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If 2008 was “Year of the Bike” then 2009 was the “Year of the Foot”. Walking topped our reader’s survey as the number one way to get around last year. The reasons for the shift to human-powered transit could vary. Perhaps the national recession got people moving toward the cheapest form of transportation. Perhaps Columbus is coming to terms with its reputation was being one of America’s fattest cities and people are looking for an easy way to get fit. Or maybe people are just trying to test out the accuracy of their neighborhood’s WalkScore. No matter what the reason may be, we welcome the lifestyle changes that are associated with commuting via foot.
The Top 10 Modes of Transportation in 2009:
LOL!! – Now you’re talkin.
Walking is awesome! It’s even better when you live in a part of town where there is a lot of stuff to walk to!
I am a huge fan of the pedicab as a new addition to the transportation modes in 614.
Yeah, as much as I love to promote the positive aspects of our bus system, nothing beats being able to walk to where you want to go. Especially when the weather is a bit warmer. ;)
I love walking! I work downtown so I walk a lot I can make a pretty good distance in my hour lunch. Sometimes when I am out with people who don’t walk as much they are constantly telling me to slow down. lol I just can’t help it.
Yep, nothing beats two feet.
I don’t even mind walking when it’s cold – it’s why I moved to the Short North. There’s something about getting out when the weather is questionable v. being stuck inside. Now, it aggravates me when I have to drive my car somewhere. :)
Walker, I appreciate the fact that you’ve set into motion this phenomenon we call Columbus Underground. If I had to guess, my life is better as a result of it. So, thanks. But please, please please…let’s not turn the virtue of localism into a vice.
You mention the national recession and the obesity issue. But
do you think maybe some people are also concerned about Climate Change or Peak Oil ( not to mention our air quality) ?
Have you thought about how more people go hungry as a result of us putting corn ethanol into our gas tanks ?
Yes! Pedicabs. Certainly the luxurious means to move about!
100% Pure Transportainment!
Way better than COTA or those dated Taxis.
Walking is sometimes the best in the winter. A nice long walk between places using only sidestreet at night is a very pleasant way to get somewhere and the air is fantastic. As long as there isn’t wind.
TomOver Says: Have you thought about how more people go hungry as a result of us putting corn ethanol into our gas tanks ?
I have thought about a lot of things that I didn’t mention up there. When I said “the reasons could vary” I didn’t mean “there are only 3 reasons that people choose to walk and I will list those 3 reasons right now”.
What? Nobody voted for unicycle?
Plus, doing 1 and 2 mitigates the congestion caused by suburbanites in their 3 who clog up the streets and get in the way of 4 and 6, making them less effective. If only there was some way to make it more costly to bring all of those 3 downtown. Then, maybe there would be more lanes for 2 and more people would 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10; and, who knows, maybe someday we could finally get an A, B, C, and D train? Later, I gotta 9.
It’s nice to know that for the past few years I have been on the cutting edge LOL – walking everywhere – to and from work – to the gym – everywhere
My new LINUS bike changed this for me very recently – they are beautiful and sold @ Paradise Garage btw
Hey, what about streetca– oh right.
I walk!
LOVE walking. Would really prefer never to do anything else. When I was still in GV I made it 4 months (or so?) without driving one time, and it was great.
I don’t mind walking, but sometimes jogging at a leisurely pace is preferable and much faster. Still bike mostly even when something is just a couple of blocks away. So lazy, I know. I would like to see non-High Street streets become more pedestrian-friendly, especially in the west and south sides.
I walked from Patterson and High to 1st and Park last night at 1am. So nice and quiet. I walked thru the Oval, then south campus, the Peach District and into Victorian Village. I did not see a moving car between Curl Dr/North Dorms and King Ave. Very nice and quiet walking in the winter.
I don’t own a car, or a bike, so by default I am all about the walking! Although my walk to work up 3rd past Olentangy where there are no sidewalks sort of blows…