Moving to a new city or town is a huge and exciting life decision. You spend countless hours researching the big-ticket items: job opportunities, the quality of the schools, and, of course, the housing market. You're looking for the perfect place to build your new life. But in all the excitement, there is one critical factor that will have a massive impact on your daily quality of life that is often overlooked until it’s too late: the local transportation options.
How will you get to work? How will your kids get to school? How easy is it to run your daily errands? These are crucial questions that define your day-to-day experience. This is especially vital for seniors, individuals with disabilities, or one-car families who may need a reliable accessible transportation service to get to medical appointments and other essential services. A thorough investigation of an area’s transportation landscape before you sign a lease or a mortgage is a non-negotiable part of your due diligence.
To ensure your new neighborhood is a great fit, here are seven tips for vetting the transportation options.
1- Map Your Real-World Commute
Before you fall in love with a house, you need to be realistic about the daily commute to work or school. Use a tool like Google Maps or Waze, but don't just check the current travel time. Use the feature that allows you to set a "depart at" or "arrive by" time. The commute during the 8:00 AM rush hour can be double or even triple the travel time it is in the middle of the day. Do this for a few days to get a realistic picture of your potential daily reality.
2- Go Beyond the "Walk Score"
Online "walk scores" are a great starting point for understanding a neighborhood's walkability, but they don't tell the whole story. A place can be a short distance from a coffee shop, but the walk might be along a busy road with no sidewalks.
If you can, visit the neighborhood and do a real-world test. Try to walk from a potential house to the nearest park or restaurant. Is it a pleasant, safe walk with well-maintained sidewalks and crosswalks? This will give you a much better sense of the neighborhood's true character.
3- Investigate the Public Transit System
Even if you plan to be a primarily car-based household, having access to a good public transit system is a huge benefit. It can be a lifesaver if a car is in the shop or a great, low-cost option for a teenager.
Go to the local transit authority’s website and look at their system map.
- How close is the nearest bus or train stop to your potential new home?
- How frequently does it run, especially during off-peak hours and on weekends?
- Does the route go to the places you would actually need to go, like a downtown area or a major shopping center?
4- Check for Bike-Friendliness
For many people, cycling is a key mode of both transportation and recreation. Look for signs that a community is invested in bike-friendliness. Check the city’s official website for a map of dedicated or protected bike lanes. Are there safe routes to get from the neighborhood to a downtown area or a local park? The presence of a strong cycling infrastructure is often a sign of a forward-thinking and livable community.
5- Check On-Demand Ride Availability
We often take for granted that we can pull out our phone and get an Uber or Lyft in a few minutes. However, the availability of these rideshare services can vary dramatically from a major city to a smaller town or a suburban area.
During your house tour, open the Uber and Lyft apps on your phone. Check how many cars are in the immediate area and what the estimated wait time is for a ride. A five-minute wait is very different from a 25-minute wait. This will give you a real-world sense of whether on-demand transportation is a viable "Plan B" if your car is in the shop or if you need a safe ride home after a night out.
6- Research Specialized and Accessible Services
For seniors and individuals with disabilities, this is the most important research you can do. You need to investigate the availability of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and paratransit services in the area. Look for local providers and check their service areas and online reviews. The quality and availability of these services can be a critical factor in maintaining independence and accessing essential healthcare.
7- Consider the Airport Commute
If you travel frequently for work or pleasure, the commute to the airport is a major quality-of-life factor. Map the distance and, just like your work commute, check the typical travel time during the hours you would most likely be heading to catch a flight. A home that is an easy 30-minute drive from the airport is a huge advantage for a frequent traveler.
Choosing a new place to live is a massive decision. By taking the time to thoroughly research the full spectrum of transportation options before you move, you can make a much more informed choice that will lead to a more convenient, less stressful, and more connected life in your new hometown.
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