Getting Around Memphis: Walkability, Public Transit & Biking

Memphis is primarily car-dependent, with only a few neighborhoods like East Midtown, Cooper-Young, and Overton Square offering some walkability. These areas feature clusters of shops and restaurants, but overall, the city's layout tends to spread amenities far apart, making it difficult to access daily necessities on foot. Travelers will find that getting to key locations such as coworking spaces, grocery stores, or gyms often requires a vehicle, indicating that Memphis is not ideally suited for a car-free lifestyle.

Memphis’s public transit system, MATA, includes buses and a trolley, but it is not extensive. While bus routes cover broad areas, issues like infrequent service and limited trolley lines, which mostly serve the downtown, present challenges. This can be particularly inconvenient for travelers needing to access the city outside of work hours or in the evenings, as public transit doesn’t operate at night. Thus, relying solely on public transportation in Memphis can be cumbersome and might not support a flexible, transit-reliant lifestyle.

Biking in Memphis is somewhat viable, thanks to the city’s efforts to improve bike infrastructure, including dedicated lanes and scenic trails like the Shelby Farms Greenline and Big River Crossing. The flat terrain is advantageous for cycling, but the availability of these lanes and paths varies, and traffic and safety concerns can discourage biking as a regular mode of transport. While areas exist where biking is convenient and accessible, potential drawbacks such as inconsistent infrastructure and safety issues limit the city from being fully bike-friendly. Travelers can consider using Explore Bike Share for additional biking options.