is a car necessary in Omaha (Papillion, Dodge: apartments, condos, jobs)

[sedgemouse]

Hi. I might be moving to Omaha within the next few months. With the exception of winter, how car dependent am I likely to be? I know a lot depends on where I work vs where I live and what I like to do but in general, is Omaha bicycle friendly for commuting, errands, etc. What is the mass transit system like? On the scale of Portland OR (why bother with a car) to Atlanta GA (urban sprawl requires a car) where would Omaha fit? I know, Omaha is a very different size than Portland or Atlanta, but hopefully you can see what I'm getting at.

Thanks for the advice.

[tpabes]

Like you said it will depend on where you live and work. Downtown and Dundee will be easier than west Omaha. Omaha does have some nice bike trails, but are more used for exercise than errands. The system is more towards Atlanta, not that Omaha is really sprawled out, but mass transit in the city is not really anything to brag about. No rail, basically just bus service in Omaha, it is really still a car city.

[Dave1215]

If you want a totally Urban enviornment and your work is either virtual or downtown then it will be tough... You can live/work in downtown Omaha - but if you get out from there (other than some small pockets like Dundee) it will be hard. The best perspective on this from this forum is from DTO_Luv.

With that said, some of the outlying areas have been serious about upgrading the trail systems - Papillion has invested a lot in them... I know two different people in Papillion that ride their bikes for most everything (including their commute to work - they are lucky their employers are close to the trail systems) - even in the winter.

[kdbrich]

The mass transit system in Omaha is really just plain bad. Depending on how close you are to work, and where, you could probably bike to work, but in the wintertime or if you want to go farther than you can easily ride, it's tough to get there by bus.

[sedgemouse]

Thanks. That is the type of general information I was looking for. Sounds like lots of other places I have lived.

[DTO Luv]

I live and work Downtown and have not had a car for close to 2 years. I've made it through winter and all.

The eastern parts of the city (east of 72nd St.) are going to have better public transit. The closer you live/work to Dodge St will help as that is served well by the bus routes. It's goes Downtown and past all the big malls and some of the western business parks. So it's got a lot of your bases covered.

Do you know where your possible employer is located?

[laserdisque]

I live in Dundee and have used my car once in the last three weeks. This is not the norm in the city. If you are able to live close to where you work it is doable. The problem with a bike is that the city is very hilly, so if you are a bit out of shape it could be tough.

[Victor 13]

Here is a link to Metro Area Transit's page. Maybe it can of some use to you:

Metro Area Transit - Omaha, Nebraska

[Dave1215]

Here is a link to three different trail maps. Might also be of some use if you bike.

The Omaha Council Bluffs Metropolitan Bicycle Map - Printable - more detailed than Activate Omaha map below.

Activate Omaha - Nice printable version of the map - little more detailed than the one from Omaha Trails (but Omaha Trails is more interactive)

Omaha Trails - the interactive portion of the map is nice. Notes: (1) It is a little out-dated as I know the link from West Papio Trail South to Walnut Creek it shows as proposed but that is actually completed, walked it yesterday. (2) This is only the major trails, I know in Papillion there are many offshots of the trail to loop to other city parks and mixed use areas.

[ehenningsen]

It will not be long in the future where if you live in the downtown/midtown areas, a car will not be a necessity..

The reasons are:

1.that this area is has boomed at a level almost unheard of for entertainment, and the trend seems to be continuing..

2.more and more resteraunts and retail shops of all types opening up and soon too.

3.Literally thousands of more apartments, condos, and townhomes/rowhouses under construction

4.Two division 1 campus's near or in midtown/downtown, and a large scale medical research/school

5.Several health-care options

6.Jobs are top quality, and it appears more will be coming

7.After the stadium issue, we are going to be talking about a new street-car system serving DT..

The Boom continues....