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8 Pedestrian-Friendly U.S. Cities to Explore
Cities like Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco, with their extensive public transportation systems, have long been go-to destinations for carless travelers. But a few unexpected locales have joined the list, thanks to new and expanding transit options. In honor of Car Free Day — Friday, Sept. 22 — take stock of these old (and new) pedestrian-friendly American destinations.
Denver
Downtown Denver is 23 miles from Denver International Airport, a distance covered by the University of Colorado A Line in 37 minutes. This fare acts as a day pass for limitless rides on a rapidly expanding network of light and commuter rail. The new R Line, which opened earlier this year, adds 10.5 miles to the regional system.
Chicago
The traditional, ethnic neighborhoods of Chicago have been joined by new restaurants and bars, fresh faces that honor a past of ice cream parlors, tiki dens and breakfast as the best meal of the day. These neighborhoods are great places for long walks — to parks, pubs and blues clubs — on both landmark boulevards and a landscaped trail where freight trains once rumbled.
Detroit
The Motor City once had a vital streetcar system, including a track that ran down its main corridor, Woodward Avenue. In April, some 60 years after the old lines were eradicated to make way for cars, the new QLine has restored streetcar service to downtown over a 3.3-mile route. The city also added a bike-share program in May, called MoGo; a daily pass is $8.
Boston
Among the many walkable attractions in Boston is the classic tour that begins at the 50-acre Boston Common, the nation’s oldest public park and endpoint of Frederick Law Olmsted’s green-space network known as the Emerald Necklace. From here, if history is your thing, walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, which wends its way through 16 Revolutionary-era sites.
Los Angeles
No American city is more synonymous with congestion than Los Angeles. But alongside and under those clogged highways, the city’s Metro Rail has built 105 miles of subway or light rail in Los Angeles County since 1990. Two extensions that opened in 2016 now reach west to beachfront Santa Monica and extend from Pasadena east to Azusa at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.
San Francisco
There’s plenty to absorb while roaming the streets of San Francisco: the mind-boggling views along that glorious waterfront; the Mission’s still-feisty, freaky, welcome-all-comers character and the meandering natural pleasures of Golden Gate Park. Just be prepared for some hikes up the city’s famed hills.
Phoenix
The vast rental car center at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport attests to the dependence that visitors to Arizona’s capital have on driving. To avoid it, take the free people mover PHX Sky Train from the terminals to the Valley Metro Light Rail. Its 26 miles of track run to downtown Phoenix in one direction and Tempe and Mesa in the other. Another 40 miles are planned by 2034, and the transit authority is testing Wi-Fi on the route.
New York
One of the more underappreciated forms of car-free transportation is the NYC Ferry system. Consider the ferry to Ellis Island, which includes admission to the Statue of Liberty. There’s also plenty to explore along the shores of Brooklyn and Queens, as well as Governors Island, which is open until October 31 this year. It’s a great place for a bike ride and hosts a number of art exhibitions, among many other activities.
Explore the World on Foot
Find inspiration for both urban rambles and long-distance pilgrimages.
A Walk Through the Past in New York: Russell Shorto, the author of “The Island at the Center of the World,” highlights often-overlooked Native American and Black sites.
A Savory Stroll in Singapore: Experience a taste overload along Geylang Road, in the city-state’s red light district.
Japan’s Shikoku Pilgrimage: Discover a famed route on the smallest of Japan’s four main islands.
In Wales, Roaming a Land of Legends: A writer follows a 36-mile trail through the mountains to the coast.
The Art of Being a Flâneur: Sometimes the best way to explore a city is to simply wander, with no goal in mind.
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