Since moving to Columbus from California and not having many opportunities to walk around campus because of distance learning, it was interesting to see first hand the difference in zoning and areas around campus. Here are my observations:
SIDEWALKS:
Most of the sidewalks around campus can accommodate 2-3 people. If it is an area more central to campus, the sidewalks feel wider because of the on foot traffic. Wider lanes mean more people walking and less crowded spaces. Sidewalks along Woodruff Ave are wide enough to fit pedestrians but also narrow enough to accommodate for street access. Walking along this part of campus felt comfortable and easy because of the posts along the street that offers a barrier.
STREET WIDTH:
The streets closer to campus and more central like on Neil Ave or College Rd are two way streets. The streets more on the edge of campus like on high street or Cannon Dr are wider and are 4 lanes, 2 on each direction. Since the majority of people on campus mostly walk or use a bike, it is not necessary for Neil or College to have more care lanes. Streets like High Street or Cannon Dr. are for businesses or commuting from the highway. They have higher traffic and require more lanes.
STREET SAFETY
In almost all major crossways and intersections around campus there are stoplights and crosswalks. the only exceptions are the construction zones where stoplights and crosswalks are temporarily out of service. There are plenty of traffic signs, stop signs, and even walking zone signs. The area on 12th heading towards Cannon was mostly the back side of the medical building. That area as well as the whole walk on Cannon did not feel pedestrian friendly. As a woman walking alone past parking garages, and supply drop off docks, I normally do not walk in areas with few cars and few pedestrians.Most of Campus feels safe and easily accessible, but the back side of buildings and parking garages are not pedestrian friendly.
TRAFFIC FLOW:
I don’t know if visiting campus on a Sunday would give me an accurate depiction of campus traffic and life but I observed that the busiest areas were along High Street and Woodruff Ave. The streets and parking were fairly empty and there weren’t a lot of people walking around campus but I did notice that around lunch time, High street and areas on Woodruff and College Rd near Ohio Union were busier with people carrying lunch bags.
SETBACKS:
The setbacks between the buildings to each other and the buildings to the streets seemed appropriate. Dorm and food buildings were closer to the street than libraries or study halls. That could be that libraries require less noise pollution for the people inside vs the dorms and food places need to be closer to sidewalks for transportation. the Dorms tend to be closer together than study buildings and the food places tend to be closer to the dorms than the study.
BUILDING USE:
Most of the buildings along Woodruff Ave are spaces for students like dorms and food. A lot of the buildings throughout campus did not seem like they were either open or being used compared to weekdays. There were a few libraries along the route that seemed like there was a steady flow of people going in and out. Some buildings felt a little out of place. As shown in the second picture above, the little sitting area doesn’t seem to fit with the surround brick buildings or the building it is connected to. It seems a little like an after thought.
PARKING:
Parking did not appear to be available as much as I had thought. Parking structures were on the edges of campus and parking spaces near buildings were limited to staff of a specific kind of parking pass. I had driven to campus and parked at the Tuttle parking garage for 2 hours of parking paid a little over $7. While walking around campus, There were a few parking garages and very few parking spaces closer to the building.
ACCESSIBILITY:
Campus and campus buildings are very accessible when it comes to walking or bike riding. If you wanted to go from one corner of campus to the other, you can rent a bike and you’re able to use it to get around. Since there are limited parking garages and parking spaces public transportation is a great way to get around. CABS stops are all around campus which makes it convenient to get around.
GREEN SPACE:
There are plenty of green spaces around campus and spaces to sit outside. The Oval is a perfect example of an accessible wide green space that people can take advantage of as a way to cut through to their next class or to sit and enjoy the day. The effects of having this green space is that people can be more active in this environment. I saw many people excercising, running, sitting on benches and walking around. If this campus did not have a space like the Oval, it would not have a space that could allow for many people to enjoy the outdoor space.
SUMMARY: To summarize, I really enjoyed being able to walk around campus and look at all the buildings and spaces. Most of the interesting places were near green spaces. The first is the Oval. I had learned that the pathways were paved based off of students routes and not planned. I think its interesting that the routes are all in different directions and not symmetrical. The second most interesting place to me was the walk down Woodruff Ave approaching college road. The area is lined by dorms and buildings for students. I really got the feel that I was on a college campus. My third favorite place was Mirror Lake. I thought a place that allows people to have a nice few while studying in the library or reading outside is a great place to take a break and enjoy the outdoors. It is positioned in a great spot that feels private but still accessible to the public. My fourth favorite place was the stadium, it was a great place to tie up the walk and a great location for school spirit. My last favorite place was along High Street. The contrast between a quiet college campus to a busy and bustling street made the campus feel connected to the activity that goes on outside of campus. Coming from California, most colleges in Southern California are commuter schools. Its nice to be able to walk in a campus that is accessible to people and provides what students need within walking distance.
