Convince me to bike to the bus stop.

[powersln]

So we have been a one car family (me, my wife, and a 13 m/o son) for over two years now.   It has worked out great other than a few inconveniences.   However, last afternoon we had a health scare with my son (he is now fine).   I wasn't home yet and our car was at the bus stop.  We had no choice but to call an ambulance (We live < 2 miles from the hospital, we would beat an ambulance by a long shot).  Anyway, it kind of scares me that I leave my wife at home with no transportation in case something happens.

All that to say I want to start riding a bike to the bus stop so I can leave the car with her. The route is four and a half miles away.   Here is the approximate route: http://goo.gl/maps/GZlh6  What concerns me is the safety on a large hill with a sharp bend (after sheed rd, heading east).   If I'm riding with traffic, I'm worried that someone won't see me coming around the bend.   Should I walk my bike up the hill against traffic?   Any other advice?

[grantmeaname]

Welcome!

Could you avoid it by taking this route?

It's cool to see a fellow Cincinnatian on the forums (though I grew up way further from downtown and on the other side of the city).

[SunshineGirl]

I'm glad your son is OK. Beyond biking, could your wife make arrangements with a neighbor in case of an emergency? Or offer to drive an elderly neighbor person shopping in exchange for being able to use her car on occasion? Are there taxis you could call?

Maybe a few options like these planned out in advance would help?

Again, glad the little one's OK!

[powersln]

Thanks for all the good advice!

Yeah, Cincinnati is pretty great.   Low cost of living and plenty of businesses that pay good salaries.

[Insanity]

To throw out the probably oddball question...

Could your wife drop you off and pick you up at the bus stop?

[powersln]

That's actually a great question.   We already do that on days when we know she needs to use the car.   We don't like to do that everyday since it's a pain waking the baby up.  Then again we could just start adjusting the baby's sleep schedule!

[BigRed]

I bike to the bus stop every day.  Of course, in LA all the buses have bike racks on the front, so I also bike to the office on the other side.  So, I highly recommend it.

[Starstuff]

How many Cincinnatians are on this forum? It's starting to seem like a lot... We should get together!!

[capital]

It looks perfectly doable. Wear something bright and reflective, and get one or more nice taillights visible in daylight:
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3

In all honesty, though, your area wasn't designed for anything other than one-car-per-person living: there are no sidewalks, and even if there were, there's nothing within walking distance. If you're looking into making a long-term lifestyle out of biking and walking, it would make sense to live in a neighborhood designed to make it possible, generally those built before World War II with streets with sidewalks on a grid pattern, and on a bus route (those were generally originally streetcar routes) along a street full of useful shops. Those neighborhoods were built for families with one or zero cars, and often still function perfectly well for folks living like that.

It looks like there are several suitable neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and several of the inner ring suburbs also look doable:
http://www.walkscore.com/OH/Cincinnati

Obivously, there are questions of education, safety, and other factors, but remember that the leading cause of death for those age 5-34 is motor vehicle accidents:
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/data.html
Moving to a place where your child can avoid motor vehicles while growing up, especially when 16+ and experimenting with automobiles and likely alcohol, is far more important for safety than mainstream culture makes it out to be.

[Starstuff]

It looks perfectly doable. Wear something bright and reflective, and get one or more nice taillights visible in daylight:
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3

In all honesty, though, your area wasn't designed for anything other than one-car-per-person living: there are no sidewalks, and even if there were, there's nothing within walking distance. If you're looking into making a long-term lifestyle out of biking and walking, it would make sense to live in a neighborhood designed to make it possible, generally those built before World War II with streets with sidewalks on a grid pattern, and on a bus route (those were generally originally streetcar routes) along a street full of useful shops. Those neighborhoods were built for families with one or zero cars, and often still function perfectly well for folks living like that.

It looks like there are several suitable neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and several of the inner ring suburbs also look doable:
http://www.walkscore.com/OH/Cincinnati

Obivously, there are questions of education, safety, and other factors, but remember that the leading cause of death for those age 5-34 is motor vehicle accidents:
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/data.html
Moving to a place where your child can avoid motor vehicles while growing up, especially when 16+ and experimenting with automobiles and likely alcohol, is far more important for safety than mainstream culture makes it out to be.

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything you just described. Most of those are awful neighborhoods with fairly bad schools, and either limited, poor, or crazy expensive housing choices. Their WalkScores have more to do with fast food restaurants and bars than grocery stores. Over-the-Rhine has literally no grocery stores in reasonable driving distance, let alone walking. And you couldn't pay me to ride a bike in a single lane road in this city... drivers have a nasty habit of swerving around the lines like lines are suggestions more than rules. I'm not trying to sound argumentative, but I think it's important to point out that a few Google searches don't tell you everything you need to know about getting by in a city.

If OP wants to move, Anderson Township near Beechmont Ave and Hyde Park are probably the two most walkable areas in the city. Otherwise, I'd think about getting a second car until you can move somewhere more walkable. It's not Mustachian, but I don't think Cincinnati drivers qualify for the "it's statistically safer to ride a bike" argument."

[capital]

It looks perfectly doable. Wear something bright and reflective, and get one or more nice taillights visible in daylight:
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3

In all honesty, though, your area wasn't designed for anything other than one-car-per-person living: there are no sidewalks, and even if there were, there's nothing within walking distance. If you're looking into making a long-term lifestyle out of biking and walking, it would make sense to live in a neighborhood designed to make it possible, generally those built before World War II with streets with sidewalks on a grid pattern, and on a bus route (those were generally originally streetcar routes) along a street full of useful shops. Those neighborhoods were built for families with one or zero cars, and often still function perfectly well for folks living like that.

It looks like there are several suitable neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and several of the inner ring suburbs also look doable:
http://www.walkscore.com/OH/Cincinnati

Obivously, there are questions of education, safety, and other factors, but remember that the leading cause of death for those age 5-34 is motor vehicle accidents:
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/data.html
Moving to a place where your child can avoid motor vehicles while growing up, especially when 16+ and experimenting with automobiles and likely alcohol, is far more important for safety than mainstream culture makes it out to be.

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything you just described. Most of those are awful neighborhoods with fairly bad schools, and either limited, poor, or crazy expensive housing choices. Their WalkScores have more to do with fast food restaurants and bars than grocery stores. Over-the-Rhine has literally no grocery stores in reasonable driving distance, let alone walking. And you couldn't pay me to ride a bike in a single lane road in this city... drivers have a nasty habit of swerving around the lines like lines are suggestions more than rules. I'm not trying to sound argumentative, but I think it's important to point out that a few Google searches don't tell you everything you need to know about getting by in a city.

If OP wants to move, Anderson Township near Beechmont Ave and Hyde Park are probably the two most walkable areas in the city. Otherwise, I'd think about getting a second car until you can move somewhere more walkable. It's not Mustachian, but I don't think Cincinnati drivers qualify for the "it's statistically safer to ride a bike" argument."

I don't know much about Cincinnati to be specific, and very little about specific neighborhoods, but am merely suggesting a walking and transit-oriented neighborhood for a family with that wants to live sustainably one car. I agree that a 5-mile bike ride on country roads would be uncomfortable for a year-round commute option, and am not suggesting it is safer (though it would be doable) for the OP to in their immediate locale. I am suggesting that if they move to a less car-centric neighborhood, it would be statistically safer, as they'd be much less likely to have a drunk 17-year-old driving home.

Midwestern cities are generally not short of reasonably-walkable streetcar suburbs (I grew up in one), even if many neighborhoods in the city proper have decayed. Those two you mentioned look reasonable, especially Hyde Park. Neighborhoods near universities also tend to be good options.

I have heard that your major corporations are spending tons of money to gentrify Over-the-Rhine, and there does appear to be a grocery store there:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=grocery&ll=39.111265,-84.515526&spn=0.009407,0.018089&sll=39.114945,-84.518251&sspn=0.037626,0.072355&near=Over-The-Rhine,+Cincinnati,+OH&geocode=CXNmHI9TIsSbFYTQVAIdcVr2-ilRDEc8-bNBiDGs7_rN9zZfPA&hq=grocery&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=39.111378,-84.515545&panoid=tKxeVeIsFYhZ1KUgBD78pg&cbp=12,49.47,,0,-5.02

[Starstuff]

It looks perfectly doable. Wear something bright and reflective, and get one or more nice taillights visible in daylight:
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Danger-Light/dp/B00435IPFK
http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Design-Works-Radbot-Light/dp/B0030BS30K/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3

In all honesty, though, your area wasn't designed for anything other than one-car-per-person living: there are no sidewalks, and even if there were, there's nothing within walking distance. If you're looking into making a long-term lifestyle out of biking and walking, it would make sense to live in a neighborhood designed to make it possible, generally those built before World War II with streets with sidewalks on a grid pattern, and on a bus route (those were generally originally streetcar routes) along a street full of useful shops. Those neighborhoods were built for families with one or zero cars, and often still function perfectly well for folks living like that.

It looks like there are several suitable neighborhoods in Cincinnati, and several of the inner ring suburbs also look doable:
http://www.walkscore.com/OH/Cincinnati

Obivously, there are questions of education, safety, and other factors, but remember that the leading cause of death for those age 5-34 is motor vehicle accidents:
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/data.html
Moving to a place where your child can avoid motor vehicles while growing up, especially when 16+ and experimenting with automobiles and likely alcohol, is far more important for safety than mainstream culture makes it out to be.

Honestly, I wouldn't do anything you just described. Most of those are awful neighborhoods with fairly bad schools, and either limited, poor, or crazy expensive housing choices. Their WalkScores have more to do with fast food restaurants and bars than grocery stores. Over-the-Rhine has literally no grocery stores in reasonable driving distance, let alone walking. And you couldn't pay me to ride a bike in a single lane road in this city... drivers have a nasty habit of swerving around the lines like lines are suggestions more than rules. I'm not trying to sound argumentative, but I think it's important to point out that a few Google searches don't tell you everything you need to know about getting by in a city.

If OP wants to move, Anderson Township near Beechmont Ave and Hyde Park are probably the two most walkable areas in the city. Otherwise, I'd think about getting a second car until you can move somewhere more walkable. It's not Mustachian, but I don't think Cincinnati drivers qualify for the "it's statistically safer to ride a bike" argument."

I don't know much about Cincinnati to be specific, and very little about specific neighborhoods, but am merely suggesting a walking and transit-oriented neighborhood for a family with that wants to live sustainably one car. I agree that a 5-mile bike ride on country roads would be uncomfortable for a year-round commute option, and am not suggesting it is safer (though it would be doable) for the OP to in their immediate locale. I am suggesting that if they move to a less car-centric neighborhood, it would be statistically safer, as they'd be much less likely to have a drunk 17-year-old driving home.

Midwestern cities are generally not short of reasonably-walkable streetcar suburbs (I grew up in one), even if many neighborhoods in the city proper have decayed. Those two you mentioned look reasonable, especially Hyde Park. Neighborhoods near universities also tend to be good options.

I have heard that your major corporations are spending tons of money to gentrify Over-the-Rhine, and there does appear to be a grocery store there:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=grocery&ll=39.111265,-84.515526&spn=0.009407,0.018089&sll=39.114945,-84.518251&sspn=0.037626,0.072355&near=Over-The-Rhine,+Cincinnati,+OH&geocode=CXNmHI9TIsSbFYTQVAIdcVr2-ilRDEc8-bNBiDGs7_rN9zZfPA&hq=grocery&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=39.111378,-84.515545&panoid=tKxeVeIsFYhZ1KUgBD78pg&cbp=12,49.47,,0,-5.02

As far as I've been able to tell, Cincinnati is an overall exception to all of the normal city rules. Universities don't really have walkable neighborhoods, and there exactly no non-car-centric neighborhoods that don't cost at least half a million to own in and $1500-$3000 a month to rent in. Outside the general "cityness" is mostly farm country. And that grocery store in Over the Rhine closed a few months ago because they got robbed bankrupt. :-/ The gentrification of OTR may be a topic for another thread, but let's just say that the scars of race riots are not healed by some new paint. This city is just STRANGE. But easy live in for cheap, so I'm not complaining, even if I do have to drive to work.

[powersln]

Thanks for the tips.   Honestly, living by the University (Clifton gaslight district) was my dream.   However, school district and housing prices won out.    My current house was ~80K vs 200K+ in Clifton gaslight.    Also Cincinnati Public Schools are failing and my district is thriving.    Maybe we will move after the little one goes to college.