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.  

Buckeye Block Watch is a program from the Student Life Office of Off- Campus and Commuter Student Services to promote community development and safety off campus. This safety awareness initiative is available to all Ohio State students living off-campus and increases awareness of safety practices and available resources.  

As a part of Buckeye Block Watch movement, you pledge to: 

• Be alert! 
• Know your neighbors and watch out for each other. 
• Report suspicious activities and crimes regardless of when they happened. 

• Learn how you can make yourself and your community safer. 

https://communitycrimemap.com/ is a website that offers an up to date crime map. It is a good tool to use when finding a new place to live or when visiting new neighborhoods. Being alert and educated is the best safety practice. Put in any address and see recent crimes and crimes that are more common in the area. 

How can you look out for your neighbor? 

We encourage students to report any suspicious activity to 311, Columbus’s NON-EMERGENCY Service Center available to residents. If there is an emergency, be sure to call 911 immediately.  Even when life seems hectic, continue to watch out for your neighbors and friends.  

Enhance Your Home Fire Safety! 

Top 10 Tips to be safe from a fire: 

1. If a fire breaks out, GET OUT and STAY OUT. Call 911 
2. Make sure you have enough smoke alarms and that they work 
3. Know two ways out, especially from bedrooms 
4. Don’t leave cooking or candles unattended 
5. Make sure cigarettes are extinguished and don’t smoke in bed 
6. Keep space heaters 3 feet away from flammable items 
7. Don’t overload electrical circuits, use a power strip where necessary 
8. Keep flammable materials at least 3 feet away from water heaters, furnaces and other sources of flames (do not store items in furnace/water heater closets) 
9. Don’t use a grill on a porch or within 10 feet of a building 
10. Don’t store gasoline, lighter fluid, etc. inside your house or apartment 

Smoke Alarms 

Ohio law requires your property manager to provide a working smoke alarm on each level of your home, including the basement.  If one of your floors does not have a smoke alarm, or if one of your smoke alarms does not work, contact your property manager immediately.  

• Generally, alarms should be placed in the center of a ceiling or, if on a wall, they should be 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling. 

• For maximum warning, smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms. 
• In addition to the smoke alarms provided by your property manager, you can purchase additional alarms online or at your local hardware store. 
• Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services offers free smoke alarm batteries, go to offcampus.osu.edu, https://offcampus.osu.edu/resources/safety/,  for more information!  

Test Your Smoke Alarm Monthly 

To test: 

• Press and hold the test button 
• Wait for the smoke alarm to beep 
• If the smoke alarm does not beep, replace the batteries 
• If you re-test the alarm with new batteries and it still does not beep, replace the smoke alarm 

Signs you need a new smoke alarm or battery: 

• The smoke alarm makes short beeps regularly, or 
• The smoke alarm is more than 10 years old and has exceeded its lifespan. 

• You can find the manufacture date on the back of the alarm 

No Combustible Materials Stored Indoors or Near Heating Appliances 

Your furnace and water heater are heat sources that can cause a fire by igniting nearby flammable or combustible materials. If your furnace and water heater are in your basement, keep flammable materials at least 3 feet away. If your furnace and water heater are in a closet, keep the entire closet clear of any items.  Do not use your furnace and water heater closet as storage; it is a serious fire hazard. 

Fire Extinguisher on Each Floor 

A fire extinguisher can confine and possibly put out a small fire, resulting in saved lives and property. If you purchase a fire extinguisher, select an “ABC” extinguisher.  An ABC fire extinguisher is a multi-purpose fire extinguisher that can be used on: 

• A: Ordinary combustible materials, such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics 
• B: Flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints 
• C: Electrical appliances 

When to Use a Fire Extinguisher 

Use a fire extinguisher only if: 

• All residents have evacuated the building and the fire department has been called 
• The room is not filled with smoke 
• You have an unblocked exit to escape 

• The fire is confined to a small area and is not growing 
• You feel comfortable using the fire extinguisher 

How to use a Fire Extinguisher 

Remember the word “PASS” when you use a fire extinguisher: 

• Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointed toward the fire 

• Aim low and point the nozzle at the base of the fire 
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly 
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side 

Emergency Escape Ladders 

Your ability to escape a fire depends on advance warning from smoke alarms and advance planning. You and everyone else you live with should have an escape plan in the event of a fire. If a fire starts, you only have a few minutes to escape before poisonous smoke and flames engulf your home. A quick escape requires a plan. Create an escape plan that includes the following: 

• Two exits for every room 
• An outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor’s house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they’ve escaped. 

If your home has two floors, everyone in an upstairs bedroom must be able to escape from second-floor rooms. Escape ladders can be placed in or near windows to provide an additional escape route if your primary exit is blocked by fire. To learn more about safely escaping a home fire, participate in the Fire Safety Training Event on campus. 

There are many ways to enhance your home’s security. While some options can be a bit expensive, like home security services and security cameras, some are very inexpensive and even free to you as a student at Ohio State!  

Off Campus and Commuter Student Services has free- yes, FREE- window and door alarms for students at Ohio State University. Audible alarms can deter burglars from attempting to enter your home. Window and door alarms are powerful deterrence devices that create a loud ringing sound when triggered. A burglar is less likely to enter a home when a loud alarm alerts residents and neighbors of the burglar’s presence. Free window and door alarms are available for students at 3106 Ohio Union. It is recommended that you put an alarm on every window and door that is accessible from the ground floor; however, if you’d like to have a few more as backups or to put on upstairs windows or doors, you can take extra!  

A burglar is also less likely to target a home that looks like it is occupied. A safety timer can turn your interior lights on and off throughout the night to give the appearance that someone is home. Free safety timers are available for students at 3106 Ohio Union.  

These types of products can be purchased at home goods stores and can be delivered to your residence if coming to campus is not a safe option for you.  

Other ways to prevent burglary can be found on Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services’ website https://offcampus.osu.edu/resources/safety/enhance-your-home-security/ 

There are a lot of numbers to call when a situation rises. Sometimes it’s better to call a nonemergency number rather than 911. Remember to ALWAYS call 911 in an emergency or a situation that could turn into a risky situation. Here are some numbers that may be helpful in case a problem or risky situation arises: