<p>Hey,</p>
<p>Do you know where I could purchase a bicycle at UPenn?
I would like to have one in order to speed up my commute to and from classes.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>if you want to go cheap, this is right on campus (the bike church)</p>
<p>Neighborhood</a> Bike Works, Philadelphia Youth Bike Education</p>
<p>There's a K-Mart at the Gallery Mall that has some bikes (11th and Market) and a Wal-Mart and Target in South Philly and a Target at city line which sell bikes. They're very close by car, and accessible by bus. </p>
<p>On campus, if you enjoy being gouged, there is Trophy bikes at 30th-ish and Walnut and Firehouse bikes at 50th and Baltimore. Trophy bikes sells way too expensive models that I wouldn't use around West Philadelphia and Firehouse sells rip-off restored old bikes. </p>
<p>Get a cheap bike and an expensive lock. Chances are very high that the bike will get stolen. Additionally, you probably don't need a bicycle unless you live way off campus.</p>
<p>you need a u-lock; don't get a cable lock, those are too weak</p>
<p>Don't leave it unlocked or Penn Police will snatch it.</p>
<p>So far, all I've been able to find is bikes that cost a consistent $150. I am not looking for anything fancy, so do any of you know where I could go to find a model for ~50 bucks?</p>
<p>I've already searched in Target and that Churchy place on Locust St.</p>
<p>Maybe you can look at craigslist for a used one. Try to google the local bike clubs as well since members are always trying to sell used bikes when they upgrade. FYI - Philadelphia was just ranked #1 for bicycle thefts so get a good lock!</p>
<p>I emphasize my suggestion from earlier that you probably don't <em>need</em> a bike - maybe spend a week or two on campus and decide if you really still want one.</p>
<p>I'll echo that. If you live on campus, biking to class will be a pain because they're not allowed on Locust Walk, the main thoroughfare.</p>
<p>If you live off campus more than a few blocks past 40th street they could be convenient.</p>
<p>Also, a good U-lock means at least a kryptonite evolution series lock (it has the orange cross piece). The gray ones can be pried apart pretty easily. I'm paranoid, so I shelled out for the new york lock (the yellow cross bar one), but i have a nice bike.</p>
<p>Ebay or craigslist is definitely your best bet for cheap bikes.</p>
<p>You don't think that getting a bike is a good idea?</p>
<p>I have back to back classes in different parts of the campus (chem buildings and Huntsman, for example). I'd just like to save some time every day by using my bike.</p>
<p>Where do we park bikes, by the way?</p>
<p>to add to the previous question of "where do we park bikes" does anyone know if there is relatively secure bike parking on or near the quad?</p>
<p>there are bike racks near most buildings on campus and next to or in all of the dorms, including inside the quad.</p>
<p>I had a bike all four years and honestly, you're not going to save time for things like going from the chem building to huntsman. By the time you unlock your bike, maneuver through all the pedestrians or take a less direct route to your next class, and lock your bike up again, you pretty much could have walked there.</p>
<p>I'd recommend not getting a bike unless you plan on venturing off campus often. A bike is very cost-efficient, if that's the case, as you save on cab fare/Septa fare/etc.</p>
<p>However, if you're just getting around on campus, a bike's a bit silly if you're trying to save time, I think, for reasons already stated above. Don't be one of those guys who gets a bike and weaves in and out of pedestrian traffic on Locust Walk.</p>
<p>Definitely get an expensive lock. One time, a person in our dorm who had a bike laid out a bunch of his bike locks on a table -- we were able to open up all of them except the most expensive.</p>
<p>A bike is really impractical for riding from class to class. It just doesn't happen.</p>
<p>You should only get a bicycle if you fit one of these categories: a biking enthusiast; living way off-campus and "commute" to campus in the mornings and from in the evenings via bicycle; plan to ride all over Philadelphia (which is only really possible in the summers with the weather and when you have the time)</p>
<p>huntsman and the chem building are not that far away. you can definitely do it in under 10 mins.</p>