Is a car necessary for life in Columbus? (Grandview Heights, Grandview: apartment, rent)

[Flocko]

Hey folks,

I'm transferring to OSU in the fall. In the near future, I'll be getting an apartment close to campus. Currently I am without a car (should have one in 2009) and have some concerns about transportation in Columbus.

Do a lot of OSU students get by without their own vehicles? Is a bike sufficient transport for the campus area? From what I saw on my visit, the area around campus has about every store you'd need for essentials (pharmacy, grocery, etc.), but is public transportation adequate to venture into other parts of the city?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[osuguy09]

If you're living on or near campus then you definitely don't need a car. I live right off campus, go to school, and work downtown; and i barely use my car. The only time a car is nice is when I go to the mall or go to the grocery and buy too much to take on the bus. As long as you meet someone with a car and can bum a ride occasionally you'll be fine.

[MGbuckeye]

OSU has a company on campus that rents cars (I am not sure of the name of the company). I believe that you have to join their system. Then get on the computer to reserve it. If i remembe correctly it is like a co-op. Some one on this forum should have more information.

[schmidt486]

Yes, OSU has a ZipCar place on campus where you can rent a car for hours at a time for pretty cheap. Also, CABS (campus bus) will get you anywhere on campus and COTA (Columbus bus) will be sufficient enough to get you where you need to be.

[4gotmypassword]

if you by campus i guess you could ride a bike....But alot of students get robbed and stuff over there....Just last night somebody got shot and killed on the little bike path.

[OhioKid]

You don't need a car. Unless things have changed in the last few years the bus system is safe and clean. And there is about anything you could want near campus.

I wouldn't worry about crime too much. It is a city so you need to aware of your surroundings and where you go. It seems to me that most serious crime in Columbus is either domestic or people that know each other. Don't hear about random crime victms too often.

Good luck at OSU. Hope you have a pleasant experience in Columbus.

[HuskerDu]

It's better NOT to have a car if you are living in the campus area. There are a ton of car break-ins and a ridiculous amount of random vandalism in the campus area. You have everything from desperate homeless people trying to find ash tray compartment change to drunken students/locals breaking off antennas and kicking off side mirrors for fun. Also, if you end up having a bike, keep it indoors and away from windows or back alley doors at night.

[Flocko]

Thanks for the advice. Some other students I've spoken to told me that they prefer not having a car in the University District due to the number of random break ins/vandalism.

My apartment is on N. 4th in what looks like a fairly nice area. 5 or 6 blocks southward, the landscape changes and there is a small ghetto. Should I be extra cautious at night? Would it be wise to be cautious in any part of the University District?

Also, I made sure to get an apartment on the second floor of a building. It seems a much wiser choice than a first floor room.

[LASam]

My first two years at OSU I did not have a car, and it wasn't a problem at all. They have CABS busses that go around campus, and COTA busses (free for students) that can get you to the Arena District/Short North/Lennox Towne Center/German Village/Grandview Heights... etc. No worries!

[jmargaret]

Lots of COTA (bus) connections near OSU. Cabs are non-existent, and other forms of transportation are sporadic and unreliable. If you stick around the OSU campus area, you shouldn't have a problem getting around. If you want to venture out from there, you will definitely need a car.