November 25, 2024Nov 25 Also, even though we do get temps below zero, rarely, if the majority of riders ride 350 or so days a year, that’s a massive win. Most people that ride their bike, don’t care if it is raining or cold. Like @GCrites said, you actually can get pretty warm riding bikes.
November 26, 2024Nov 26 2 hours ago, Foraker said: I'm still not convinced that the weather in Columbus, Ohio, makes cycling impossible. Cycling happens in the winter in countries with worse weather. How about Finland? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU I also wasn't saying that everyone should be cycling instead of driving a car. The point is that it should be an option, even if I would never expect my grandmother to choose it. My comment was limited to the weather, but I agree with you that nearly 100 years of building-for-the-car makes low-density America ill-suited for large numbers of people taking up cycling. But it's not as impossible as you might think. The Netherlands itself was full of cars and sprawling development (not as sprawling as in the US, but lots of new construction on the outskirts of the cities) in the 1950s and 1960s. Many of the beautiful plazas were parking lots. Some of the canals were filled in to add roadways. It wasn't until the 1970s that The Netherlands made a conscious decision to restrict cars in city centers and promote cycling. Even then, it took multiple decades to get from there to now. https://inkspire.org/post/amsterdam-was-a-car-loving-city-in-the-1970s-what-changed/ I continue to reject the idea that it can't happen here. This is America -- we can accomplish anything that we put our mind to! The US, and Columbus, could work to change the transportation priorities between and within more-densely-built neighborhoods. Put parking garages on the outskirts of Polaris (and German Village) (not unlike within OSU's campus) and only allow deliveries and buses into the built-up areas, reduce road widths, add walking and cycling paths, add more apartment, condo, and townhouses to bring in more people. The result would be a Polaris that is a much nicer community to live in and visit. I never said it makes it impossible here. People cycle here. It’s clearly not impossible. My point was simply the weather, in addition to the manner in which our post-automobile metro area has been developed, makes it impossible to expect cycling infrastructure and adoption to occur in a manner anywhere near that which exists in The Netherlands and many other parts of Europe. Sure, The Netherlands made changes, but they had the skeletal structure necessary to make those changes possible. It simply doesn’t exist here, aside from small sections or the city in which I would definitely support efforts to emulate The Netherlands to the largest degree possible. Unfortunately, the Polaris area is not one of those areas. To your point about Polaris adding parking garages around the perimeter, yes, they could definitely do that. That’s literally Easton, which is always derided around here for being a faux-walkable car-centric area. I would certainly support it though. Anything to make Americans walk more is a win in my book! Bottom line though, I’m in no way opposed to improve cycling infrastructure! I just think we need to be realistic with what we expect and where we expect it.
November 26, 2024Nov 26 You might take a look at the just-released Columbus Bike Plus draft document: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fa0d7f19855a46f5a67ad741da665439?cover=false&header=false&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
November 26, 2024Nov 26 21 hours ago, columbus17 said: The bike obsession is extremely overrated. We live in Ohio. This is just not a bike-friendly climate. Some may use them, but it will never get to a point that a meaningful portion will. Walking - depends on the density of the area. Most likely is car and public transit. (Btw those scooters are the worst investment ever) What? I live on a bike trail and it's insanely heavily used all year round. This is Ohio not Siberia, the winters aren't that bad you can bike all year long and it's actually way more comfortable to commute via bike in the cold compared to the heat. They also make different types of clothing that are thicker and warmer for colder weather such as jackets and long sleeve shirts in case you weren't aware. The bicycle infrastructure is only improving as well. More bike lanes on public roadways are going in and dedicated bike/walking trails are being expanded. Edited November 26, 2024Nov 26 by TIm
November 26, 2024Nov 26 15 hours ago, GCrites said: You might take a look at the just-released Columbus Bike Plus draft document: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/fa0d7f19855a46f5a67ad741da665439?cover=false&header=false&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery This is great, I hope they're able to implement a lot of these items. Living on the west side, I've been hopeful they'd find a way to link the Heritage Rail Trail to the other trails inside 270. They recently installed protected bike lane bollards and marked crossings on roadways like Hilliard-Rome and Roberts, which is a nice improvement as long as they can keep up with replacing the posts as quickly as they get taken out by Columbus drivers.
November 26, 2024Nov 26 It's interesting to me how far bike lane design has come in the past 15 years. Bike lanes that old -- in Ohio at least -- seem ancient.
November 27, 2024Nov 27 21 hours ago, TIm said: What? I live on a bike trail and it's insanely heavily used all year round. This is Ohio not Siberia, the winters aren't that bad you can bike all year long and it's actually way more comfortable to commute via bike in the cold compared to the heat. They also make different types of clothing that are thicker and warmer for colder weather such as jackets and long sleeve shirts in case you weren't aware. The bicycle infrastructure is only improving as well. More bike lanes on public roadways are going in and dedicated bike/walking trails are being expanded. The Olentangy Trail is usually plowed before most city streets!
December 2, 2024Dec 2 On 11/26/2024 at 12:20 PM, TIm said: What? I live on a bike trail and it's insanely heavily used all year round. This is Ohio not Siberia, the winters aren't that bad you can bike all year long and it's actually way more comfortable to commute via bike in the cold compared to the heat. They also make different types of clothing that are thicker and warmer for colder weather such as jackets and long sleeve shirts in case you weren't aware. The bicycle infrastructure is only improving as well. More bike lanes on public roadways are going in and dedicated bike/walking trails are being expanded. Just this morning I had 2 different bike riders following me on the road and it was 20 degrees outside.
December 3, 2024Dec 3 20 hours ago, KyleofColumbus said: Just this morning I had 2 different bike riders following me on the road and it was 20 degrees outside. I can see an entrance onto the Olentangy Trail from my home office window. I'll get a pitch counter and start counting how many I see everyday lol.
January 27Jan 27 The Galaxy at Polaris (Delaware County) Total Development Cost: $269,413,881 Total Tax Credit: $7,387,989 The Galaxy at Polaris is a multi-phased, 3,093,667-square-foot mixed-use development located 25 minutes north of downtown Columbus. Spanning three phases, the project integrates retail, residential, office, restaurant, hotel, and community spaces. Phase II will deliver 11 buildings totaling more than 1.7 million square feet of residential, retail, office, restaurant, grocery, and community spaces, further solidifying the development as a hub of activity. The project is expected to create approximately 2,102 construction jobs and 1,699 permanent jobs at the project site. https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2025/01/24/file_attachments/3142703/2025 0127 TMUD Award Descriptions.pdf "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 25Feb 25 Work continues on the third Sheetz location on Polaris Pkwy at 1555 Polaris Pkwy *I didn't realize all the drama regarding this site had been resolved
February 25Feb 25 12 hours ago, CbusOrBust said: Galaxy on Gemini This is the type of housing that needs to built around Easton.
March 17Mar 17 It’s annoying that this project is getting state tax credits. It isn’t anything more than a glorified strip mall with some living spaces. There is no reason any building in this development needs a drive thru.
March 18Mar 18 21 hours ago, VintageLife said: It’s annoying that this project is getting state tax credits. It isn’t anything more than a glorified strip mall with some living spaces. There is no reason any building in this development needs a drive thru. Couldn’t agree more, something in the background going on for sure.
March 18Mar 18 28 minutes ago, wpcc88 said: Couldn’t agree more, something in the background going on for sure. Im sure some kinda scandal at city hall. I thought these funds were meant to jump start development in areas that needed a boost? Polaris Pkwy definitely does not need a boost. Smh
March 18Mar 18 Just now, sono4315 said: Im sure some kinda scandal at city hall. I thought these funds were meant to jump start development in areas that needed a boost? Polaris Pkwy definitely does not need a boost. Smh! I know were not cleveland but they missed out on so many grants this time around. This could have easily went to one of the much needed projects up there.
April 22Apr 22 Indoor Action Park Coming to Polaris Ohio’s first Slick City Action Park is opening a location at Polaris this spring. Slick City Action Park is expected to open at 1170 Polaris Parkway this May. The action park features waterless slides and air courts for various activities. This will be Ohio’s first Slick City location. Spanning 35,000 square feet, the space will feature 12 dry slides as well as air courts for dodgeball and basketball. There will also be a dedicated play area for toddlers and an event space. More below: https://columbusunderground.com/indoor-action-park-coming-to-polaris-ak1/ & https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2025/04/22/columbus-first-slick-city-action-park-polaris-pkwy.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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