The automobile has become part and parcel of human existence. Henry Ford’s introduction of the assembly line in 1913 effectively crashed the price of cars and made them accessible to everyone with a job and paycheck. Today, many states in America issue learner’s permits to kids as young as 15 years old, effectively putting them behind the wheel barely into their high school years. From then onwards, we can’t imagine life without a car, and most times, rightly so.
However, many want a change from the fast-paced nature of urban living. The itch for a more relaxed, slower-paced metropolises is behind the rise of vanlife movements and stories of young people retreating to the idyllic countryside and quiet villages.
Indeed, many cities have embraced sustainable, more efficient transportation options in response to growing urban populations, ultimately making car ownership unnecessary in some cases. Do you delight in cities with walkable neighborhoods, robust public transit systems, and bike-friendly infrastructure? Here are 10 such cities around the world where cars are unnecessary or outright unwelcome.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam might as well take the top spot on this list. It is world-famous for its extensive cycling culture, fully integrated into the city’s planning. This is accompanied by a well-connected tram, bus, and metro system.
In many cases, you don’t even need the tram or bike to get around the city, as the canal system also offers water taxis and sightseeing cruises.
It’s not a very big city, though, which is very fitting for its highly walkable streets that allow pedestrians to reach most destinations on foot. At 84.68 square miles, Amsterdam is larger than DC by area, although Washington has the larger population.
Venice, Italy
You don’t need a car in Venice because they aren’t allowed anyway. Both locals and tourists make do with boats, gondolas, and water buses to get around the canals. It’s one of the few cities in the world where you’ll never hear the hum or honk of a car, built across more than 100 small islands connected by canals and bridges.
So, the waterways and pedestrian paths are the only available transportation options. The water buses, known as vaporetto, are the primary form of public transportation here.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark’s capital is a model city for sustainable urban living, proving you don’t need a car to thrive in a city blessed with outstanding cycling infrastructure, efficient buses, and trains. Copenhagen takes pride in its stunning architecture and a strong sense of what the Danes recognize as “hygge” – symbolic of coziness and contentment.
It’s one of the world’s most bike-friendly cities, boasting around 240 miles of dedicated cycling lanes across major streets. We don’t know anywhere else with bike traffic lights, bike-specific bridges (such as the iconic Cykelslangen, or “Bicycle Snake”), and even heated bike lanes handy for winter.
With approximately 62% of Copenhagen residents getting around by bike daily, it shows cycling is deeply integrated into the city’s culture and the people’s way of life. The city might just ban ICE cars entirely by 2030.
New York City, USA
Yes, New York. It’s nowhere new being the US version of Copenhagen or Amsterdam, but you don’t really need a car to get along just fine in New York all year. Isn’t that the point? The extensive public transportation network, the subway system, buses, and walkable streets make New York one of the most car-optional cities in America.
The MTA-managed (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) subway system is the city’s transit backbone, boasting 472 stations across four boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx) and 24-hour service.
For areas like Staten Island not serviced by the subway, NYC’s extensive makes it perfectly possible to get around the city quickly without ever having to drive.
Tokyo, Japan
While Tokyo is famous for its high-speed trains and extensive metro system, the densely packed neighborhoods, filled with shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, already make private car ownership not so practical. Residents can even take advantage of the blossoming bike-sharing services for short trips. The city has designated bike lanes in many areas.
Tokyo’s public transportation system is highly efficient, comprehensive, and punctual. It boasts an intricate network of subways, trains, and buses that connect every corner of the city and beyond, which means people can even access outer districts still without having to drive.
The rail system, for example, connects with other train lines like the JR Yamanote, effectively extending the connection to key neighborhoods like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Akihabara.
Paris, France
The robust public transportation, extensive bike lanes, and walkable neighborhoods make Paris one of Europe’s best for car-free living. The Paris Metro is 16 lines strong and boasts over 300 stations covering nearly every part of the city.
Despite being the backbone of the city’s transit system, residents have other options to get around quickly and efficiently without driving. Besides the well-integrated bus network that reaches areas not serviced by the metro, the RER trains provide fast connections to the suburbs and even popular destinations like Versailles and Disneyland Paris.
The best part is one ticket can pay for your metro, buses, and RER train services within central Paris. If all else fails, take advantage of the city’s Velib bike-sharing program, which offers thousands of electric and regular bikes stationed throughout the city.
Singapore
You don’t need a car in Singapore because Singapore hates cars. The city enjoys inducing residents to perish any thought of private car ownership, using the tools of high taxes, quotas, and the infamous electronic road pricing (ERP) systems. The upsides are reduced congestion, improved air quality, and achievable sustainability goals.
In exchange, Singapore rewards its citizens with a clean, reliable, modern, and well-connected public transit system, including the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and buses that cover the entire city-state.
The air-conditioned MRT trains are known for their cleanliness and affordability. They run through all major residential and commercial districts, which also include key attractions often visited by tourists.
Similar to the Paris transit system, you only need the EZ-Link or NETS FlashPay cards to access or seamlessly switch between the trains and buses – an extensive bus network that serves neighborhoods and areas not directly reachable by trains.
Hong Kong, China
Who needs personal cars when you have a fleet of mini-buses that penetrate even the hilly areas and outlying neighborhoods not covered by trains? You only need the Octopus contactless payment card to access all forms of public transportation available in Hong Kong, including ferry services that travel between the main island and outlying islands like Lantau and the iconic double-decker trams on Hong Kong Island.
Hong Kong boasts pedestrian-friendly zones, skywalks, and the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system. The Central-Mid-Levels escalator connects different levels of the city’s hilly terrain. The backbone of the city’s transit system, though, is its Mass Transit Railway (MTR), covering all major areas, from the mainland to Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver’s integrated public transportation system, walkable neighborhoods, and eco-friendly transit options make it one of the world’s best cities to get around without a car. The SkyTrain automated rapid transit system is the backbone of Vancouver’s mass transportation.
It boasts three major lines (Expo Line, Millennium Line, and Canada Line) connecting downtown Vancouver to suburbs like Burnaby, Surrey, and Richmond.
The public buses integrate seamlessly with SkyTrain, allowing a seamless switch between rail and land with just the Compass Card. The SeaBus ferry service, Mobi bike-share program, and relatively mild climate add to Vancouver’s suitability for car-free urban living.
Melbourne, Australia
It may not be Australia’s capital, but Melbourne boasts the world’s largest tram system. Its robust public transportation system, comprising trams, trains, and the PTV-operated (Public Transport Victoria) buses, might just make you rethink the practicality of a personal car.
The 16-line-strong train system connects the city center to suburban areas and regional destinations, which emphasizes the convenience of getting around neighborhoods and attractions without driving.
Neighborhoods like Fitzroy, St. Kilda, and the Docklands are literally begging to be walked, showcasing shops, restaurants, parks, and cultural attractions you can easily access on foot. Naturally, the tram is Melbourne’s most popular mode of transportation, whether for tourists or locals. It even has a free tram zone in the CBD (central business districts) where you wouldn’t need to run your Myki card.
