Good morning, Westerville. The numbers tell an impressive story on East Broad Street, where protected bike lanes have transformed safety in Columbus. Car crashes have plummeted by over 50% in just six months, while excessive speeding has nosedived by an astonishing 89%. With more than 12,000 bicycle and scooter trips counted since May, these barrier-protected lanes aren't just sitting pretty—they're actively reshaping how people move through the city.
Transportation continues making headlines as COTA rolls out its "Rolls to the Polls" initiative, offering free rides across all services on Election Day, November 4. This fare-free approach aims to remove barriers to voting access for all Central Ohioans. Meanwhile, the upcoming school board election has drawn attention as watchdog groups scrutinize candidate Mounir Lynch's social media history, highlighting the increasingly visible role of online presence in local politics.
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0%☕️ What's Brewing Locally
🚲 Protected bike lanes transformed Broad Street into a safer thoroughfare. The Columbus project installed on East Broad Street last fall has reduced crashes by more than half, with car accidents dropping from 28 to 13 in the first half of 2025. Even more impressive is the 89 percent reduction in excessive speeding on the street, which has a 35 mph limit. The lanes, physically separated from traffic by barriers, have been well-utilized with over 12,000 bicycle and scooter trips counted since May. This success is informing other planned protected bike lane projects throughout Columbus, including what will be the city's longest on North Fourth Street.
🚫 School board candidate under fire for antisemitic social media posts. StopAntisemitism, a watchdog group with 345,000 followers, called out Columbus City Schools' Board of Education candidate Mounir Lynch for concerning posts made on October 7, 2023. The group shared screenshots showing Lynch celebrating "Palestine will be free" on the day of Hamas' attack on Israel, alongside a March 2024 post suggesting education should be "free of Zionists." Lynch's original account has been deleted, and he has since created a new account where he mentioned being "doxxed by Israeli advocacy" organizations. Columbus City Schools declined to comment on the political candidate's statements as the November 4 school board election approaches.
🚌 Free rides to the polls for Ohio voters on Election Day. COTA is waiving all transit fares on November 4 to help citizens exercise their right to vote. The "Rolls to the Polls" initiative covers COTA's fixed-route bus system, Mainstream services, and COTA//Plus. COTA President Monica Téllez-Fowler emphasized that this program aims to remove transportation barriers and ensure equal voting access for all Central Ohioans. Voters can check polling locations on the Franklin County Board of Elections website and plan their trips using COTA.com or the Transit app.
🏡 Real Estate Reveals
Luxurious Ranch Dream Forest Setting: Priced at $615,000, this stunning 4-bedroom ranch in Blackhawk Forest Estates boasts soaring ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, first-floor office, luxurious primary suite, and finished lower level on a quiet wooded cul-de-sac.
Spacious updated home bonus spaces: Priced at $869,900, this tastefully updated two-story Harvest Wind home offers a primary suite on the first floor, three additional bedrooms upstairs, and multiple bonus spaces including a detached garage with separate utilities.
Classic Westerville elegance four rooms: For $449,900, this Westerville home offers classic style with hardwood floors, multiple gathering spaces, and an all-season room with vaulted ceilings, plus a primary suite featuring a walk-in closet and flexible bonus room.🗓️ Happenings & Hoopla
💰 Financial Friday
Review and adjust your budget regularly to account for changes in income and expenses; this practice ensures you're staying aligned with your financial goals and can help you avoid overspending.
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