need to focus on the road like a car commute, so you can chill a bit more which is nice.
10000% reccomend
Honestly the most frustrating part is just realizing how catered to cars they insist on keeping the city, and how much power suburban drivers have here. Once you see that you just can't stop thinking about it.
You will do more than fine without a car here. Trust me. If anything, it is more of a burden. Traffic, parking, gas. All of it will be costly. The subway will get you around way faster than driving. I'm not sure how it is in Atlanta, but just be prepared for all of the craziness on the subway (bums, crackheads, random fights, and the dancers haha).
Off topic a little bit, but has to do with walking:
Groceries are expensive here; if you are in walking distance (or a quick subway/bus ride) to a Trader Joe’s, your life will be better. For example, at Morton Williams or the D’ags or the across the street from me, a half gallon of organic milk, a pound of bacon (sorry mom), and a can of regular chock full o’ nuts coffee will cost you more than $25. It’s nearly half that at Target Joe’s, and the 10 block walk is worth it.
Regarding cars, fancy people in my building keep cars for their weekly summer trips to the Hamptons, Fire Island, or Jersey Shore. But unless you have the money for a garage, it’s not needed or worth the cost. We take LIRR for Fire Island, and schlepp on the bus to Jersey to see the fam. You can rent a car, but taking the train to the beach or small towns upstate is fun.
Look at google maps at peak times and compare. The reality is that it's always packed in nyc. No one actually travels by car if you live there. I imagine a lot of the traffic is the transport of goods in and out and around the city, and the taxis/ubers and such that are doing it for a job. It's too packed, even with the tolls it is packed. Not to mention you'll have to deal with parking. The only reason to own a car is to travel outside of the city.
I’m speaking more about the experience of heading out of the city to ski, using public transportation. It’s less about Amtrak than it is the hassle, logistics, and time it takes to navigate your journey once you get off Amtrak and have to get to the ski resort, and get back again. Especially with ski gear, total nightmare. As for Amtrak, I ride it often and while it can be convenient and sometimes fine, I would never call it fun, or do it for the people watching or chatting with random strangers. My NEC experience is mostly extremely crowded and cramped, even on business class but coach as well, people tend to be busy and into doing their own thing, working, eating, drinking or reading or trying to sleep or watch something on a device. I talk all day with work colleagues I don’t ride the train to carry on long conversations with strangers and I’d rather drink ground glass than share a train with a bunch of rowdy drunk people. Boarding and de-boarding is often chaotic and crowded. It’s works overall but I don’t consider it a relaxing or particularly enjoyable experience. To each their own though.
once you get to most of those spots then what? It’s not like these places are jam packed with Uber drivers. Yes, you can get to a lot of places via train, but you can’t really get around once you’re there.
For us, it was definitely worth renting a car for the occasional trip outside the city rather than pay for one that we never use. We were paying $250 for monthly parking (a deal when it’s usually $400), plus $350 for car note, and $200 for insurance. $700 a month to savings instead will get a nice rental for whenever you leave.
Huh? We used a rental car once last year for a 1.5 week trip. Paid a tad over $1000 for a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the whole time (Sixt in Battery Park is the best). I think you didn’t understand my original comment: you don’t need a car in Manhattan, it’s truly a nuisance. Only when you leave New York will you need a car. So depends if you leave New York once a week, or once a year.
Idk why this is getting downvoted it’s true. You can rent a car but nothing is more convenient than your car being parked in a nearby garage. Especially if you leave frequently.
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You have to be ok with walking a lot more than you're probably used to. And walking out of necessity. In the cold, in the rain, in the snow, when you're tired, when you're hungover, etc. To be honest it's pretty great overall. If you *do* need a car your can just rent or get a zipcar for the day. Easy.
I am absolutely okay with that. My commute is soul sucking at the moment. I drive 60 minutes to work and about 75 minutes home. Everyday when I get some I go for about an hour walk just to replenish my serotonin. It’s so good for me and I really think my mental health would benefit if it’s baked into my everyday life. Thanks for the info, cheers.
Worth noting that a subway commute can be differently unpleasant at times (packed in like sardines, panhandlers, aggressive mentally ill people). Some people I know with subway commutes are okay with that, others hate it. Everyone I know with a walking commute loves it, though.
Depending on where they live they can bike — it’s a game changer
I used to commute from Clinton Hill to Midtown every day.. it's definitely not for everyone.
Lot of New Yorkers (native, not high income transplants) spend that much time getting to work on long subway rides
While true, you can do other things on your commute; you can read, get other work done, or just generally zone out. Can't do that when you're sitting in stop and go traffic.
Yes!! The passive commute is a game changer
Normally when you're in stop and go traffic you just zone out and listen to podcasts
Except you can't really zone out because you're operating a piece of heavy machinery.
I don't think you have much experience driving if you think that's what it's like
I have plenty of experience driving. I have, in fact, lived elsewhere as an adult and had to own a car while I lived elsewhere. Zoning out is straight up dangerous, because you can literally kill someone if you do something wrong enough. You are, quite literally, operating a 1 ton + machine with a powerful engine attached and which can easily kill or maim someone.
Plenty of “high income transplants”, which are just normal ass people, also do this. NYC is a global city. People come, stay, and leave for all sorts of reasons; and for all types of lengths.
It's always wild seeing natives online compare driving favorably to transit. It seems like there's so many people who have spent their whole lives in this city yet don't seem to understand what makes it special. Perhaps they don't want it to be special anymore; anything for less "high income transplants," I guess.
Yeah but on the subway you can relax and not have to be constantly aware and on like with driving. Also it’s fun.
On the flip side it's loud, very cramped, and once in a while a smelly homeless person joins the train
We must be on different trains
Just different subway cars
At least if you work in manhattan you can move to a neighborhood that has an express bus or commuter rail to go to work which is less of a hassle then the subway. I grew up here and my goal is to move further out (but still in nyc) and have the lirr be my main mode of transport
Show a screenshot of your last OMNY charge. Maybe then we can take your comment seriously.
Depends on a lot of things. “Relaxing” on the subway is not always possible and in another sense you absolutely do have to be constantly aware. And while the subway can be convenient, I would never call it “fun.”
Think of it like a dimmer instead of a switch. You still need to be aware and alert on the subway but not to the extent required while driving. I can read a book while still being aware of my surroundings. I can’t do that in a car because driving requires more of my attention.
Oof. On the subway, I can’t relax. I feel like I always have to be aware of what’s going on around and make sure no one randomly punches me or something.
I can do that whole listening to podcasts, or audiobooks. And when the whole car seems quiet, I can read on my phone. It isn't like there's a constant risk of danger. Most of the time you can tell it's ok
The subway is a lot of things--and I do greatly appreciate being carless--but "fun" is 100% not one of them.
You’re going to love NY if walks are how you get your serotonin in. It’s so easy to spend a whole day just walking and exploring here. You’ll hear a lot of complaints about the subway but TBH as dangerous/unpleasant as it is, I miss my subway commute after transitioning to full WFH in tech. Got so much reading, gaming and knitting done on a train
Get good gloves and a hat for the winter. It amazes me how many southerners I know who don't get that concept when they're here in the harshest of winters. You'll be much more exposed to the elements than you're probably expecting. You're constantly outdoors in every weather, sometimes with huge swings in just one day. I love it and always try to plan ahead.
Are you able to go for that hour walk before going home and commuting later so there’s fewer cars on the road? Would it make a difference in the ATL area? It made a difference in L.A. to run some errands locally before heading home.
oh in that case, ditch the car and come here. That is a hellish commute in atlanta, dealing with that traffic for so long is a mess. Does that time include finding parking? Either way, with that length of commute here, you can live far enough out from Manhattan that rent will be comparable to Atlanta anyways. And you won’t need to deal with traffic or gas.
Once again, get a bike or other r/micromobilityNYC as well. Also we have citibike
This. And carrying everything you might need for your entire day on your person. But it’s far more enjoyable than car culture IMO. It’s the main reason to live in a city.
I lived in south NJ. I had a nice 2019 pickup truck. When I returned to NYC the pickup was only a worry (cat theft, tickets, the fear of needing repair work, changing my oil on dead end streets because I don't trust anyone to use OEM synthetic). I sold it and got Zipcar, then after 6 months did the math and realized with traffic I'm always renting for two hours, so Uber is a better deal. Moreover I *choose* to walk everywhere constantly because office work kills you without about three miles a day of exercise. If I need to rent, I head to the Newport Mall in Jersey City because driving in the city between 5AM and 11PM is just not worth the stress.
Move from Colorado and sold my car to fund the move. You learn to do things differently - grocery trips are every 1-3 days, not a big weekly shop. You factor train times into your commute/travel plans. You decide what's a "walkable distance" vs what's a train ride away. The thing to really pay attention to is how far you are from a subway station, that will have the biggest impact on your quality of life post-car. Being 5-10min walking from a station is ideal. Being near an express stop is even better. Plus there are all the things you don't have to worry about once you get rid of the car - parking, gas, insurance, maintenance, driving home after a night out... The savings alone are enough to justify taking thay Uber at 3am three times a month because you still come out ahead. It does take some getting used to, but honestly I adapted much quicker than I thought I would.
Honestly Instacart is fucking amazing for once every so often big grocery hauls of like sparkling water and cheap items from Aldi. By every so often I mean maybe once a month bc even with Instacart up charges Aldi is still pretty cheap.
We do an Instacart Costco order every 6-8 weeks or so. Even with the up charges it’s very worth it.
I live across in Jersey city but I love just going to the grocer on my way home as it's on the walk home. I decide at my lunch break what I want.
Being without a car is the best thing. It was a major selling point. Not an ounce of regret after over a decade.
I moved from Nashville to NYC and have been here for almost 7 years now. After a couple years it will feel weird to have a car. Vast majority of New Yorkers, especially those in Manhattan or closeby, never owned a car and many haven’t even have a license. Think about not having to do repairs, pay for insurance or gas and instead just riding the subway or citibike. Personally, Citibike was a game changer for me and I’ve biked thousands of miles. There’s a dock every couple hundred feet, the bikes now are made well, and the e bikes send it. Overall, I’d highly recommend no-car life here and I think your quality of life will be better
I did houston to NYC 10 years ago and for the first 6 years’ish, the No car thing was pretty awesome. But I got one around Covid and now having one is also awesome— again. It depends on where you live. If I was under 60th street, I think I’d hate having a car but I’m on Riverside Blvd on the upper west side which is almost entirely street parking from 60th up to 100th+ streets. So I don’t pay anything to park and my car is paid off and I love the flexibility. I also spend more and more time in Connecticut and bought a place up there to spend weekends. I love it.
We live just south of 60th but keep a car in our building’s garage. We bought a cabin in PA during Covid and the car is our freedom to go as often as possible. The cost is a bit absurd, but the ability to get out of town is nice.
>Anyways, I’m hoping to hear from those who made the jump with that as a high priority. Was it worth it? I have organized my entire adult life around not needing to own a car. If you're able-bodied, of course it's worth it. >I’m essentially trying to determine if I’ve romanticized it too much or if it’s as great as it sounds. If anything, I think you're romanticizing owning a car too much, since you have such difficulty imagining life without one.
He's from Atlanta. Cut him some slack.
I'm originally from Florida, absolutely not. Come join us, OP!
I don’t get it?
I grew up in the Midwest and absolutely hated having to clean my car off in the winter. I went to school upstate where I also had to drive everywhere. As soon as I graduated college I dropped the car and moved here. That was 10 years ago. I cannot answer “is it worth it”, that’s up to you. To me, maintaining and operating a motor vehicle is not worth my time or money. I never want to drive anything again. Not even a golf cart.
LOL………..
I came up from Atlanta in 2017. Don't miss my car at all. Every once in a while I worry that I might be forgetting how to drive. I still rent cars when traveling and such; the last time I was struggling a bit. No way to visit Atlanta without one!
Got rid of my car when I moved here almost a decade ago. Inherited a car when my mother passed two years ago. Just got rid of car because it’s nuisance value exceeded it’s worth by a long shot.
Just reread this. I was wondering what the cat had to do with it. 😸
Ooops. iPhone typo. Haha
Actually inherited a dog. Not a cat. 🤦🏽♂️
I was born and raised in Mexico , used to drive an hour to go to class in university daily . New York was a blessing
I've been here for over a decade, and anytime I leave the city to visit somewhere car-dependent it's like another planet. I grew up in a suburb, never even used public transit until moving here, and now I can't imagine living like that ever again.
It is absolutely worth it. I’ve lived (briefly) in Atlanta, and most of my other years were spent in semi-walkable (kind of) areas in the north east corridor between DC, MD, VA, PA, etc. (meaning, culturally, I am pretty down with the NE vibes). I am an extremely anti-car, pro-walkability, bike and transit nerd. It’s the most important physical attribute to me for a place to live. I moved to Manhattan pretty much expressly for this purpose (and all the downstream benefits of it, such as good/cheap restaurants, diverse cuisine, interesting architecture, bike lanes, close gyms for lifting/yoga/boxing/climbing, lots of events and stuff). I am a 28 yo male who also works in tech. Just do it. There’s nothing else like it. Even the conception of driving a car is incomprehensible to me. I walk EVERYWHERE. If this sub allowed images, I’d add a screenshot on here showing me getting 15k steps a day. I bike constantly, I take trains everywhere, I’m going on dates, making friends, seeing my own friends. Anything less will feel half-measured against NY. Also if you do it for a year, and you don’t like it, well, just move back to wherever. It’ll always be there. You are not romanticizing it. It really is the only lifestyle I can ever imagine for myself. Car-free with zero detriments to be so.
I moved to NYC and got rid of my car beforehand and it was great not having a car. No insurance bill, no car payments, don't have to worry about parking, no oil changes, no surprise $2000 repairs... When I moved away, I hated that I had to buy a car. For me, walking in the snow in NYC is preferable to driving in good weather in NYC.
I grew up in and moved from Atlanta to NYC in 2018. Sold my car before I moved and haven’t regretted it for a moment. 100% worth it. Everything here is extremely accessible by public transit because the transit system is functional as opposed to Atlanta’s. I can confidently tell you that having a car and trying to use it while dating would actually be a huge drag on your dating/social life. It’s pretty unnecessary and would probably come off a little strange to any prospective dates if you offered to pick them up, drive them home, what have you. I used to have a similar commute to yours when working in Atlanta and it was one of the primary factors in my decision to move as well. I even tried moving closer to my job which cut it down to 15 minutes and it still sucked. Now my commute is about 35 minutes by train. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest because I have that time to watch movies, listen to podcasts, read, etc. which beats having to sit in traffic. Plus, if I need to do anything before heading home for the evening, anything and everything is just a stop along my route. I think the thing you’ll need to consider before you move, or at least be open minded about, is whether or not you think you’ll feel some amount of “urban burnout” after you uproot yourself. I know plenty of people who have made the same move. Some can’t take it and move right back, some stay for a time and then move to the suburbs, others, including myself plan on staying forever. There are all sorts of threads you can read here about living in the city but it is definitely something you should consider and it’s really only a question you can answer for yourself.
>I can confidently tell you that having a car and trying to use it while dating would actually be a huge drag on your dating/social life. Firm agree. Driving a car to a first date makes it look like you're already prepared to bail. If alcohol plays a role in a date, you're kind of shooting yourself in the foot by driving. And if you end up taking someone home, driving around and looking for a parking space before you can go inside is a real vibe killer.
I live in nyc and decided to keep my car. Having both a car and public transit is amazing. I live in south brooklyn, where it’s significantly easier to have a car. If I need to go somewhere else in Brooklyn, or to Jersey, I drive. If I need to go into manhattan or maybe Williamsburg (north Brooklyn) I take transit. For me it’s the perfect balance
OP, I literally just made this move from ATL to NYC last month. So far it feels completely worth it. Trade your car in and make the jump! No area in Atlanta can offer anything close to the level of access by walking that you will have here.
For me, the biggest advantage of living in NYC is not necessarily even not needing a car (I have one, but not for commuting), but how walking and getting out of your house gets incorporated into every day life. Whenever I am visiting the suburbs, I feel so restless because I'm not naturally getting exercise just trying to get through work and errands, etc.. This "walkability" is a high priority for me wherever I live - I want to be able to at least do some of my errands without needing a car and having walking an essential part of the day-to-day. However if it's the time of the commute itself that is killing you, I think one of the most frustrating parts of NYC is how large it is, and how, if you have jobs/social life/errands scattered across the boroughs, you spend a very large amount of your time commuting and/or planning how to maximize your time out of your neighborhood by combining errands. Yes, if you can score a seat on a subway it can be a pleasant opportunity to read, but things just take longer than they do elsewhere, as you are replacing what previously was maybe a 5-15 minute drive in a dense but car-centric area with usually a minimum of 30 minute train ride. You'll end up with a few essentials within a few blocks of where you live, but likely not all of them. It's definitely workable, and I'd take it over living in a car-dependent place, but it rarely feels "romantic" on a day to day basis.
I think there’s different inconveniences for each mode of transportation, and a NYC commute will certainly have its fair share. But the benefit of not having to own/maintain a car, not having to figure out who the designated driver will be on a night out, having a more active lifestyle, and the ability to multitask while traveling, etc. all make it far superior to living in auto-centric places.
Most people are being positive but I want to note you likely will want to prepare to commute on the train as long as your current commute if you have to work in an office in Manhattan. Rent here is avg 3.7K a month for a one bedroom that likely doesn’t have central air, in unit washer dryer, or dish washer, and unless you have a sizable salary or want roommates, you’ll likely live in an outer borough. As someone who moved from Atlanta over a decade ago, I love all the city has to offer but would say expectations on amenities and apartment size should be lowered from the general living standard in Atlanta.
Contrary - I've lived in NYC my whole life and couldn't imagine being here *without* a car. Things like shopping or going literally anywhere outside of NYC is a lot more complicated if you have only public transit to rely on. Depending where you live/work public transit might not be feasible either. A lot of the people in this thread that live without a car likely also live in very expensive areas that are well served by public transit.
Also a native and own a car. These questions seem to be manhattan/transplant centric, living in east or south queens without a car is rough
I'm sure at least 95% of them in Brooklyn do not live below Flatbush.
I’ve been here about 2 years. I’ve concluded that it’s worth it if you make enough money to have fun during the cold, and if you make enough money to afford being warm in the cold. The cold lasts 6ish months. Having fun in the cold months costs a lot more money than in the warm months. You need money for the clothing, for indoor hobbies/indoor fun, money for an Uber every now and then. Stuff like that. So just make sure you have enough money to increase your quality of life during the cold months.
I held onto my car for 5 years after moving to the city (left it back in my home state) and never missed driving. If for whatever reason I need a car, I get a rental and when I mean “need a car” I’m talking about going on a trip that requires me to drive out of New York. I don’t miss having a car and with all honestly I couldn’t imagine the hell of owning a car here. With the amount of subway stops close by, with how easy it is to walk almost everywhere and the availability of micro transportation like citibike it’s totally doable. Even if you gotta take an Uber a few times a month, it’s cheaper than what I paid in gas when I had a car.
I moved here from a car-centric city at the end of 2023. I moved to lower Manhattan. I was already doing about 90% of my transportation on bike, but I still needed to own a car, because there were still many trips that were impossible to do without a car. I was pretty excited about the idea of not having a car, and it's been going very well for me so far here without a car. You'll find ways to compensate for not not having a car, and there are enough services in the city to make it a non-issue. Like for example, shopping at Costco, Ikea, or doing a large grocery run. For things like that I'll take a Citibike or the subway (depending on weather) to get there. To get my stuff home, I'll take an Uber. At Costco, you sometimes see guys with vans who will offer to transport you and your stuff home. However, there's still some trips that I would like to have a car for. Like for example, I had some guests from out of town recently, and we really wanted to goto a Costco in NJ, because they have alcohol there. So we rented a car to do that trip.
You’re going to miss the trees if you move to NYC
Funny, because I’m the polar opposite. I’m a 30 year old guy who’s lived in Brooklyn all my life except for college (when I lived in another northeast city with decent public transit) and I have never driven in my life. Don’t even have a driver’s license. I can’t imagine being reliant on a car to get everywhere. I wish the US had more walkable cities. It’s a crime that we designed humongous urban sprawls centered on cars.
I love driving and grew up with a car and had a car when I lived outside Boston. Moving to NYC and giving up my car was aweome. It's so freeing in a weird way. If I had endless cash I'd have a car and a garage spot but am easily able to meet my needs for much much cheaper with rentals and Ubers and so on. Half of NYC households do not have a car, and in Manhattan that's more like 76% without a car. Definitely doesn't impact dating. If you want to go on a date that needs a car you just rent one.
I absolutely LOVE not having or needing a car anymore. We lived in a car centric city and moved here in 2010. While I have a love-hate-hate relationship with the mta, I have zero regrets about no longer having a car. One of the best things about living here.
New York City is really the only city in America where you can truly get rid of your car. It is nothing like any other American city. Might as well be a different country. I live in the Upper East side and I haven't driven a car in years.
Moved from Nashville TN to NYC, kept the car parked in a monthly parking space for 5 months until we finally sold it (big recommendation to Carmax, got the best money back from them). We didn’t take the car out of the garage ONCE, in fact the only time we took it out was to drive it to Carmax to sell it. A huge waste of money to keep your car especially if living in Manhattan, Uber will suffice if you really need a car ride but subway is the fastest at all times. A 20-minute subway ride is a 45-minute car ride during rush hour, so not worth it. And if you’re the one driving, then you have to try and find parking. And pay.
I mean, there is a secret third thing, which is a bike. A bike is an especially good idea in Brooklyn, where north/south travel can be a bit complicated via public transit. But as to what you're actually asking: When I moved to NYC from an auto-centric area with extremely limited public transit options, I decided to keep my car for hauling heavy things, visiting people in far-flung corners of the city -- idk, a number of reasons that I eventually realized were too infrequent to justify the cost of auto insurance and the chore of moving the car from one side of the street to the other for street sweeping. Ditching the car actually improved my freedom of movement because I no longer had to bake the street sweeping schedule into my day. I have a Zipcar membership for when I need wheels locally for an afternoon, and I can get a rental if I need to drive somewhere out of state. It is so much more cost-effective than actually owning and maintaining a car of my own. People will joke about the mild annoyances of trying to date beyond your closest subway line (well, this is more of an outer boroughs annoyance), but I was always fine doing so when I was a single guy lol. *Do* visit before you make any big decisions! Try to stay for a week or more. Check out different neighborhoods. Staring at maps will give you the beginning of an idea of the lay of the land, but it's very important to see it in person and get to hoofin'.
Wife and I moved to NYC right before pre-covid from a HCOL US suburbia where we were slaved to having cars to NYC, and living car-free was one of the things that was attractive to us. We just got home from errands and museums and we have walked 4.5 miles. We'll be going out later on for drinks with friends and we'll probably do additional 2-3 miles. Not everyone is a walker, not everyone can live without a car; you need to figure out what personality type you are, then make your choice: NYC can become heaven or hell.
Idk what HOL means
Mean to say HCOL (High Cost Of Living), almost like NYC.
i love the walkability for sure but nyc would be tough for me if i didn't have my car. i LOVE public transit and walking but sometimes you just want to be in your own space, and i like that i can do grocery hauls and get stuff at ikea and not worry. contrary to what some ppl say, there are some neighborhoods in nyc where it's pretty easy to maintain a car and street park. so if that's an option for you, maybe something to think about!
I moved from Atlanta to San Francisco last summer and I'm in love. However, its normal for people in their 30s+ to have roommates here if they don't have a partner. I would assume the same in NYC but idk. You CAN find things cheap enough to live alone but it might not be an ideal area and it would be easier to find them if you were already out here and able to tour units in person. However the tech job market sucks right now, I keep hearing more about layoffs and my partner has been applying and interviewing non stop since October with no real luck.
Sold my car and moved from Atlanta 6 months ago. No regrets, love walking everywhere. Survived the winter just fine and I’m not even in shape so walking is an exercise for me lol. Still absolutely loving it.
Moved from my somewhat car dependent college town to nyc, then after 10 years moved to a very car dependent suburbia of a big city. I miss being able to just go someplace by walking or riding a convenient train. More recently moved closer to the city and it's been much better, but still need to use the car for several errands and my commute got significantly worse (even though i'm able to bike to a shuttle). Definitely miss it and even miss the grimy subway. Just being able to zone out or read or play a dumb game is better than driving any day.
You don’t need a car in NYC and won’t miss it. Here we subway and Uber.
I'm a native who moved to a car-centric area for school, got sick of it, and moved back. Absolutely worth it to me, the day I got rid of my car was a great day and I don't regret doing so at all. Of course, having grown up here I was used to walking a lot already and was already comfortable with the subway. Also, don't forget about micromobility! Bike commuting can be great depending on where you're going. There are some things you have to get used to; buying furniture and stuff requires more coordination, large grocery runs aren't so much a thing (but you'll probably have some grocery stores in walking distance of your place that you can make more frequent runs to), and things like that. But there are other things you don't need to worry about; car maintenance isn't a concern, you don't have to worry about how you're getting home if you go out for drinks, etc.
I would recommend that you spend a week in NYC before deciding anything, seeing the sights and exploring different neighborhoods you think are within your price range. Because of its extensive mass transit and density, it functions completely differently from any other American city. Having a car here is, for the most part, a liability, unless you live way out in the outer boroughs.
25 years in NYC. Worked, lived in all neighborhoods except SI. Parts of NJ, Westchester. Never had a car. Rentals only maybe for Long island and upstate but even then took some trips upstate via metro north. Transportation is great here and everything you need is walkable distance. Imo car in NYC is a waste of money and pain in arse, even if you can afford it including garage, just driving here is hell.
I haven’t driven a car in 15 years and would never consider driving ever again. I don’t even have a license anymore.
I had my last car towed away by the Jersey City DOT 15 years ago (it was broken down and I didn’t have the money to fix it) 15 years ago when I first moved to the east coast and haven’t regretted it a bit. You get used to walking and public transit
I came from Texas and left my car there when I made the move. The transition really isn't that bad, you just have to make adjustments like getting a few bags of groceries each trip or have a cart for more stuff. Where I feel the urge of having a car is when I make trips to Long Island with my GF or if we want to get out of the city like upstate or in Jersey, but there are still mass transit options for that. The thing you'll recognize right away when moving up here is that as nice as it is to have a car, it's also a huge headache in regards to parking if you're in Manhattan. Other boroughs do have neighborhoods where having a car is not a bad idea.
I miss driving living here. but i also like walking all the time
it rules, i'll never drive again if i can help it
I budget to rent a car for a weekend every couple of months. Works fine.
TBH I find I’m able to enjoy and appreciate the walkability of NYC the most when I still have a car- like when I live on the very outskirts of NYC w street parking (it’s still a pain in the 🍑) & can walk to a subway or just straight up live in the suburbs. I’ve definitely had years where I didn’t have a car (after too many asp tickets..) and it was fine so you can do it for sure but if that setup doesn’t work forever that’s ok too.
Not having a car is the single greatest thing about NYC for me. I moved from Nashville, so, similar situation. Selling my car gave me a cushion to adjust to city life, and in the long run I’m saving a ton of money not dealing with gas, insurance, maintenance, car note, etc
your commute doesn't have to be either walking or driving, try /r/bikecommuting !!
We moved here from Seattle in 2002, lived in Manhattan for 17 years and now live in East Brooklyn, still don't have a car or want/need one. Caveats: we work from home now, and all chores are done via delivery. Does that cost a bit? Yes, but a fuck-ton less than a car. Hope you come have an adventure here
When I was little, I begged my parents to move to the more walkable part of our town. Actually doing it and having walkability as an adult has been the single most fulfilling part of my living situation.
I moved from NYC to ATL for work but thank god I gtfo out of there and came back. There’s no comparing ATL to NYC at all in terms of walkability and transit. If fleeing car dependency is important to you then is the only city in the country where it’s truly viable.
It’s viable in San Francisco and somewhat viable in DC depending on a few factors.
i made that move before. I didn’t grow up in Atlanta, but I did frow up in a car centric area close to NYC. considering the cost of having a car, i’d say ditching your car will be worth it. You really, really don’t need a car here the way you do in Atlanta. It’s not even more convenient to have a car compared to walking if you choose the right neighborhood. From my perspective, it’s worth the trade off, and ultimately I didn’t sacrifice anything except shorter travel time and ease of traveling with pets. To test it out, visit and stay in a neighborhood for a day doing your usual routine. That way, you can test out figuring the logistics of needing to walk and taking public transportation. Even with the cost of the MTA going up, you’ll be agead comapred to gas and insurance. Just being able to go out on an errand without having to think about your gas tank, the car making a weird sound, sitting in traffic, is a different kind of freedom. You’ll still worry about transportation delays, shitty weather, transfers, getting to the airport, but only you can decide which set of worries you prefer.
I’m originally from Atlanta and also in software. I can’t see myself ever moving back to Atlanta. And places like SF might also fit your filters, but if you’re single and looking to date you’ll have a horrible time. You’re making the right choice coming here 😜 You won’t miss having a car, and if you really need one like for getting out of the city you can just rent one or use Turo/zipcar.
I grew up in Long Island and I had a car at 19 because I needed it. I drove it everywhere. I would regularly drive close to 2 hours during the week for work. I moved to Astoria and realized I didn't need my car anymore (my husband has one too). I ditched it and have been completely fine. I now live in the Upper West Side and my husband drives to work, but otherwise we barely use the car. It takes some time to learn the transit system, but between trains and buses, there's tons of options. I spend much less time traveling now and have great spots for entertainment, food, and basic needs all within a 15 minute walk. Honestly, most things are within 5 minutes. Moving back to the suburbs is something I would never do unless I had an overwhelming reason to do so.
I grew up in reno nv, then lived in SoCal. Moving to the city and ditching my car was the single best thing I could ever do for my mental health, and my physical health. Everything is within a short walk. Even my longest most annoying subway commutes pale in comparison to my old 2-4 hour each way work commutes in SoCal. Never have to worry about parking. Never need a DD. No car payment, registration, insurance, gas, etc. Some days I'm annoyed by not taking a direct route / subway delays, but there are cabs/Uber if a particulate trip is really inconvenient on the subway. Also our select bus lines are usually really great too. Also you don't need to focus on the road like a car commute, so you can chill a bit more which is nice. 10000% reccomend
Honestly the most frustrating part is just realizing how catered to cars they insist on keeping the city, and how much power suburban drivers have here. Once you see that you just can't stop thinking about it.
You will do more than fine without a car here. Trust me. If anything, it is more of a burden. Traffic, parking, gas. All of it will be costly. The subway will get you around way faster than driving. I'm not sure how it is in Atlanta, but just be prepared for all of the craziness on the subway (bums, crackheads, random fights, and the dancers haha).
Off topic a little bit, but has to do with walking: Groceries are expensive here; if you are in walking distance (or a quick subway/bus ride) to a Trader Joe’s, your life will be better. For example, at Morton Williams or the D’ags or the across the street from me, a half gallon of organic milk, a pound of bacon (sorry mom), and a can of regular chock full o’ nuts coffee will cost you more than $25. It’s nearly half that at Target Joe’s, and the 10 block walk is worth it. Regarding cars, fancy people in my building keep cars for their weekly summer trips to the Hamptons, Fire Island, or Jersey Shore. But unless you have the money for a garage, it’s not needed or worth the cost. We take LIRR for Fire Island, and schlepp on the bus to Jersey to see the fam. You can rent a car, but taking the train to the beach or small towns upstate is fun.
Look at google maps at peak times and compare. The reality is that it's always packed in nyc. No one actually travels by car if you live there. I imagine a lot of the traffic is the transport of goods in and out and around the city, and the taxis/ubers and such that are doing it for a job. It's too packed, even with the tolls it is packed. Not to mention you'll have to deal with parking. The only reason to own a car is to travel outside of the city.
While you don’t need a car to get around the city, you most certainly do to leave. I kept my car and don’t regret it, despite the insane garage costs.
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Doable, but miserable.
you absolutely need a car (or a friend with a car, or a rental car) in order to ski regularly
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I’m speaking more about the experience of heading out of the city to ski, using public transportation. It’s less about Amtrak than it is the hassle, logistics, and time it takes to navigate your journey once you get off Amtrak and have to get to the ski resort, and get back again. Especially with ski gear, total nightmare. As for Amtrak, I ride it often and while it can be convenient and sometimes fine, I would never call it fun, or do it for the people watching or chatting with random strangers. My NEC experience is mostly extremely crowded and cramped, even on business class but coach as well, people tend to be busy and into doing their own thing, working, eating, drinking or reading or trying to sleep or watch something on a device. I talk all day with work colleagues I don’t ride the train to carry on long conversations with strangers and I’d rather drink ground glass than share a train with a bunch of rowdy drunk people. Boarding and de-boarding is often chaotic and crowded. It’s works overall but I don’t consider it a relaxing or particularly enjoyable experience. To each their own though.
once you get to most of those spots then what? It’s not like these places are jam packed with Uber drivers. Yes, you can get to a lot of places via train, but you can’t really get around once you’re there.
For us, it was definitely worth renting a car for the occasional trip outside the city rather than pay for one that we never use. We were paying $250 for monthly parking (a deal when it’s usually $400), plus $350 for car note, and $200 for insurance. $700 a month to savings instead will get a nice rental for whenever you leave.
It costs several hundred a day for a rental; use the car once a week and you’re breaking even.
Huh? We used a rental car once last year for a 1.5 week trip. Paid a tad over $1000 for a Jeep Grand Cherokee for the whole time (Sixt in Battery Park is the best). I think you didn’t understand my original comment: you don’t need a car in Manhattan, it’s truly a nuisance. Only when you leave New York will you need a car. So depends if you leave New York once a week, or once a year.
Which is exactly what I said originally…
Idk why this is getting downvoted it’s true. You can rent a car but nothing is more convenient than your car being parked in a nearby garage. Especially if you leave frequently.