Unless you lived in some far-out neighborhood and never went downtown, I really have a hard time believing you. I lived there ten years, after growing up in New York, and it was very walkable. I ended up getting rid of both of my family's cars because we could walk or CTA everywhere.

I'd say the loop is kind-of-walkable. But you always end up having to cross large streets made for cars and at night it's empty.

Compare that to a city like London or Paris.

London and Paris also have large streets made for cars, and also has lots of streets that are empty at night. Even the Champs Elysées and Oxford St will be empty at certain times during the week.

Oxford St wasn't made for cars (horse carriages rather) and will likely be closed to traffic in a few years. There were some projects in the 70s-80s to make the city more car-friendly (mainly via one-way roads) but they're about to reverse that to slow down traffic. One of the busiest junctions in the city (bank) has already been closed to all traffic except buses during the day.

Having slow traffic helps pedestrians and increases the incentive to use the tube instead of a cab or car.

> London and Paris also have large streets made for cars

Haha. In London Zone 1, not so much. Some of those streets date back to the Romans. And it was not re-laid out after the fire of 1666.

The wider streets in inner London pre-date 1900, and were made for animal-drawn carriages.

> London and Paris also have large streets made for cars

wat

> also has lots of streets that are empty at night

of course, but the parts that are lively are huge, try walking in Soho.

I moved to Chicago last July and am in the process of getting rid of my car. I hate driving here.

I'd be curious to hear why you say that. What makes Boston more walkable than Chicago?

I lived there for about six months, that was the first time I realized it was possible—even preferable—to live in a city without a car.

I'm mostly comparing to european cities. Chicago is definitely more walkable than a lot of cities, but it's nothing like european cities where you can walk around for hours and still be amazed at how much life there is around you.