How bikeable is Weinland Park? « Columbus Underground Messageboard

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How bikeable is Weinland Park?

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Started 9 months ago by nickc
Latest reply from leftovers

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nickc

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I am transferring to OSU this fall and will be renting a house with a bunch of people in Weinland Park. It is an area just south and east of OSU campus.

The landlord has said that there is some property crime, mostly car break ins. He is renting a limited number of off street spaces behind the house. I am wondering if this is a pretty bikeable area? I would rather not have to deal with a car mostly sitting and getting broken into, or pay extra to put it in a back lot.

Can I get around Columbus all year on a bike? Are the streets around there relatively safe for biking? I googled Weinland Park and this forum came up.

Appreciate your help

Posted 9 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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nickc said:
I am transferring to OSU this fall and will be renting a house with a bunch of people in Weinland Park. It is an area just south and east of OSU campus.

The landlord has said that there is some property crime, mostly car break ins. He is renting a limited number of off street spaces behind the house. I am wondering if this is a pretty bikeable area? I would rather not have to deal with a car mostly sitting and getting broken into, or pay extra to put it in a back lot.

Can I get around Columbus all year on a bike? Are the streets around there relatively safe for biking? I googled Weinland Park and this forum came up.

Appreciate your help

Depends on your level of comfort on the bike. 3rd/Summit and 4th can make for a good ride, provided your OK riding in a higher volume of traffic and willing to take a full lane. Indinola is another good option. Crossing High Street, you can hook up to the Olentangy Trail at select trail heads or use roads like Neil (busier and some choke points you have to watch) or numerous side roads that run parallel to Neil. Michigan/Pennsylvania were my 2 favorites when I lived west of Neil and will get up to around 8th before you have to jog east and link back to Neil or another N/S road for campus.

Our winter's fluctuate. Winter's like last year are pretty near perfect for cycling but we get periods of heavy snow and nasty weather. As long as you're good in the cold and snow and have another option lined up, winter is fine without a car. Living in WP you'll have plenty of bus options and an easy walk to South Campus.

Check out How We Roll if you're new to Columbus and want some pointers for riding around on the bike.

Posted 9 months ago #
cbus11

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I am not a biker, but there is a new full sized, full service grocery store in Weinland Park, which seems to be a great asset. I am not sure how difficult it is to move groceries by bike. It is also within walking distance of Campus, so a bike would make everything quicker and maybe even safer if you have night classes. Most everything a student could want is in close proximity. If you do bring your car I would not leave anything inside of it.

Posted 9 months ago #
deej

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I agree with lifeontwowheels that WP is pretty bike-accessible if you're comfortable being a defensive rider. I ride through there fairly often (daytime and at night), and haven't had any issues. I'm typically a fair-weather cyclist, though I do sometimes ride in the winter, and I've noticed that when snow accumulates, the outside lanes on 3rd/Summit and 4th can be really tricky, even if the middle lanes are clear, as parked cars in the far lanes make snow removal near-impossible. But if you can get to 11th and Indianola in the winter, you can use CABS East Residential to get to campus.

http://tp.osu.edu/cabs/mapsschedules/cabsmaps/ERmap.pdf

Posted 9 months ago #
cbus11

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Not to derail, but just wondering, when people post 3rd/Summit are they taking Summit all the way downtown (ie 3rd) via bike? It seems that would be pretty scary once you pass south of the Wonderbread area in IV. If it were me I would head over to a side street at that juncture. I didn't realize people were biking up and back from downtown on Summit/3rd and 4th, that is impressive.

Posted 9 months ago #
goldenidea

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I bike-commute to work up on the northside almost every weekday, year-round, from near High and Buttles. So I ride through Weinland Park daily riding up N.4th St in the AM and down Summit in the PM. I find these streets to be two of the better heavily traveled streets to ride on. Because they both have two traffic lanes along with two parking lanes, there's a lot more room for both bikers and autos.

I think bike commuting through Weinland Park is a cinch. Over four years of riding through it, I've never had any problems.

As others have stated, you're also withing walking distance of south campus. It's a bit of a hike, but within reach.

Given that WP's new housing development and revitalization program includes sales incentives to OSU staff. I think CABS should add a route into WP, traveling from campus south on High to Fifth Ave, east to N.4th St. and north on 4th to Chittenden... or a similar route.

Posted 9 months ago #
mrpoppinzs
Arena District
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goldenidea said:

Given that WP's new housing development and revitalization program includes sales incentives to OSU staff. I think CABS should add a route into WP, traveling from campus south on High to Fifth Ave, east to N.4th St. and north on 4th to Chittenden... or a similar route.

+1

I had heard that they were looking into a similar route that would run along 7th Ave. I believe it would tie into both the Schoenbaum Family Center and the growing student (and hopefully faculty/staff) population in WP. It would also help students get to Kroger. I think it is a good idea.

As far as biking, WP is pretty close to a lot of stuff. You just have to becareful as you will be sharing the road. There is really no special bike specific infrastructure (ie bike lanes) in place. I would also suggest you keep the bike inside as bikes locked outside or on porches probably would not last too long.

Posted 9 months ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown / Gay Street
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I'd just add that you're pretty close to multiple bus lines as well, so getting around by bus in the winter should be pretty easy when biking in the snow and ice might not be too appealing.

As an OSU student, you can ride COTA for free.

Posted 9 months ago #
rory
Weinland Park
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I think WP is highly bikeable and "hint" about to become even more so. That being said it's also very walkable since you probably won't want to bike in the dead of winter. And thank your landlord for not paving the backyard for parking although I'm impressed with the idea of renting out the parking spaces. ;)

Posted 9 months ago #
leftovers

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rory said:
I think WP is highly bikeable and "hint" about to become even more so.

Don't leave us hanging! Is it bike lanes on 4th and Summit?

Posted 9 months ago #
rory
Weinland Park
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leftovers said:
Don't leave us hanging! Is it bike lanes on 4th and Summit?

See you at the Weinland Park Festival. August 18th! ;)

Posted 9 months ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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cbus11 said:
Not to derail, but just wondering, when people post 3rd/Summit are they taking Summit all the way downtown (ie 3rd) via bike? It seems that would be pretty scary once you pass south of the Wonderbread area in IV. If it were me I would head over to a side street at that juncture. I didn't realize people were biking up and back from downtown on Summit/3rd and 4th, that is impressive.

When I've used it, I would typically go over onto 1st and either High down or further west onto Park/Front.

Posted 9 months ago #
nickc

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Thanks for all of the quick replies. I will probably leave the car at home. I am really looking forward to the coming school year. Just a few more questions, is there a Walmart or Target or some inexpensive department store nearby? I am also a little confused about the cab route information that was posted.

I prefer biking to taking the bus, but it is great that I will have the option when it gets too cold or snowy.

Posted 9 months ago #
leftovers

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There is a target about 1.5 miles west of WP (off of King ave) and it is accessible via the number 82 Cota bus.

I plotted a point basically in the center of WP to get a walkscore and show some of the amenities in the area. You can plug in your actual address.

http://www.walkscore.com/nearby/1389-hamlet-st-columbus-oh-43201/

Posted 9 months ago #