<p>Are bicycles essential for undergraduate survival at Stanford? How advisable is it to plan on NOT getting a bike for four years?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Almost everyone bikes. There is no reason not to get one. You really will need it.</p>
<p>that's awesome, i love biking, i am really excited now!</p>
<p>A cheap bike and a U-lock are the way to go.</p>
<p>you need one...no reason not to</p>
<p>Do you recommend a particular bike? I noticed all the sales on the Campus Bike Shop web page. Both Jamis and Schwinn are on sale. The Schwinn Panther looks like a good deal - $299 (regular $450). Any bike reviews or thoughts on the kind of bike to buy, for the next 4 years of use?</p>
<p>Do you recommend a particular bike? I noticed all the sales on the Campus Bike Shop web page. Both Jamis and Schwinn are on sale. The Schwinn Panther looks like a good deal - $299 (regular $450). Any bike reviews or thoughts on the kind of bike to buy, for the next 4 years of use?</p>
<p>Your bike selection will naturally depend on how you plan to use the bike and how much cash in your wallet. You don't need much of a bike to ride across campus but if you will be doing some extended time on it for fun you may want a better bike.</p>
<p>Some have suggested getting fenders so when you ride in the rain you will not get your pants as wet. </p>
<p>Why is there so many bike thefts on campus when the student body is generally considered the cream of the crop. Is somehow character flaws not reflected in otherwise top grades, ec's, recommendations and test scores?</p>
<p>Also are most of the bikers considerate of other students that may be walking? I get the impression that there is massive bike traffic at peak times - almost to the point of creating a hazard for those walking or other less experienced bikers. How bad does it get ?</p>
<p>"Why is there so many bike thefts on campus..."</p>
<p>Stanford is an open campus, anyone can come and go on the campus so thieves themselves aren't just from Stanford, but from other places across the Bay Area.</p>
<p>Palo Alto as a city generally has a low rate of violent crimes but high rates of petty thefts/crimes. Unlocked bikes are stolen everywhere in Palo Alto. Thieves target bikes with cheap locks at high schools (mine was stolen at Gunn H.S.), parks, and college campuses; these are places with high concentrations of bicycles.</p>
<p>I don't think that the bikes get stolen by the students (though sometimes some students may "borrow" your bike if you don't lock it)</p>
<p>Expensive bikes are more likely to get stolen. $100-$150 bikes from Target (+ a head light, a u-lock and splash guards) are good enough for all your Stanford needs.</p>
<p>a bike is an absolutely necessity and a u-lock or something comparable is advisable.</p>
<p>You will not survive the four years without a bike - unless you like leaving your dorm 20 mins early for classes. And if you happen to have consecutive classes across campus, you simply can't make it on foot in the 10 minute window.</p>
<p>^ Unless you run!</p>
<p>so it sounds like no one walks huh? what if you don't know how to ride a bike?! hint* hint*!! This is actually my number one and only worry right :( i know, im lucky...)</p>
<p>no problem...like they say "its like riding a bike" :D</p>
<p>Maybe you can rollerblade or Trikke? If I get accepted next year I'll cycle but I wonder if rollerblading or using a Trikke is fast enough to get to classes. </p>
<p>I've been looking at cycling maps (511.org</a> - Bicycling) and from the looks of it, cycling outside of Stanford easy and safe, like in Menlo Park and Mount View etc. Are Menlo Park and Mount View safe, peaceful towns? Do I have to worry about drug dealers or gangs chasing after me etc? The reason I ask is because from what I read from this forum and other websites is that Menlo Park and Mount View seem to be more cheaper (shopping, restaurants) than Palo Alto.</p>
<p>Mountain View is and parts of Menlo Park are, but there are definitely parts of Menlo Park that I would not bike through. Furthermore, I don't think most people bike that far, but rather drive or carpool</p>
<p>Mountain View and most of Palo Alto are okay for biking - Menlo Park is terrible - the bike lane on El Camino literally disappears right into Menlo Park sometimes it even conflict with freeway exits - I had to force my way illegally through an off ramp because the pedestrian/bike lane led into a wall at one intersection. Ugh.
Anyways roller blades is a good idea if you're not planning on biking trips off campus.</p>
<p>For those that don't ride or own a bike isn't that what the bus service (Marq...t?) that runs around Stanford is for. What is wrong with using the free bus service to get around campus and the immediate area vs. a bike?</p>
<p>As was already mentioned, are walkers in danger of getting bumped or sideswiped by out of control bikers?</p>
<p>the marguerite isn't that great for getting to classes because it doesn't stop at the places you really would want it to. also it runs on a schedule that isn't that convenient with class schedules. It's usually much faster to walk than deal with the marguerite. The only place I really see a use for it is if you had a class in the med school. people only really use the marguerite to get off campus.</p>
<p>basically, everyone needs to get a bike. it's ok if you don't know how, yet. just learn this summer. i know a lot of people who just learned how to bike even while here on campus.</p>