Comments on: In Search of a City: Confused About Commuting

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:07:42 +0000

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.

By: Cleve

Cleve — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:24:30 +0000

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!

By: Jackie Barton

Jackie Barton — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:22:05 +0000

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

By: Walker Evans

Walker Evans — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:08:54 +0000

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.

By: Teddy

Teddy — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:20:38 +0000

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?

By: Eric Davies

Eric Davies — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:31:11 +0000

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).

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:11:50 +0000

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!