University District Street Sweeping

Street sweeping occurs once a month from April 1st to November 1st. In the university district, street sweeping typically takes place on the second week of the month on either Thursday or Friday, depending on the street and the direction it runs. To figure out the day street sweeping occurs where you live, check out the link below to see the official City of Columbus Street Sweeping Maps. 

https://www.columbus.gov/publicservice/streets/Permanently-Posted-Sweeping-Neighborhood-Maps/ 

Also be on the lookout for these signs located on the streets that participate in street sweeping: 

It’s very important to be aware of these dates to avoid having your car get towed. If you commonly park on the street, I would recommend writing down the dates of when the street gets swept and put them in a place you would see it every day like near your front door or on the fridge. Help build community in your neighborhood by keeping your roommates and neighbors aware of these dates as well! 

What to do if you get towed: 

  • First of all, don’t panic. Contact the City Impound Lot at (614) 645-6400 to make sure that your car has been impounded 
  • Make the necessary arrangements you need to get your car back as soon as possible. The impound lot is located at 700 Impound Lot Rd, Columbus, OH 43207 
  • See if a roommate, friend, or coworker can drive you there 
  • Check if the COTA has any routes near you 
  • Uber or Lyft are also good options  
  • To claim your vehicle, you will need a valid driver license AND your vehicle registration. Don’t forget to also bring your car keys 
  • If you don’t have a valid driver’s license, a licensed driver must be with you to drive your car out of the impound lot or your car must be towed from the impound lot.  
  • Be aware of the associated fees. 
  • Getting your car towed can cost upwards of $200. Not only do you have to pay the fee of getting your car towed ($125), but there are also administrative ($30) and storage ($18/dayfees, and potentially the parking citation of having your car parked in a no-park zone 
  • If you have any other outstanding parking citations, you may have to pay those as well before your vehicle is released. 

Safety Tips On and Off-Campus

OnCampus SafetyIf you have ever walked around The Ohio State University campus, you may have noticed some rectangular posts with the word “EMERGENCY” in big, white letters.  These are placed all around campus with the intent of keeping students and faculty safe.  The university has placed these posts in positions that allow at least one to always be within sight.  If you push the circular red button, Campus Security is supposed to arrive to you in no longer than 90 seconds. 

On Campus, you will also see campus security vehicles and officers, also known as The Ohio State University Police Department.   They offer a presence on campus that helps students feel safe.  It also may be wise to invest in personal security devices.  These might include mace, keychains or even self-defense classes.  The Ohio State University is in a large city, which always poses a threat, but there are ways to ensure you are being as safe as possible.   

 

OffCampus SafetyThere are many opportunities to stay safe as a student living off campus.  Lyft ride smart is an option for students to get discounted prices on LYFT rides from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am in the campus area.  This allows students to make the smart choice as opposed to walking home alone in later hours.  More information regarding LYFT Ride Smart can be found at Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State | Transportation and Traffic Management (osu.edu).  Rave Guardian is a useful app that allows you to select guardians to track you via GPS as you travel or walk to your destination using a timer.  If the time expires it will alert your guardian to follow-up or take appropriate action.  You can download this by searching “Rave Guardian” in your Ohio State App.  There are also a few task forces designated to keep the off-campus area safe!  The Special Improvement District or SID can be seen off-campus and are there to report litter, help with directions, or report suspicious behavior.  The Community Crime Patrol can also be seen off-campus ensuring the safety of students and community members.   

 

Buckeye Alerts

Buckeye Alerts is an emergency notification system that The Ohio State University utilizes for public safety information. It’s a wonderful resource to help ensure students are up to date in safety concerns on campus. Students who enter their cell phone numbers into BuckeyeLink are automatically registered for this emergency text messaging system, but you haven’t, here is how to register for Buckeye Alerts: 

  1. Log intoBuckeyeLink
  2. Scroll down to “Personal Information”
  3. Click on “Phone”
  4. Click on “Add a phone number”
  5. Add/edit your Mobile phone number, including area code

 

It’s quick and simple and can help you stay informed! For more information, please visit https://dps.osu.edu/alert-notices 

Zero Waste Tips for Coffee & Tea

Do you love coffee and tea but feel want to feel like you are not being eco-friendly with wasting the disposable cups on campus? Here are some zero waste tips for you and your favorite drinks 

  • Use a Reusable Coffee Filter. 

Purchasing a reusable filter can help reduce waste and save money. If you already have a coffee maker at home like a Keurig, you can use a reusable k-cup to put in your Keurig rather than the plastic disposable k-cups. All you must have is your favorited ground coffee and pour it into the reusable k-cup.  

  • Bring your drink or tea to go.  

You can invest a non-plastic, reusable car cup and take with it wherever you go. Plus, you can enjoy the coffee or tea you made yourself!  

We love our iCommute mugs!  

  • Compost Used Grounds. 

You can compost your coffee grounds; they provide all sorts of benefits to the ground or your garden if you have one! Composting your tea leaves provides a rich nutritional fertilizer for your garden.  

  • Choose your drink wisely! 

 Look out for brands that fair trade, organic and eco-friendly. The brands from North America tend to be more environmentally friendly and conscious of how they grow coffee beans. Feel free to research brands and companies that you like the best! 

  • You can use plant-based substitutes for milk. 

Plant-based milks are more sustainable than cow’s milk when it comes to the environment. Soy milk is one of the best substitutes because it can be used as a replacement for many recipes for cooking and baking. 

Importance of Sleep

How is your sleep schedule?  Are you staying up until 4 in the morning on TikTok just to wake up for your 8am class?  If so, you may not be functioning at your healthiest and most productive level.  As a college student, you require seven to nine hours of sleep each night.  If you feel sluggish each day, like you cannot function without a coffee by 3pm it may be because your body is not getting the rest it requires to recharge.   

Sleep is also good for weight loss.  When sleeping, you burn calories, the more you sleep, the more you burn.  Be careful though, too much sleep can also be bad for your health.  Just like your body requires sleep, it also requires action and movement.   

Sleep is a key in being successful in the classroom.  As sleep helps with studying, test taking, and homework.  It allows for a higher level of focus as your brain is not, subconsciously, thinking about sleep.  If you are properly rested you are less likely to doze off during an important midterm, exam, or even lecture.  Caffeine can only do so much, so put down the coffee or energy drink of choice and get some good quality sleep!   

Lyft Ride Smart

Are you ever on campus after dark and worried about walking back home alone? Lyft and Ohio State have collaborated to create a Ride Smart program in which students have access to safe rides at a discounted price. Students within the university area (outlined in the image below) are eligible for discounted rides from 9 PM to 7 AM. Every month, the first 10,000 rides within this program will be discounted with the average cost being around $1 or $2. It is a first-come, first-served bias 

This is a great program to use if you’re within the service boundaries! To be part of the program, make sure to link your Lyft account with your Ohio State email. To learn more about the Lyft Ride Smart program, please visit https://ttm.osu.edu/ride-smart. 

To ensure your health and safety, Lyft has safety precautions in place. The “shared” rides option has been suspended to eliminate the possibility of users riding with another passenger they do not know. You must now select “Lyft” as your shared ride option in personal mode to qualify for the university discount. Please wear a face mask when using public transportation. Lyft has also initiated additional health and safety measures through a Personal Health Certification program. For more information about the Personal Health Certification program, please visit https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/lyft-launching-health-safety-program 

CABS and COTA

Here is a quick comparison of CABS versus COTA to help you utilize FREE public transportation services available to all Ohio State Students on the Columbus Campus: 

 

CABS (Campus Area Bus Service): 

  • Free transportation service by the Ohio State University 
  • Routes include BL (Buckeye Loop), CLS (Campus Loop South), MC (Med Center Express), WC (West Campus), ER (East Residential), as well as Medical Center Shuttles 
  • Real-time tracking can be used via the Ohio State Mobile App 

For more information on routes and other information, please visit https://ttm.osu.edu/cabs. 

 

 

COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority): 

  • Pricing included in annual student fees 
  • Swipe your BuckID to enjoy unlimited rides around central Ohio! 
  • Routes through/around campus include Line 1, Line 2, Line 102, Line 4, Line 8, Line 22, Line 31, NightOWL, and AirConnect 
  • Tracking can be used through different Ohio Transportation apps (I.e., Transit App) 

All undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are opted-in to the program if they are enrolled in classes at the Ohio State University. For more information on routes and other information, please visit https://www.cota.com/osu-students/ 

 

Please remember to always wear a face mask and remain physically distanced while using public transportation! 

Meet the Team: Burt

Hi, my name is Burt. I am a graduating senior majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Military History.  I am eager to contribute to the sustainability blog and to hear some ideas of what others think.  I have personally owned a consumer product company based around the premise of reusing what nature has so lovingly given us.  I am super excited to share some ideas and recipes with everyone that I have collected around the world and incorporate some efficient ideas on living. 

Meet the Team: Elise

Hi, my name is Elise, and I am beyond excited to start work on the Reduce, Reuse, Recipe blog!  I am a first year here at Ohio State and I am majoring in Public Affairs with a Nonprofit Management Specialization.  I am so excited about this blog because I feel that keeping the world green is something many people are passionate about, while others know very little about.  I want to become educated on how to make our society and campus more environmentally friendly while also putting resources out there for others to do the same! 

 

Easy Almond Butter Cookies

This recipe only has 5 ingredients! It only takes 30 minutes to make as well. These cookies are easy to overbake, so look for the bottoms to be just slightly browned and the tops to give just a bit when touched. These cookies can be a great treat during the Buckeye games. But remember to be at home during the games! 

 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup of almond butter 
  • ¾ cup packed light brown sugar 
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten 
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 

 

You can drop off cookies for up to 30 people! Or really, it’s up to you if you want to share! 

 

Steps: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit 
  2. Stir together all the ingredients in a bowl until combined; shape the dough into 30 (1-inch) balls.  
  3. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
  4. Place the dough balls 1 inch apart on parchment paper and flatten gently with the tines of a fork. 
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.  
  6. Transfer to wire racks to cool!