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Comment by seanw444 | Hacker News Reader

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I would want to know exactly where I was, but downtown Detroit is like other big city places.

Not needed! All that hyperbole around Detroit is way overblown.

I can second that. I spend a lot of time in Detroit and its suburbs (though don't live there) and have yet to feel unsafe despite dire warnings from all kinds of people. There are definitely areas to avoid, but that is equally true of New York City or San Francisco.

I used to live at 8th and Mission in SF. 10000x sketchier than Detroit.

> There are definitely areas to avoid

Not even areas really, just activities. Don't get involved in gangs or drugs and you'll never have any problem. One nice thing about the Motor City is that sidewalks are empty, because if you had any money you would be driving. I've walked and biked all around the city and metro, you're more likely to be hurt by a pothole on a street with no lights than by muggers or whatever people are afraid of.

I'm not trying to be snarky here, I'm genuinely considering moving north, and am curious:

> "sidewalks are empty, because if you had any money you would be driving."

Not sure this makes me feel safer. I'm guessing you're not suggesting that everyone has money, so why are the sidewalks empty exactly?

Also would you say that Detroit is "walkable"?

It's humid and muggy in the warm months and windy/rainy/snowy/cold otherwise. You have to be climatically adapted and motivated to walk around outside most of the year. Plus, car culture is a big thing ("Motor City") so everybody drives and there's next to no funding for public transit. There are sidewalks, there are walking and biking paths that cover a surprising area, but the number of things in walkable distance is very location-dependent.

> Also would you say that Detroit is "walkable"?

Somewhat. Downtown is perfectly walkable. Some of the individual surrounding towns are too (Royal Oak for example), but the metro area as a whole is not. I haven't looked (I usually have a rental car), but I don't think the public transit is particularly useful either.

The weather needs to be your biggest consideration. Cars get eaten alive by salt and you'll need one for sure. It's cold 6 months a year and in the winter you get like 8 hours of sunlight, while you're at work. If you are used to warmer climates you'll probably hate it. It is cheap though, if money is your thing.

Detroit is not walkable, no. Certain neighborhoods sure but they are interspersed. You will want a vehicle.

Techbros will move to downtown or mid town near Wayne State University. Its fine.

But the city tax? Oof

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