Getting around in Columbus

Getting around in Columbus without a car will be challenging due to the city’s limited public transport infrastructure, which consists only of buses, a bike-share scheme and taxis. For a city of its size, it’s surprising that there are no trains or trams in Columbus. In fact, it’s the largest city in the US without any form of rail infrastructure.

The city is far from compact, and its vast layout certainly complicates matters of public transport, making driving a much simpler option.

Public transport in Columbus

Bus

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) runs the bus system in Columbus, which has more than 440 buses across 41 routes and transports about 19 million passengers a year.

Several special services are available, including express routes, night services, and airport connectors. There is also a free downtown circulator and a bus rapid transit route. All buses have free WiFi onboard. Those who would like to save can consider using one of the 24 park and ride facilities associated with COTA to continue their journey on public transit.

To pay for bus fares, a COTA Connector smartcard or the Transit app can be used, or tickets can be bought onboard with exact change.

Useful links

• Central Ohio Transit Authority
• COTA Transit app

Taxis in Columbus

There are numerous private cab companies operating in Columbus. Reputable companies include Buckeye Express Cab and Singh Taxi & Transportation. Reservations can be made online or by phone. Ride-hailing applications are also popular, the most prominent being Uber and Lyft.

Useful links

• Buckeye Express Cab
• Singh Taxi & Transportation
• Uber Columbus
• Lyft Columbus

Driving in Columbus

Most new arrivals in Columbus will realise that their own set of wheels is necessary. Those with a driving licence from another state or country are usually allowed to drive in the US as long as their licence remains valid. Those with licences in languages other than English should obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) before the move.

Once a resident of Ohio, drivers should visit the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to obtain a local driving licence.

Useful links

• Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Cycling in Columbus

The popularity of cycling is on the rise in Columbus, as local authorities are moving towards making the city more bicycle-friendly, creating road infrastructure like protected bike lanes and turn boxes.

Those who aren’t quite ready to commit to owning a bike can use the CoGo BikeShare service, which allows commuters to rent its over 600 bikes stationed at more than 80 stations across Columbus.

Useful links

• CoGo BikeShare