cycling and house buying

[Koronin]

We moved this past year and are currently renting. Now were we are renting is actually a pretty good area for cycling at least around the neighborhood and joining areas. However, we have no interest in buying here even though it is a very nice area. At issue is there is a HOA (home owners association). I will never live in an HOA again. So we are at the very, very early stages of looking for a home and it like just dawned on me that we also need to keep our wanting to ride in mind when looking at the area.

[Owlie]

Part of what I wish I'd looked at when renting an apartment was the rideability of the roads around it. Some are pretty nice, some really suck. This is important since I don't have a car when I'm in Cleveland and therefore have a harder time getting to rural roads or to a trail.

I also kind of wish I 'd taken up cycling when I was still living at home--the bike trail's within easy reach.

"Location, location, location," right?

[Koronin]

Yep, it is location, location, location. Of course it also has to be an easy drive to base for my husband (civil service) and to the major shopping area since that where much of my merchandising work is at.

[Owlie]

Yep, it is location, location, location. Of course it also has to be an easy drive to base for my husband (civil service) and to the major shopping area since that where much of my merchandising work is at.

The big thing for us was that DBF have a reasonable walk to class in the morning. (Yeah, he has a free pass for the RTA, but that's not always on time.) It works out from the respect that he's got a 1mi walk to class, and we're about a half-mile from the grocery store and near bus routes if we need to go to Target or something. There are places within walking distance of campus that are closer to nice bike routes, but realistically, I'd have to want to live with another two people to make those work.

[tulip]

Proximity to cycling routes was a huge factor in deciding to buy my house. Even though it needed a ton of work, the location allows me to be on quiet country roads in 5 minutes from my door by bike. I'm also 3 miles from downtown by a bike path that was built after I moved here, so I just got lucky with that one.

[limewave]

That is the one thing we did right early on in our marriage. When we were shopping for houses, we'd park in potential neighborhood and spend hours walking around and riding our bikes. Ride- and walkability was one of the top 3 factors in choosing location along with proximity to work and school district.

[shootingstar]

Stick to your hearts' desires...rideability long-term by bike. You will be SO thankful for it. Your health rides on it, so to speak.

It will take time to find that place. Be patient.

But keep in mind I've lived near public transit and later, near bikeable routes, etc. for 3 different cities/homes. It's all possible, particularily in a city.

I actually signed a lease for place sight unseen. I had to go strictly on advice of my partner who lived here ....a decade ago but knows key bike routes in the city where I am right now.

My first home...which I bought..I unknowingly bought it located not just near a subway, but by choice of 2 different bike routes that took me from suburbs into downtown core. Routes were either ride by the beaches/lakefront or into the depths of ravine parks all interconnected. Ever so grateful I had that choice..for 14 yrs.