In Search of a City: Doin’ the Deed
Until this past weekend, I had never biked on a Columbus bike trail. Like Steve Carell’s character in The 40 Year Old Virgin, I felt as if I were the last person in Columbus who had never done the deed.
From 1975 to the mid-1990s, I biked almost daily to work, grocery stores and visits with friends, first in Manhattan, then in Columbus. I always used city streets. Then, for 14 years, I did not own or use a bicycle.
Resolved to begin biking again, I took a bus to Clintonville on Saturday to purchase one. I took a bus because I wanted to be able to bike home to the Short North. And that’s when it happened. I discovered the Olentangy Trail.
Wow! Riding the Trail for the first time is one of those “firsts” that ranks with coming-of-age experiences like discovering your you-know-what at puberty and traveling internationally. It is an exquisite experience, particularly on a clear sunny day.
I kept thinking about how lucky I am to live in a city with bike trails as I followed the Trail’s sign system toward downtown.
Tags: bicycling, Downtown Columbus, Public Transportation, Short North