Hey folks! It’s been one year since we moved to Columbus, Ohio. If you’ve seen my post, “Impressions of the Midwest—The People,” you would have read that I fell in love with the people because of its family-feeling. Now, however, I want to share three more observations about this city.
Dangerous Driving: I’m sorry to say this, but Columbusites are bad drivers. According to QuoteWizard Insurance News, Columbus has the distinction of having the fourth worst drivers in the country. Add the statistic that 24 percent of the major roads in Columbus are in poor condition, and another 24 percent are mediocre, these rough roads add wear and tear to our cars and contribute to car accidents. Also, I have never had to dodge so many manholes in my life.
We live on the north side of Columbus, near Polaris Parkway and Highway 71. The traffic in this area is hectic for two reasons. First, the JP Morgan Chase McCoy Center, a 2 million-square-foot office complex, employs 10,000 workers. Second, Polaris Fashion Place, a premier mall attracts many shoppers.
Unique to this place, there is a city-wide ban on U-turns. It seems reasonable, given the poor driving habits one sees around town; tailgating, texting while driving, and last-minute lane changes are the norm. I’ve seen cars cross four lanes of traffic just because.
Drivers have the habit of sticking their cars out in the middle of the intersection, and when the light turns red, they will turn. And don’t be surprised if two or three cars turn left on a red light. If you aren’t aware of this quirk, you could think you are good to go when your light turns green. Not!
Another thing that makes driving in Columbus dangerous is wildlife. White-tailed Deer are active at dusk and dawn and can dart out of the woods into traffic. Canada Geese, which are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act no longer migrate, and are a nuisance year-round.
Football Fever: I had no idea that sports were such a big part of the culture. On the first day of our coming, one of the movers asked, “So, do you love the Buckeyes?” I didn’t know what to say. Then there was my question, why is everyone running around wearing red jerseys?
I must admit, I am proud to say I have never known who played in the Super Bowl. Ever! Let me know when there’s a game, and I’ll be in the shops, happily skipping in empty aisles.
Food Fans: Columbusites love eating out. There are so many restaurants! But there’s one franchise I took for granted that’s not here. A couple of months ago we were invited to eat at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, but as we drove the two hours to Cincinnati, I wondered, “Why don’t we just go to the Pappadeaux’s in Columbus?” Come to find out, the only Pappadeaux’s in Ohio is in Cincinnati! I guess I was spoiled living in Dallas-Fort Worth, where there were four Pappadeaux’s within a ten-mile radius of my house.
Ohioans love their craft beer. The Brewers Association, a Boulder, Colorado-based trade group released its state-specific statistics in April 2019 and shared that The Buckeye State is number four in craft beer production. My husband loves it here.
Well, these are just of my three perceptions. Maybe it’s time to take a defensive driving course. With all the sports on TV, I will have less TV to watch and more time to blog. Finally, I look forward to trying out new restaurants and making more observations around town.