Living without a Car : Is it possible in Columbus? (Hudson: apartment, insurance)

[Geologic]

Living without a Car : Is it possible in Columbus?

I have lived happily without a car for many years, and in some great cities.

I am now considering a move to the Columbus area.

I do not want to waste $8-10,000 per annum on a vehicle, if I can avoid it.

Have you got any suggestions for places to live in the area?
A nice Walkable neighborhood is what I am seeking, and one which also has some decent transport links.
So far, I have been eyeing the areas in Downtown areas in other cities.

BTW, I am self-employed, and normally work from home, and so I do not need to commute every day.

Surely, there must be people in the area, who enjoy the wonderful freedom of living a car-free life, and are willing to share some of their secrets.

[jbcmh81]

In certain neighborhoods, yes, but not everywhere. I'd say it's entirely possible in several of the urban core areas and know people who don't have cars. I would, obviously, not try to go car free in the suburbs.

[bjimmy24]

I never had a car when I lived in Columbus. I think it's totally doable if you live in an area off High - German Village, Short North, Victorian Village, and then north into Clintonville.

[Meemur]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

I never had a car when I lived in Columbus. I think it's totally doable if you live in an area off High - German Village, Short North, Victorian Village, and then north into Clintonville.

I was just about ready to write that. The bus system is hit or miss as a whole, but the ones that run along High Street are generally on time, and since you work from home, you can find grocery stores, restaurants, bookstores, drugstores, one-of-a-kind shops, farmer's markets, churches, insurance, and a few doctors and dentists along High Street or a block or two from it. If you need a mall, there are buses, although it will take the better part of the day. You can also take a bus to the area hospitals.

I have to drive to work, but when I'm home, I can use my bike for grocery shopping, visiting friends in the neighborhood, and going to the library.

[OhioRules]

Originally Posted by Geologic

Living without a Car : Is it possible in Columbus?

I have lived happily without a car for many years, and in some great cities.

I am now considering a move to the Columbus area.

I do not want to waste $8-10,000 per annum on a vehicle, if I can avoid it.

Have you got any suggestions for places to live in the area?
A nice Walkable neighborhood is what I am seeking, and one which also has some decent transport links.
So far, I have been eyeing the areas in Downtown areas in other cities.

BTW, I am self-employed, and normally work from home, and so I do not need to commute every day.

Surely, there must be people in the area, who enjoy the wonderful freedom of living a car-free life, and are willing to share some of their secrets.

Try 43202 zip code. Around Indianola and Hudson area. If you don't want to be right downtown.

[streetcreed]

In Columbus the best urban neighborhoods are not in the downtown proper. You have many walkable, urban, and transit oriented neighborhoods just outside of downtown.

Like others have said you want to focus on the areas starting on the northside of downtown, along High St. This would be the neighborhoods called the Arena District/Short North (they start just on the edge of downtown proper) and everything all the way up high st to Clintonville.

These areas are also the most sought after urban areas or neighborhoods in the whole city, due to their walkability and being great areas to live. Some are more expensive but you can find a decent apartment in sections like "old north columbus" or the northern shorth north/south campus area that are less expensive.

[Natural510]

Like others have said, it's doable off the High St corridor, but in the outer neighborhoods it would be more challenging, and even in the central parts of Columbus, without a car you wouldn't be able to venture out to the suburbs very easily (like say, to Whole Foods or the Zoo).

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Geologic

Living without a Car : Is it possible in Columbus?

I have lived happily without a car for many years, and in some great cities.

I am now considering a move to the Columbus area.

I do not want to waste $8-10,000 per annum on a vehicle, if I can avoid it.

Have you got any suggestions for places to live in the area?
A nice Walkable neighborhood is what I am seeking, and one which also has some decent transport links.
So far, I have been eyeing the areas in Downtown areas in other cities.

BTW, I am self-employed, and normally work from home, and so I do not need to commute every day.

Surely, there must be people in the area, who enjoy the wonderful freedom of living a car-free life, and are willing to share some of their secrets.

Interesting that your location says Hong Kong, and you are self-employed working from home. This implies you could live pretty much anywhere.

I suppose since you are concerned about money and looking at Columbus, it implies that you couldn't afford to live in a NYC or SF type of city that would be walkable.

I'd like to suggest Pittsburgh.

[Natural510]

What is it with this website and Pittsburgh....lol.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Natural510

Like others have said, it's doable off the High St corridor, but in the outer neighborhoods it would be more challenging, and even in the central parts of Columbus, without a car you wouldn't be able to venture out to the suburbs very easily (like say, to Whole Foods or the Zoo).

There's a Whole Foods on 5th Avenue, which is certainly reachable by public transit.