In Search of a City: Confused About Commuting
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
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?
I would love to go dancing in The Bottoms. For that matter, I would enjoy telling people that I lived in The Bottoms.
On May 7, 


