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/day) fees, 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. 

On–Campus Safety: If 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.   

Off–Campus Safety: There 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 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.  

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.