Living Car-Lite in the Suburbs
In this final installment of our three-part series, the geographic scope is broadened to include more of metro Atlanta. Read on for ideas about living car-lite in Atlanta’s communities and suburbs.
Even if you don’t live in the heart of urban Atlanta, you can still enjoy the benefits of car-lite living. Communities around the metro area are actively working to enhance walkability and multi-modal mobility. Atlanta, particularly its suburbs, is quickly becoming a walkable destination, fueled by wise planning and urban design, mixed-use development, and smart growth. You don’t have to rely as much on your car when you can conveniently live, shop, work, and spend your free time within close proximity.
The abundance and growth of bike paths in Atlanta and throughout the state is evidence that residents value the option to get around without relying on cars. The extensive Silver Comet Trail and the popular intown Atlanta BeltLine are just two of the excellent paths for cyclists, walkers, and runners in the metro area that encourage exercise, allow access to nature and greenspace, and provide linkages to neighborhoods and communities, business districts, and retail areas. The League of American Bicyclists has a list of Georgia’s bike clubs, stores, and organizations, many of which are located in metro Atlanta.
In his 2013 study, “The WalkUP Wake-Up Call: Atlanta,” Christopher Leinberger identifies numerous local examples--including the downtown cores of Decatur and Roswell--of what he calls “walkable urban places,” or “WalkUPs.” According to Leinberger, “WalkUPs” are important because they are accessible and suited to promote walking instead of driving, among other reasons. Look online to find your community’s “Walk Score,” a tool used in Leinberger’s study to assess walkability.
The future looks even brighter for reducing your car dependency in Atlanta. The results of a recent Christopher Leinberger and Patrick Lynch study assessing “WalkUPs” in America indicate metro Atlanta as America’s 8th most walkable city and show it rising to #5 in an estimate of most walkable American cities of the future.
Living car-lite is enhanced with access to transit and a high-quality transportation network, and Atlanta is fortunate in this regard. Atlanta area residents can take advantage of alternative forms of transportation through MARTA, as well as services provided by regional transit agencies that encompass other metro counties. In a 2014 Atlanta Magazine interview, MARTA’s Senior Director of Transit Oriented Development, Amanda Rhein, discusses how the agency is working to encourage construction of walkable, high-density, mixed-use “Transit Oriented Development” centers around rail stations, allowing for easy access to amenities and transit. Read this “CityLab” article for an update on MARTA’s TOD projects.
If you’re intrigued about where you can live car-lite outside of urban Atlanta, here are a few suburban places that lend themselves to such a lifestyle and allow for a good quality of life:
- Decatur: Decatur touts its compact downtown core; mobility and proximity to transit, including 3 MARTA stations, a local shuttle, 5 Zipcars, and lovely neighborhoods close to the city’s centers; bike programs and infrastructure; and participation in the “Safe Routes to School” program.
- Roswell: Anchored by Canton Street, Roswell offers walking and biking infrastructure and access to public transportation via MARTA.
For additional information on living car-lite in other regional neighborhoods, including your own, check out “Car-Free in Atlanta."
Even simple actions make a difference: walk or bike to run errands; choose to shop in pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use developments rather than strip malls; park your car in a central place and walk to the rest of your stops; and plan ahead to be purposeful and efficient with your trips.
For more ideas on living car-lite in Atlanta, check out our Midtown Blog, the Georgia Commute Options blog, and “Car-Free Atlanta Family."
Share your thoughts with us at MT@MidtownATL.com.