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MAY Transportation Challenge Month

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Started 4 years ago by neela
Latest reply from CDS sherman

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neela

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May 1st is this Thursday. The fourth "Groupsourced Resolution" is... the Transportation Challenge. If you can, bike or walk for your trips, whether it is to the grocery store, the park, or to work. Try using COTA if you haven't already. Try carpooling, especially for work. Heck, scooter or motorcycle instead of getting in your 4 wheel car. And remember, instead of circling and circling for that close parking spot, park a few blocks away and walk instead.
Pardon me for being a bit link-happy below, obviously I am psyched about this Challenge! :D I strongly encourage people who have questions about biking to go to the Consider Biking webpage and post.
Events:
Bike-To-Work-Week, conveniently held May 12 - 17.
Be sure to submit your essay for the Biketown Contest - win a free bike! Do it before May 22nd.
Anything else?? Post it here.
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Links
Trips around/within Metro Columbus
COTA for your bus riding needs
MORPC RideSolutions to sign up for official carpooling. (They also register you for free emergency rides - Guaranteed Ride Home program - if you regularly bike.)
Alternate (social network-based) carpooling with Go Loco
Craigslist based carpooling
Zipcar - free gas with your membership! (You do not have to be part of OSU to join.)
Bike To Work Week schedule of events
Use your bike on COTA - no extra charge.
OSU folks (staff, students, faculty)
Vanpools for OSU
Ridesharing for OSU
Longer trips
Go Greyhound
Or take MegaBus
(And even though we don't have a pickup here in Columbus, you can also consider Amtrak.)
Previous/ongoing COTA and bike challenges:
The Urban-Infill January COTA Challenge
The Walker Evans COTA Challenge
Another COTA Challenge person
Bike Commuting Blog by Jamie
The 2 Mile Challenge Bike Blog
(Note some people bike and/or use COTA so much that they don't really do a monthly challenge, they are already doing it year-round...)
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My thinking is that if you get into these challenges, then you will start doing it all year long. If not, then when the next month starts there is a new topic to focus on. If you want to continue the April Clean-up Challenge into May, consider participating in River Pride Month (May)... details can be found at the bottom of this page
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Below is the schedule for the rest of 2008. (The original thread is here, if you're curious.) Links have been added for the threads for challenges that have already happened.
FEB -
Indie Art Capital Challenge
MAR - Food Exploration Challenge
APRIL - Columbus Clean-up Challenge
MAY - Transit Challenge (no car/car-pooling)
JUNE - Movie Challenge
JULY - Green Challenge (reduce/reuse/recycle/compost)
AUG - Local Politics Challenge
SEPT - Fresh Food Challenge
OCT - Creativity Challenge
NOV - Volunteer Challenge
DEC - Buy Local Challenge

Posted 4 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Awesome. One of the things that has been found to be successful in regards to biking are the use of "bike buddies". Basically a more experienced rider offers to escort newer riders through an area.
I currently go through very west edge of Bexley to downtown along Bryden/Town. I am slowly getting more days on the bike and would be glad to help someone along in the area. Usually Monday and Wednesday when I only work and occasionally Tuesday and Thursday when my school and work schedules work out. Send me a message and I could see about arranging something.
EDIT
Just checked my schedule I can ride in with someone any of those 4 days, M-TH. I can ride out in the afternoon on Mondays and Wednesday as well.

Posted 4 years ago #
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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I am psyched for this month's challenge. I have just gotten back into riding my bike after a nearly two year hiatus. I have been enjoying getting around the neighborhood on it and even rode it a couple blocks in the pouring rain last night because I wanted to be on the bike so much more than take the short trip in my nice dry car.
And in another two weeks, I should be the proud owner of this to have some fun on and definitely get to and from work...
I had my first motorcycling 101 lesson last night and didn't die/crash/run over any humans or dogs so May should be looking good for this challenge!

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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As Neela mentioned, I've started bussing again lately and have been blogging a little bit about it here:
http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=572
http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=580
http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=583
We just picked up our monthly pass for May and I'll continue to post some thoughts as things come up. The farthest I've ventured from home so far is Clintonville, so perhaps I need to give it a whirl out to Easton and back and see how that goes. ;)

Posted 4 years ago #
LauraA
LaLaland
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with the warmer weather i have been biking a lot more! and with my car acting all grumpy-like, i am in the market for a scooter. i figure i can ride it to work 90% of the time, so it is worth the investment and i refuse to buy a new car. i received a bus pass for earthday and will try to add that in to the swing of things. i just wish cota would put in a route that would bring me to and from work, looking for a job downtown is always an option.

Posted 4 years ago #
ARH
w. beach
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I can ride with people too. I'm going between Clintonville/SoHud and Downtown down High and 3rd M-F at around 2:30.

Posted 4 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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Walker wrote The farthest I've ventured from home so far is Clintonville, so perhaps I need to give it a whirl out to Easton and back and see how that goes. ;)
PM when you want to do this. I may either join you or bike the same thing just to compare times/experience.
A.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Andrew Hall wrote PM when you want to do this. I may either join you or bike the same thing just to compare times/experience.
I'm sure the bike would beat the bus. Especially considering the COTA drop off is over there next to Sam's Club which is probably a good 10-15 minute walk from the bulk of Easton. :?

Posted 4 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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Same here, I can assist someone in cycling routes and "coach" someone. I regularly bike from 1st Ave to Kelso Rd M-F at 10:45pm and from Kelso Rd. to 1st Ave at 7pm.
A couple of us helped Cab124 find a route to Crew Stadium.

Posted 4 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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Walker wrote
Andrew Hall wrote PM when you want to do this. I may either join you or bike the same thing just to compare times/experience.
I'm sure the bike would beat the bus. Especially considering the COTA drop off is over there next to Sam's Club which is probably a good 10-15 minute walk from the bulk of Easton. :?
I don't know why, but I thought there was a stop there where Palmetto and the other offices are. There should be - it would serve a dual purpose then. It would be easy to add a loop around Easton from Morse.
A.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Yes, but then Easton shoppers would have to look at those dirty buses. :roll:
I'll have to re-check the map. I didn't think there was an actual stop at the mall or closer than the transit center, but I'm not certain.

Posted 4 years ago #
Andrew Hall
Dennison Place (The Circles)
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It looks like 16 and 95 loop around Easton and stop a various points.
Since I knew there were stops there and you didn't that makes me more urban than you. :P
A.

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Andrew Hall wrote Since I knew there were stops there and you didn't that makes me more urban than you. :P
Agreed. Knowledge of the workings of Easton are very important in the urbanist way of life. :lol:

Posted 4 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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Im going to try commuting by motorcycle as much as possible this month.
And I will learn how to ride the bus. :shock:

Posted 4 years ago #
Ndcent
OTE
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I haven't driven my truck to work since mid March.
Motorcycle every day.

Posted 4 years ago #
neela

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The new COTA service starts Monday May 5th. Check their website if you want to plan your trip, there are minor changes to several routes, including some express routes.
And kudos to Motorist (ironic no?) for riding his bike to work...
Motorist wrote I rode my bike to work today for the first time. I generally took the Oak-Washington-High route that Cyclist and Mercurius recommended. It took me 17 minutes door to door and it's usually about a 10 minute drive, so not bad on time.
(Stolen from the CU "Biking is Good" thread.)

Posted 4 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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I officially became the crazy, "screw the weather", cyclist today.

Posted 4 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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lifeontwowheels wrote I officially became the crazy, "screw the weather", cyclist today.
That was hardcore! I see some rain gear in your future! Are your hands permanently stained blue from the dye in your clothes? :lol:

Posted 4 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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It washed off. Funny it doesn't happen when I wash them. I am starting to wonder what we have in the rain here?
Yes, rain gear is in the future. If everything works out, my severance pay will be a nice bonus that is (partly) going to the bike.

Posted 4 years ago #
CDS sherman
East Franklinton
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i went and looked at scooters today. im not a fan of new ones as they look way too trendy for me. ive found some good used ones on craigslist, i just need to get serious and buy one... i spend about 250 dollars a week on fuel and a good 70-80 mpg scooter would be great to chomp that gas down to maybe 125 a week. im buying my buddies blazer next week. it needs a new front end, after i fix and sell it i should be able to buy a decent 4 cyl stick shift pickup and a another nissan 300 z. dont hate on me for the z, i never really drive my hobby cars much anyway.

Posted 4 years ago #