>>1834345In most of America, driving is the only way to get anywhere. Only in a handful of cities are you able to walk, bike, bus, and/or train to the bar and back. Now the psychology behind it, most people are irresponsible, over estimate their capability, and/or didn't plan to get that drunk in the first place. The only option for car dependent cities is have a designated driver or park the car at the bar then taxi back home then have a friend or taxi drive you back to your car in the next day. Car dependent culture is absolutely retarded.
Born, raised, and still living in Chicago, it was always normal for me to bike, bus, and train everywhere, and thankfully we have pretty good public infrastructure (and parks! "Urbs in Horto" - "City in a Garden") with a relatively compact, accessible, and clean city. Cost of living in Chicago is relatively low cost, at least if we compare it to NYC or LA, however that's changing quickly with the influx of people trying to escape car dependent lifestyle. Parking is almost non-existent and owning a car here is maintenance hell because of our winters and salted roads. Speaking of winters, that's our great filter, the harsh winters keep a lot of transplants from actually staying here and let me tell you, even as someone born, raised, and works outdoors for a living, I'm still not used to the winters, even if I love winter.
It might not be perfect here but it's God damn close. Just stick to the "good" parts of the city and you'll be alright. The best way I can describe Chicago is that our neighborhoods are like a collection of small towns stuck together in close proximity. We have that "small town feel" for such a big city, however, that also means we can spot outsiders, transplants, and tourists instantly. You don't want to be identified as an outsider in the rough parts of Chicago, I'll leave it at that.
