The Yorktown ReserveBlog

Car-Free Living at Yorktown Reserve

For most people living in the Chicago suburbs, owning a car feels like a given – a non-negotiable part of adulthood that comes with not living in a city. Where this feeling falls short is the assumption that suburban living requires a vehicle to live there. This assumption is beginning to erode, and you’re seeing more and more people living without cars and taking their bikes or public transportation everywhere. The Yorktown Reserve in Lombard is positioned better than most to test this idea, with a fully walkable and livable campus that includes everything from restaurants, bars, a movie theater, and more. It is truly a walkable and accessible place to live, with no cars in sight. 

The Cost-Savings of Being Car-Free

The cost of owning a car in 2026 is considerable and getting larger all the time. ACG.AAA.com says that each year, they “analyze vehicle ownership expenses to help drivers understand the financial commitment. The 2025 Your Driving Costs analysis revealed that the total average cost of owning and operating a new vehicle is $11,577 per year, or about $965 per month”. 

For most people who are already navigating rent and possibly student loans, as well as the other general costs of living, an additional car payment on top of their current expenses can put them over budget. By eliminating the car payment, reducing insurance and other car expenses like gas and maintenance, you will keep more money in your pocket than ever before. Saving money by not having a car payment can help compound your wealth and save you a lot of money over time. 

And on top of that, you never have to find a parking spot, and you never have to sit in traffic. When we put it like that, the math sounds pretty compelling, right?

The Health Case for Active Commuting

While there are, of course, financial benefits to not owning a car, the research on walking and cycling in place of driving has produced findings that are difficult to ignore. According to BMJgroup.com, “Commuters who cycle or walk to and from work or study may have lower risks of mental and physical ill health than those who don’t rely on these options, finds a large long-term study published in the open-access journal BMJ Public Health. While health benefits were observed for both types of active commuting, the strongest health benefits were seen for cyclists, among whom the risk of death from any cause was 47% lower, the findings show. 

“Active travel is considered to be one of the most practical and sustainable ways to increase daily physical activity, and there is mounting evidence in favor of its associated health benefits, note the researchers”. 

What Living in Lombard Offers

The Yorktown Center Campus, where the Yorktown Reserve is, provides an incredible foundation for car-free living. Offering everything at the tip of your fingers, this place is not the standard when it comes to suburban living. It’s like its own little mini city with grocery stores, restaurants, bars, shops, and even a Target within walking distance. Pair that with the incredible amenities that the Yorktown Reserve has to offer, and you will never need to go anywhere ever again. But we won’t blame you if you do! Being able to do all your daily and weekly activities on foot instead of having to drive is an incredible perk of living at the Yorktown Reserve.

And just a short distance away, the Metra can take you into downtown Chicago if you need to commute into the city. You can walk or bike there, and some carpools and buses will take you to the station in the colder months.

If you especially love the great outdoors, Lombard’s Trail infrastructure adds another dimension to car-free living. Between the Great Western Trail and the Illinois Prairie Path, these trails connect Lombard to surrounding communities, giving you quick access to almost all of the best restaurants and shops in the suburbs. This also gives you something that living in the city can’t: quick and easy access to nature.

And not a small aspect of this, the environmental piece, is almost the most important. Foregoing having a car and relying on your two feet and your bike to get around affects the amount of gas you use and all of the natural resources you consume when you commute in a car.

Yorktown Reserve Perfectly Situated for a Car-Free Lifestyle

While car-free living may not be for everyone, the Yorktown Reserve is situated perfectly to help people live car-free lives. With easy access to everything you need in your day-to-day life, as well as access to the city and beyond, Lombard is one of the best up-and-coming cities for active commuting and people without cars. For people who work in locations that aren’t well serviced by the Metra or who have obligations that require driving, eliminating a car might not be the most practical route, because you will be living on a campus that has everything within reach. Reducing your car use and relying primarily on public transit is a more realistic middle ground for many. Yorktown Reserve offers the option to make that choice feasible in ways that most people in the suburbs cannot.