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I might be relocating to Columbia and I would like to know if it is possible to live there without a car. I'm willing to pay more in rent for a decent area close to downtown so I can be close to the buses and I would like a nice area to walk around in. I would appreciate any opinions on this from people who already live there. I haven't been to Columbia before, so it will quite an experience!
I'm a single female in my early 40's so I would prefer not to live in a place with all college kids. I am planning on looking for an apartment to rent for the first year. Please feel free to tell me which neighborhoods I should/should not look in. Safety is very important to me. Thanks!
It wouldn't be preferable, but it would be possible if you lived and worked in the downtown area. Both Five Points and the Vista have shopping, including grocery shopping, close to apartments and condos so it would be possible to live without a car. The bus system does not run extremely late or run a full schedule on weekends, but they would be available during most work hours and if you live within walking distance of most of what you need it could be done. Both the Vista and Five Points are generally safe areas. The Shandon area, which is close to Five Points, is also a possibility.
What about in NE Cola? There's that big development area (I forget the name) up there by Clemson/Hard Scrabble. Surely the buses stop in there. And if you wanted to walk/ride a bike somewhere then she'd have Sandhills, Hard Scrabble & Killian, etc. She could probably also get to Lake Carolina fairly easily.
Pontiac might be a slightly cheaper option. Do the buses run through here? I always thought that was a nice area and considered trying to get in before the cost of living there shot up.
Asian Diva, do you need to live downtown for employment purposes or were you just thinking that would be the most likely area to not need a car in?
What about in NE Cola? There's that big development area (I forget the name) up there by Clemson/Hard Scrabble. Surely the buses stop in there. And if you wanted to walk/ride a bike somewhere then she'd have Sandhills, Hard Scrabble & Killian, etc. She could probably also get to Lake Carolina fairly easily.
Pontiac might be a slightly cheaper option. Do the buses run through here? I always thought that was a nice area and considered trying to get in before the cost of living there shot up.
Asian Diva, do you need to live downtown for employment purposes or were you just thinking that would be the most likely area to not need a car in?
You're thinking of the Summit. The farthest the buses go is to the Sandhills, and I believe they only travel along US-1/Two Notch to get there from the Columbia Mall. So while it's possible - it wouldn't be fun to dodge all the cars on Hardscrabble, Clemson, Brickyard, etc. to catch the bus.
I was thinking of downtown because I would like to be in the most walkable area and I looked at the bus map to see where all the routes connected. I like being in the more urban areas, I looked at the commute to work and it shouldn't be an issue since it's close to downtown also. I figured on the weekends I can get out and explore where the busses will allow me to when I want.
Only a few in-town neighborhoods are transit-friendly
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ceezer
What about in NE Cola? There's that big development area (I forget the name) up there by Clemson/Hard Scrabble. Surely the buses stop in there. And if you wanted to walk/ride a bike somewhere then she'd have Sandhills, Hard Scrabble & Killian, etc. She could probably also get to Lake Carolina fairly easily.
Pontiac might be a slightly cheaper option. Do the buses run through here? I always thought that was a nice area and considered trying to get in before the cost of living there shot up.
Asian Diva, do you need to live downtown for employment purposes or were you just thinking that would be the most likely area to not need a car in?
Let me make this quick and simple:
NE Cola = You need a car. And I'm speaking as someone who is very pro-public transportation.
The only neighborhoods in the Midlands with even a scintilla of transit-friendliness (at least to the point of being able to avoid having a car) are all in or near the downtown core.
Ok, I didn't know, that's why I tossed up the question mark(s). I live in Sumter and drive to NE Cola every day, so I'm not familiar with the local bus routes.
Possible if you live/work downtown. Highly improbable otherwise unless you are hard over about not having a car and willing to make a lot of sacrifices.
Downtown yes. On the Northeast side, it would not be in your best interest.
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Only a few in-town neighborhoods are transit-friendly
