Best (US) cities for an oil crisis

Dense metropolitan areas with low sprawl dominate Top 10 list compiled by SustainLane.

SustainLane ranked the Top 10 cities nationwide prepared for a spike in oil prices.

Rank City
1. New York City
2. Boston
3. San Francisco
4. Chicago
5. Philadelphia
6. Portland
7. Honolulu
8. Seattle
9. Baltimore
10.Oakland

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com ) - New Yorkers may complain endlessly about the city's public transportation system, but the network of subways and train lines may be the city's saving grace in the case of an oil crisis.

According to SustainLane, a Web site that promotes sustainable living, New York is the best city prepared for a surge in oil prices, largely because people there are committed to riding over driving.

SustainLane compiled a list of the best cities to live and work should gas prices suddenly spike. The group ranked cities according to their residents' commute practices, which was weighted most heavily, as well as public transportation ridership and city sprawl. Traffic congestion and local food and wireless network access also were taken into account.

Dense metropolitan cities with strong public transportation networks, such as Boston, San Francisco and Chicago, dominated the Top 10 list of cities prepared for a sudden spike in gas prices.

Philadelphia was praised for its abundant farmers markets and community gardens. The local food production network would provide a good alternative to having food trucked across the country in case of an oil crisis, SustainLane said.

Seattle also made the Top 10 list, leading the cities in wireless connectivity. That would come in handy as telecommuting could be an important way for large numbers of people to work from home in the case of a gas shortage.

The nationwide average price for regul ar unleaded has jumped about 12 percent in the last month to $2.509 a gallon Friday, according to AAA's daily fuel report.

Rising crude prices, which are back above $64 a barrel, are also fueling concerns about gas shortages as the summer driving season approaches.>