That’s right. If you are serious about living downtown at Neighborhood launch, you will leave your car in the garage as much as possible.
You can probably walk to work, which is why you decided to move downtown anyway. And if you want to really discover some of the great sights of downtown and beyond, the best way is by bicycle.
Bicycles are an effective mode of transportation and the major means of transportation in many parts of the world. Plus it’s a great way to get some exercise. In fact, according to the federal government, riding your bike counts towards your 150 minutes a week of physical exercise and is one of the safest ways to get physical activity.
With all this in mind, my husband and I purchased bikes a year after moving into our condo at Neighborhood Launch. I hadn’t ridden a bike in quite some time and was a bit apprehensive. But with all of the changes the city has been making to create a more bike friendly city, the experience has been great. There are marked bike lanes on the road and signs to remind motorists to share the road. In addition, many of the bike paths around the city have been improved.
We take ride our bikes up to the Short North for dinner and stop back by Gay Street for some frozen yogurt at 39 Below. Or we will ride down Bryden Road and view the majestic homes of yesteryear that are being restored with a stop at the Black Creek Bistro or the Franklin Park Conservatory.
After a year, I traded in my three-speed for a bike with more speeds to go longer distances and enjoy riding on some of the bike paths. We have gone as far as the Hills Market in Worthington on the Olentangy Trail.
There are several resources for those looking to bike in downtown or Columbus. These sites include maps with bike paths and information on bike laws and bike shops:
- Get Active Columbus: http://getactivecolumbus.com/bikepaths.aspx
- MORPC Interactive Map: http://arcgiswebadp1.morpc.org/webmaps/bikeusermap/index.html
- Consider Biking: http://www.considerbiking.org/
So park your car, get off the couch and enjoy the great weather by taking a bike ride!
