Getting Around Columbus: Walkability, Public Transit & Biking

Columbus is predominantly car-dependent. The Uptown and Midtown areas offer a selection of walkable options, with a concentration of sidewalks and access to cafes and businesses. However, the lack of consistent sidewalk infrastructure across the city makes it difficult for travelers to complete daily errands solely by foot outside these areas. Many parts of Columbus require a car or ride-sharing service for convenient access to amenities, co-working spaces, or grocery stores.

The public transportation system in Columbus, known as METRA, is limited both in terms of reach and frequency. It operates 15 buses covering 10 routes, primarily from Monday to Saturday, within a time frame of 4:30 AM to 8:30 PM. This service might be useful for specific routes, but travelers will find that to fully explore Columbus, supplementary transport methods like cars or rideshare services are often necessary.

Columbus has some encouraging bike-friendly elements, such as the Dragonfly Trail network which provides multi-use trails. However, the scarce on-street bike infrastructure, with only about six miles of bike lanes, poses a challenge to bikers. The existing trails are not well connected to on-street bike paths, which can make biking unsafe or uncomfortable, especially amidst traffic. These limitations might deter travelers from relying heavily on bicycles for transportation throughout the city.