Cities are great to live in because there’s so much packed into one space. Often, you don’t need a personal vehicle to get you from Point A to Point B. You can either walk or take an efficient transit system.
If you’re looking for homes for sale in Toronto or condos in Calgary, you may be wondering where the best places are to settle that allow you to travel on foot to most places.
Walkability is often a key factor for people moving to a more densely-populated area. Walkability is often determined by easy accessibility of public transit, bike lanes, and amenities within five minutes.
Factoring into this as well is how pedestrians are treated in the city, if their needs are met.
Toronto, Ontario
Canada’s most populous city is exactly what you’d expect in the way of traffic: clogged, annoying, and slow. This makes the city’s good walkability score all the more valuable.
Toronto has a wide network of buses, trains, subways, and rail cars that carry passengers from the downtown area out to the city’s suburbs.
Districts like Chinatown, Kensington, and the Bay Street Corridor are perfectly accessible on foot.
A bonus to the area? When it’s cold you won’t have to fret over freezing in the open air; much of Toronto is connected underground.
Victoria, British Columbia
“The Garden City” is known for its Victorian-inspired buildings and lush greenery. It’s a city with a relaxed pace, making it popular among the retirement set.
There are plenty of transportation options here including rail service, ferries, and even double decker buses.
The weather here is mild, so bikers and walkers need not be too concerned about getting caught out in the cold.
Vancouver, British Columbia
This west coast locale ranks among New York, San Francisco, and Boston as one of the most walkable cities in North America.
Here you’ll find an extensive bus network, a light rail system, water taxis, and ferries.
There are nearly 280 miles of bike routes for those who like to get around on two wheels and the city is, overall, a great place for outdoor enthusiasts.
Montreal, Quebec
This is one of the most notable cities in the country thanks to its European vibe and unique cultural experiences you can find here.
The city’s transit network includes buses, subways, and railways, as well as bike paths that run throughout the city.
Certain neighborhoods have amenities that allow for errand-running to be done entirely on foot, places like Ville-Marie, Outremont, and Plateau-Mont-Royal.
New Westminster, British Columbia
This city is part of the metro Vancouver area and it has five SkyTrain stations, which are light rapid transit systems that carry people across Vancouver.
Bikers will feel safe with the many dedicated bike lanes in the area.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
This is a major economic hub, one that’s easy to navigate around on foot.
It’s also home to North America’s oldest ferry system, which was established in 1752.
Halifax’s size makes it a great place for cyclists and walkers.