We are a couple living in Detroit, have visited Cleveland often since I work for a Cleveland based company. We both badly want to leave Detroit due to lack of public transit and just general bad economy and violent crime.

On our last visit, we took a self guided tour of Ecovillage in Ohio City. We also came by Greyhound bus and took the rail and bus the whole time. We love the rapid, the buses, the park system, the culture, the character filled architecture, the flats, Coventry Village, Little Italy, etc.

 

My concerns are, that when we rode the transit on the weekends and even rush hour on Monday, it was practically empty, the streets were deserted of foot traffic in Ohio City on Saturday even though it was a nice day. We went to Shaker Square and sat in the coffee house and met some very friendly people but when we walked around the neighborhood of Shaker Square, the streets again were practically empty on a Saturday afternoon. We wen to Little Italy and then Coventry later that day and those blocks were packed with people.

The next night we went to a restaurant at the flats, and again the area was practically a ghost town.

 

Just wondering about the lack of street traffic and why not more people riding the rapid and buses. The rapid especially is wonderful, clean and efficient. What gives?

I'm also new to Cleveland (3 months). My gf and I have ridden the public transporation and have walked around tremont, ohio city, and little italy and the thing that also struck us the most is the lack of people on foot and the lack of people on public transportation.  When you look at these urban neighborhoods like ohio city and little italy, you can't help to suspect there would be people on foot, but there really isn't. I can't explain to you why this is, as similar neighborhoods in Pittsburgh such as the south side, bloomfield, or Oakland have loads of people on foot and loads of people on the public transit.

 

On a related note, I spent nearly an hour driving from Beachwood back to Lakewood today around 5 pm. I suspect that people are commuting by car from suburb (home) to another suburb (work) and back.  I think this is the norm in Cuyahoga county.

I'm surprised you encountered so little foot traffic at some of those locations. Ditto for the light traffic on the rush-hour Rapid.

 

I'm not surprised by the scant foot traffic in the Flats, especially on the East Bank. The Flats haven't been a destination for years, though there are active plans for its redevelopment. The West Bank of the Flats doesn't get going until late in the evening on weekends (often after 10 p.m.).

 

Shaker Square is a pretty quiet area, and the north side of the square has been hurting for business for a long time. Ohio City/West 25th is a bustling area when the West Side Market is open -- Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The market closes at 4 p.m. on all but Saturdays.

 

I don't think I've ever seen Little Italy empty of people (at least on Mayfield). But I've never been there before noon on any day, and rarely on weekdays at any time (except Friday evenings).

 

The buses and Rapid I ride (almost always on the West Side, such as into my community of Lakewood) are usually pretty busy. I don't get to the east side that often. You will find that Cleveland is pretty polarized between and east and west sides -- a rivalry going back 200 years.

 

I don't know if I've answered your questions. But here's a more direct response: if you move here, walk those neighborhoods and ride the trains and buses often, you will help make them more active with people. So I hope you will consider moving here!

the streets were deserted of foot traffic in Ohio City on Saturday

 

You must have kept to the quieter residential streets. West 25th and Lorain had large amounts of foot traffic.  Going down Lorain, there is not so much pedestrian activity. Saturdays in Ohio City are generally very fun.  Did you miss out on the Market Square activities? Live bands, kiosks galore.. 

Shaker Square is a pretty quiet area, and the north side of the square has been hurting for business for a long time.

 

HUH  :?

 

We are a couple living in Detroit, have visited Cleveland often since I work for a Cleveland based company. We both badly want to leave Detroit due to lack of public transit and just general bad economy and violent crime.

On our last visit, we took a self guided tour of Ecovillage in Ohio City. We also came by Greyhound bus and took the rail and bus the whole time. We love the rapid, the buses, the park system, the culture, the character filled architecture, the flats, Coventry Village, Little Italy, etc.

 

My concerns are, that when we rode the transit on the weekends and even rush hour on Monday, it was practically empty, the streets were deserted of foot traffic in Ohio City on Saturday even though it was a nice day. We went to Shaker Square and sat in the coffee house and met some very friendly people but when we walked around the neighborhood of Shaker Square, the streets again were practically empty on a Saturday afternoon. We wen to Little Italy and then Coventry later that day and those blocks were packed with people.

The next night we went to a restaurant at the flats, and again the area was practically a ghost town.

 

Just wondering about the lack of street traffic and why not more people riding the rapid and buses. The rapid especially is wonderful, clean and efficient. What gives?

 

Shaker Square is pretty residential. So the Square is usually where people congregate.  You will also find people on Larchmere or buckeye.  The two major street one block north and south of the square itself.  However, you probably wont see a lot of people just milling about up and down the streets. 

 

Most people are going or coming from locations on the square/train stations.  Now that the weather is nice, you'll see more folks out and about on the square or north/south moreland.

 

When one visits a city, even fairly often their experience in that city is not as accurate as if you lived here.  I hope you have a chance to revisit more neighborhoods upon your relocation and then report back.

In recent years, I've seen more vacancies on the north side of Shaker Square than on the south side. I realize a number of businesses have opened in the last couple of years on the north side, but they don't generate the type of activity as the larger draws of the grocery store and movie theater.

 

By the way, to our Detroit friends, consider visiting Shaker Square on Saturday mornings when the North Union Farmers Market is operating. For more information on this event and others at Shaker Square, see http://www.shakersquare.net/events.htm

transit empty during rush hour?

 

what do you consider rush hour?

 

what area of detroit are you from?

I have visited Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and noticed a lot more pedestrian activity and use of the transit. I wondered what was going on in Cleveland. I was there on several occassions for long weekends in nice weather. I'm from the midtown area in Detroit which used to be known as the Cass Corridor. Detroit has  a driving culture and most people who don't have to use transit, drive. I noticed in Cleveland, there seems to be a real committment to transit as they are building a new line on Euclid. Also the transit is one of the nicest I've ridden on in terms of being quiet, clean, and pleasant to ride.

i think corridor kids would be best suited in ohio city or detroit shoreway.......

 

During rush hour, I'm yet to sit on a less than 80% filled train. The weekends, well that's another story, its still too easy for everyone to find a parking spot, and drive their drunk asses home.

I have visited Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and noticed a lot more pedestrian activity and use of the transit. I wondered what was going on in Cleveland. I was there on several occassions for long weekends in nice weather. I'm from the midtown area in Detroit which used to be known as the Cass Corridor. Detroit has  a driving culture and most people who don't have to use transit, drive. I noticed in Cleveland, there seems to be a real committment to transit as they are building a new line on Euclid. Also the transit is one of the nicest I've ridden on in terms of being quiet, clean, and pleasant to ride.

 

Welcome to Cleveland  :wave:

 

I forgot to say that before.  The culture of philadelphia is geared to walking and taking public transit.  Cleveland is just warming up to the idea.  Its not perfect but getting better.  

 

Cleveland has a good bus system, IMO, is very reliable and gets you most places fast.  The blue and green line trains are pretty packed these days, especially the blue line.

Funny how perceptions are. I wouldn't have used the word "clean" to describe the buses and trains in this town. But I guess you got lucky with some clean transit and unlucky with low ridership when you were here. That's how it goes sometimes.

I wouldnt use the word "reliable" except for the rapid lines.

The reason I describe the transit in Cleveland is clean is because I am used to riding the dirty broken down buses in Detroit. Also, I found the transit reliable (that is, on schedule) but again I was only there for short visits and I am used to Detoit's dysfunctional system.

 

By the way, we were in Ohio last weekend. This time we drove and stayed at the Motel 6 in Middleburg Heights because I had a work meeting on Monday morning near there. My husband took the bus directly from the motel to the Greyhound station in the morning and went back to Detroit.

 

We only were there Sunday afternoon and we went swimming at the only city beach on the lake in Cleveland. It was packed but a lot of fun and everyone was friendly.

I am glad Edgewater park Beach was OK for your visit! We have a long way to go in making that what it should be-a masterpiece!There are issues with sewage making it in to the lake there...and darn it, it just isn't kept clean enough (the beach and the facilities). I am hopeful only good things are on the way, as the city is moving towards the lake finally and more attention will be focused on the beach I hope.  I have to admit the only time I swam in the water there was before we moved to Cleveland in 2002. I enjoy the Lakefront often but my experience (I will spare the details) on the beach made us not want to go down again...maybe it is time You may also want to check out whisky island/Wendy Park next time. There are no facilities at Wendy Park though, but the views are great http://wendypark.org/ .  Also since you like the water, you may want to take a cruise on the goodtime. I like the happy hour cruise-the price is right and it is a lot of fun.http://www.goodtimeiii.com/

From what I understand, the sewage issues have been remedied - not completely but a great improvement. If you remember seeing barges with cranes out on the Lake just east of Edgewater beach a few years ago - they were building onto the pipeline that serves as the conduit for overflow water (and sewage). By extending it further out into the Lake, the sewage gets dragged out by the current (and eventually breaks down in the water) rather than back toward land. Keep in mind they also post bacteria level warning signs so people don't put themselves at risk - there was a time when that stuff wasn't even monitored! (ick!!!)

 

Just so people don't get the wrong idea, the sewage is only a concern after a heavy rainfall when the main lines are overwhelmed. Unfortunately, it has to go somewhere and if the main lines are used up with rainwater, it ends up in the Lake. Furthermore, this is not a phenomenon unique to Cleveland's beaches.

 

But to get back on topic - Justine, I absolutely agree with peabody99, check out Wendy Park as well as the Goodtime III cruises. :-)

And check out the Nautica Queen cruises, too....

 

http://www.nauticaqueen.com/

Also check out Euclid Beach on Cleveland's East side.

 

thanks for the update Mayday...since my experience was so long ago, I refuse to post the ugly details, but it was enough to unconsciously keep us a way. Now I am going back thanks to this post! (as long as it hasn't rained)

I am a huge mentor headlands fan ( its kinda far, like a ride to the country).

I am a huge mentor headlands fan ( its kinda far, like a ride to the country).

 

It is also the largest natural beach on Lake Erie. As kids we would arrive by the carload. Of course I have pics but I don't have the energy to search for them  8-)

I've only been to Mentor Headlands once, but it is huge, and seemed fairly clean.

I am a huge mentor headlands fan ( its kinda far, like a ride to the country).

 

I love mentor headlands!  ahhhhhhhh........the memories.

beaches:

 

mentor headlands is the best. euc is good too. i also like huntington a lot (honey hut ice cream!). further out west in vermilion there is linwood, a private beach on the eastern side (w/ white sand) and the little vermilion beach in town that is right next to the great lakes museum and the cute downtown.

 

if you like beach volleyball the annual east/west tournament is coming up at lakeview park beach in lorain:

http://www.loraincounty.com/lakeviewbeach/lb_info_EastWest.html

 

no shortage of beachy fun to be found around the region!

 

 

Huntington also has a far but nice view of both the gold coast and downtown.