In Search of a City: Confused About Commuting
I got a taste of suburban commuting last week when I took two of my kids to camp near State Route 315 and Bethel Road. The 7:30 am trip from the Short North to camp was easy because the trip was a “reverse commute” against incoming traffic. My return toward downtown at 8:00 am, however, was hellacious.
Traffic kept stopping on 315 for no apparent reason. When traffic moved, people tailgated me, cut in front of me for no apparent reason, honked and traded hand gestures. I cursed so loudly for most of the trip that my dog cowered in the back seat.
The Short North looked really good to me as I ditched my car and began walking to work. The experience made me wonder why people choose to subject themselves to expressway commuting. Columbus, Grandview, Bexley, Upper Arlington and other communities have many safe, beautiful and affordable neighborhoods with great transit, bicycle and car access to downtown. Why would someone choose to subject themselves to such a horrible experience?
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
Honestly Cleve, your story is a bit over the top on the drama. Not to mention a posting a picture from where, Thailand?
I make the 315 commute everyday, and it is much better than I-71 or I-70…btw, none of which have congestion compared to other large cities. Yes, maybe for five or ten minutes in the AM and PM, but come one, lets not go making up problems!
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:31 am
Cleve – Thanks for your reflections. While I attempt to minimize car use, I make choices to use this vehicle of “luxury” (it’s debatable as to whether or not cars are objects born out of “need”). Occasionally while I sit in traffic, such as did yesterday while taking my daughter to Hilliard for a dance class, I think about how one bus could replace nearly all of the cars at one congested intersection; i.e., exchange 20 – 30 individual cars for one 40+ capacity COTA bus as most of the cars contained one, perhaps two passengers at the most. An articulated (double-accordion bus) can transport approximately 100 passengers.
Do the math from there in terms of congestion and infrastructure needs. A one meter-width-equivalent of right-away (i.e. road) can carry 1500 bicycles, 2700 bus passengers and 3600 pedestrians per hour, but only 170 cars (Worldwatch Institute).
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
I travel 35 miles to work each day becasue columbus does not have 7 wide open beautiful acres I call home. All mine! I would not live in Columbus if someone else paid the morgage. I want to hear crickets when I go to bed, not the neighbors or cars. Plus, I can sleep with my windows open without fear of someone coming through them. Can you?
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
Sadly, I think the highway congested needs to be about twice as bad as it currently is before we’ll see adequate support from the general public to develop light rail. Outside of rush hour, it’s still super easy to drive all over the city.
June 24th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Cleve,
I appreciate your drama as one who formerly could walk to and from work, the grocery, etc. (during my DC-area years). Now I live 8 dangerous biking miles from my workplace up off I-71 and hate the driving. The idea that no one will come through your windows in the country is an interesting one. I have a friend whose father was murdered in their rural home– there is crime wherever there is opportunity, and there is opportunity in both rural and urban settings. I live in the city, and I am comforted by the fact that I have friendly neighbors watching out for my safety. I wish Columbus had more safe bikeways and pedestrian ways.
My choice of an inside-270 but not UA/Grandview/Short North neighborhood was cost driven. Those few safely connected neighborhoods are expensive. My Westgate house would have cost almost double for the same real estate in Clintonville. We need to connect our many diverse neighborhoods to the city in a way that allows us all to live the Short North lifestyle!
Looking forward to walking to work again someday,
Jackie
June 25th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Westgate qualifies in my book as a safe, affordable, beautiful neighborhood where you can live a peaceful life and avoid many hassles. I should have included it in my list of neighborhood examples!
July 12th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Jackie,
I can’t speak to your specific commute but Columbus is surprisingly bike friendly. Check out Yay Bikes! and post a message. You might get some help with a bike route that works for you. We have a number of Franklinton and Westgate commuters that could provide some great tips.