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Comment by azernik | Hacker News Reader

> Not in big cities.

Name five big cities where a average-wage worker can get by without a car and car insurance.

5 can probably be done. (assuming "average" is average for that city, not national average). NYC, DC, Seattle, SF, Boston, Chicago... Naming 10 is probably way harder.

Seattle can be tough at least. Really depends on a lot on where you live and where you work. Almost any commute can be done but it easily gets to 2h+ which is just ridiculous.

Seattle is the only one I have personal experience with and I've found it to be pretty good. Usually walking < 1 mile total is reasonable. If you live out in King county things are a little different of course. Are the other cities better than that?

Hence why I mentioned "average-wage" in GP; usually you can avoid owning a car only by living in housing that is out of reach for anyone making <$6k/month.

I don't understand the comment. Is Seattle not doable for <6k $/mo?

Most places in the US, housing near transit options is pretty expensive. Further out, where you get to housing being affordable, is nowhere near transit.

Yeah, that's fair but, from experience, the threshold in Seattle is much less than 6k

It's probably any of the five big cities with a public transit program.

No demand, no program. Ride a bus in a large city, and you'll see a majority of bus pass users.

Can you name one that doesn't?

LA. San Diego. Salt Lake City. Atlanta. Houston. Dallas. Miami.

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