Originally Posted by
B. Carfree
I've got some bad news for your fantasy of going car free: there are no bike friendly places in the US. If there were, many thousands of folks would be living out their dreams by moving there (at least those of us who do not depend on some particular job market). I've ridden in most of the so-called bike friendly locales, and it's really a contest to see which midget is tallest.
I was never car-free when I lived in America, but it didn't stop me from commuting by bike whenever possible. A little sense, and acceptance of the inevitable cage-driving-morons-who-think-cars-are-a-suit-of-armor goes a long way. Most people can do most of their basic transportation by bicycle, but most people don't like to make the effort.
When I was looking for places to live when I was younger, being bike-friendly was never a concern. Most important were the climate and quality of life. But if climate and quality of life are good, more likely than not, getting around by bicycle will also be more convenient.