OK, so Michigan is for sure a car-friendly place. We came up with the modern concept of the automotive industry, after all. But guess what? We have some communities that are really getting to a place where walking, cycling and finding other modes of transportation are becoming the norm. Maybe it’s about time we start considering other ways of getting around… It could really be fun.
- Dearborn Heights
By Dwight Burdette (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Yes, Dearborn Heights is considered car-dependent, but you should be able to walk to a dining establishment within five minutes. Makes for a nice walk with loved ones.
- Marquette
Michigan Municipal League/Flickr It’s rough Up North, with the weather and all. In a city of about 21,000, you’ll be able to find cafes and bars within a five minute walk.
- Mount Pleasant
OZinOH/Flickr Not every city in Michigan is ready to be considered completely walking-friendly. But with 122 restaurants, bars and cafes in town, you’re bound to be able to walk to just about one spot within five minutes.
- Jackson
Michigan Municipal League/Flickr You’re bound to find a restaurant, bar or coffee shop within two miles from anywhere in this town… Really not bad when you’re in for a nice stroll around town before date night.
- Grand Rapids
Rachel Kramer/Flickr True, great Grand Rapids is so spread out, but with the growing farm-to-table and go local scene, plus a growing cycling scene, it’s getting easier to live a walkable lifestyle.
- Oak Park
“Interstate 696 pedestrian plazas Oak Park” by Michigan Department of Transportation - Michigan Department of Transportation. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons So you need your car for most errands. But you’re only a short distance away from plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes, either within your own city, or within a short distance of where you are.
- Bay City
Michigan Municipal League/Flickr Don’t give up on your car, but also don’t resign yourself to driving around completely. You’ll find at least one dining or drinking establishment within a five-mile walk.
- East Lansing
Michigan Municipal League/Flickr OK, so you might need to have a car for most errands, but you’ll be sure to find at least an average of two restaurants, bars or coffee shops within five minutes walking distance. Sounds promising in our book.
- Ann Arbor
Andypiper/Flickr I mean this is one of the country’s premier college towns. Should it come as any surprise that the city’s downtown area should be especially walkable? It’s particularly great for the cycling community… Ann Arbor is great for cyclists and pedestrians in the downtown area.
- Royal Oak
C.J. Peters/Flickr The great thing about Royal Oak is you get a nice mix of restaurants and retail, all within a short walking distance. I mean, we’re talking about 239 restaurants, bars and cafes… You should find at least two of these types of establishments within five minutes walking distance.
- Wyandotte
VasenkaPhotography/Flickr Some errands can be accomplished on foot. Ditch the car here once in awhile. You’ll find 112 restaurants, bars and coffee shops here, averaging about one within a five-mile walk. Why not have a nice stroll out instead pulling the car out of the driveway?
- Eastpointe
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr OK, you may need your car to run errands around here, but we challenge you to take the time to dine out here once in awhile. With more than 105 restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from in this city, you may be better off walking next time you go out.
- Lincoln Park
Butal Lee/Flickr With more than 100 restaurants, bars and coffee shops, you’ll be able to walk to any one of these types of establishments within five minutes.
- Detroit
Michigan Municipal League/Flickr When most people think of Detroit, they still think of decay. That really needs to go out the window, as the city is increasingly become known as a walkable place. especially in Midtown, downtown and above, in New Center.
- Madison Heights
erika dot net/Flickr This is arguably one of the best areas in metro Detroit for ethnic food, as you’ll find plenty of Vietnamese food. There are 202 restaurants here, so you’ll be able to walk to at least two within five minutes walking distance.
- Birmingham
Ken Lund/Flickr You won’t have to walk very far to find something great of some sort to dine on. Especially in this town of about 20,000, where you’ll find about two restaurants, coffee shops or bars within five minutes on foot.
- Dearborn
“Arab American National Museum” by Rmhermen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons With four neighborhoods in Dearborn with a walkable score of 73 or higher, plus about 338 restaurants in the city, you are bound to find plenty to do within walking distance.
- Ypsilanti
Gray Lensman OX!/Flickr Leave your car at home and see that you don’t need it as much as you thought you did. There are 112 restaurants, bars and coffee shops in this town, so you’re bound to find what you need within a short distance.
- Ferndale
Sean_Marshall/Flickr You’re bound to be able to accomplish at least some errands by food in this city. Plus, with 111 estimated bars, restaurants and cafes here within five minutes walking distance, you can leave your car at home with ease.
- Hamtramck
Ian Freimuth/Flickr This scrappy town may not have a whole lot of money but it’s so densely populated that it’s really easy to find what you need near the house, without having to get into the car. With about 22,000 people living here, there are about 70 restaurants, making it possible to walk to at least three in five minutes.
So what do you think? Ready to cut the car loose a little bit? How do you think your city is becoming more pedestrian friendly?
By Dwight Burdette (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Yes, Dearborn Heights is considered car-dependent, but you should be able to walk to a dining establishment within five minutes. Makes for a nice walk with loved ones.
Michigan Municipal League/Flickr
It’s rough Up North, with the weather and all. In a city of about 21,000, you’ll be able to find cafes and bars within a five minute walk.
OZinOH/Flickr
Not every city in Michigan is ready to be considered completely walking-friendly. But with 122 restaurants, bars and cafes in town, you’re bound to be able to walk to just about one spot within five minutes.
You’re bound to find a restaurant, bar or coffee shop within two miles from anywhere in this town… Really not bad when you’re in for a nice stroll around town before date night.
Rachel Kramer/Flickr
True, great Grand Rapids is so spread out, but with the growing farm-to-table and go local scene, plus a growing cycling scene, it’s getting easier to live a walkable lifestyle.
“Interstate 696 pedestrian plazas Oak Park” by Michigan Department of Transportation - Michigan Department of Transportation. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons
So you need your car for most errands. But you’re only a short distance away from plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes, either within your own city, or within a short distance of where you are.
Don’t give up on your car, but also don’t resign yourself to driving around completely. You’ll find at least one dining or drinking establishment within a five-mile walk.
OK, so you might need to have a car for most errands, but you’ll be sure to find at least an average of two restaurants, bars or coffee shops within five minutes walking distance. Sounds promising in our book.
Andypiper/Flickr
I mean this is one of the country’s premier college towns. Should it come as any surprise that the city’s downtown area should be especially walkable? It’s particularly great for the cycling community… Ann Arbor is great for cyclists and pedestrians in the downtown area.
C.J. Peters/Flickr
The great thing about Royal Oak is you get a nice mix of restaurants and retail, all within a short walking distance. I mean, we’re talking about 239 restaurants, bars and cafes… You should find at least two of these types of establishments within five minutes walking distance.
VasenkaPhotography/Flickr
Some errands can be accomplished on foot. Ditch the car here once in awhile. You’ll find 112 restaurants, bars and coffee shops here, averaging about one within a five-mile walk. Why not have a nice stroll out instead pulling the car out of the driveway?
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
OK, you may need your car to run errands around here, but we challenge you to take the time to dine out here once in awhile. With more than 105 restaurants, bars, and cafes to choose from in this city, you may be better off walking next time you go out.
Butal Lee/Flickr
With more than 100 restaurants, bars and coffee shops, you’ll be able to walk to any one of these types of establishments within five minutes.
When most people think of Detroit, they still think of decay. That really needs to go out the window, as the city is increasingly become known as a walkable place. especially in Midtown, downtown and above, in New Center.
erika dot net/Flickr
This is arguably one of the best areas in metro Detroit for ethnic food, as you’ll find plenty of Vietnamese food. There are 202 restaurants here, so you’ll be able to walk to at least two within five minutes walking distance.
Ken Lund/Flickr
You won’t have to walk very far to find something great of some sort to dine on. Especially in this town of about 20,000, where you’ll find about two restaurants, coffee shops or bars within five minutes on foot.
“Arab American National Museum” by Rmhermen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons
With four neighborhoods in Dearborn with a walkable score of 73 or higher, plus about 338 restaurants in the city, you are bound to find plenty to do within walking distance.
Gray Lensman OX!/Flickr
Leave your car at home and see that you don’t need it as much as you thought you did. There are 112 restaurants, bars and coffee shops in this town, so you’re bound to find what you need within a short distance.
Sean_Marshall/Flickr
You’re bound to be able to accomplish at least some errands by food in this city. Plus, with 111 estimated bars, restaurants and cafes here within five minutes walking distance, you can leave your car at home with ease.
Ian Freimuth/Flickr
This scrappy town may not have a whole lot of money but it’s so densely populated that it’s really easy to find what you need near the house, without having to get into the car. With about 22,000 people living here, there are about 70 restaurants, making it possible to walk to at least three in five minutes.
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