Ranking the 'Worst Cities for Car Drivers'

A finance website called nerdwallet took it upon itself to rank the "worst" cities to drive a car.

1 minute read

June 20, 2014, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Lombard Street San Francisco

SurangaSL / Shutterstock

To be fair to John Kuo, who writes the post that accompanies the list, he acknowledges that the cities topping out the "worst" list are also likely to have "well-supported public transportation systems," which can function as "an an environmentally-friendly alternative to waiting in traffic."

The ranking system is based on metrics such as how expensive it is to own a car, how overcrowded the city is ("Weaving though trolleys, cab drivers, pedestrians and cyclists can be difficult and dangerous"), and congestion. New York City, Detroit, and San Francisco top the list.

Tanya Snyder at Streestblog tipped off the urbanism internet community to the list provides her take on the list: "The pop-finance website’s new ranking of the worst cities to drive in includes, predictably, some of the country’s best cities to walk, bike, take transit, or otherwise be in."

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 in nerdwallet

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up on mortgage application terms and house-shaped gold keychain with gold key on it.

HUD Cuts Could Derail Mortgage Underwriting Agency

Staffing cuts at the Federal Housing Administration could imperil affordable housing projects and mortgage programs for new homeowners.

February 25, 2025 - Bloomberg CityLab

Aerial view of University of Hawaii campus in Honolulu, HI.

University of Hawai‘i Appoints New Architecture School Dean

The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa has named Mo Zell as the new dean of its School of Architecture, bringing over two decades of experience in academia, innovative educational programs, and industry partnerships to advance design education.

2 minutes ago - University of Hawai'i News

Black and white photos of couple walking on Great Highway road in San Francisco on the water during the pandemic when the road was closed to vehicular traffic.

Part of San Francisco Waterfront Highway to Become Pedestrian-Only in April

Two miles of the ‘Great Highway’ will be permanently closed to cars, in part due to erosion that makes the road unsafe for vehicles.

1 hour ago - Streetsblog San Francisco

Water purification plant in El Paso, Texas on riverfront.

El Paso Wastewater Purification Facility Breaks Ground

As water supplies become strained and technology advances, cities look to wastewater as a viable source of drinking water.

2 hours ago - Governing

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.