In this day and age, almost everyone you know probably owns a car to get to and from the office. While owning and driving one is convenient and helps you get to your destination, there are a number of disadvantages to owning one. Should you ditch your car and start biking or walking?
The answer is yes; that is, if you live in a city, which promotes safety for its bikers and pedestrians. According to Money Crashers, little do people realize the advantages that come with walking or biking to work or school and the disadvantages (and costs) that go with owning and driving a car.
The publication noted that the annual cost of owning and maintaining a car in the U.S. in 2015 is $8,698. This, however, does not include parking fees and it also depends on the car you drive. The publication further noted that people often fail to realize that the cost of operating more than one car can be greater than that of mortgage payments.
There are also certain advantages that come with walking and biking. Aside from promoting a healthy lifestyle, you are also helping save the environment by reducing your car's contribution to air pollution. The publication further listed the ten bike-friendly cities in the U.S., with the top five being:
1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
2. Arlington, Virginia
3. Miami, Florida
4. Seattle, Washington
5. Portland, Oregon
Aside from these factors, one of the things you need to determine when looking for a new home is safety. As previously reported on Realty Today, Ridgefield, CT was found to be the safest town in the U.S., with only a one in 382 chance of becoming a victim of crime.
These cities aren't also coming short when it comes to facilities and amenities. Most of the cities mentioned in this article often have the best school systems with high-paying jobs.
