<p>I searched for threads about this, but the ones I found were a bit outdated and inconclusive.</p>
<p>Is it practical to have a bike on campus? I'm from a rural area, so riding a bike here is really easy. I'm not really used to biking in rush hour traffic. Does Chicago allow biking on the sidewalks? I would assume that it's illegal, but I'm just making sure. I also know that bikes often get stolen, and it can be a bit tricky and inconvenient if you need to use mass transit in addition to biking.</p>
<p>To me, biking seems impractical, but many other people have told me that it's essential. Is biking a good option for getting around on campus?</p>
<p>It’s always practical to have bikes on campus, why waste money and gas to go drive a place where you can exercise by biking or walking? If you go to almost any big universities in the US, you will find people riding bikes.</p>
<p>“Does Chicago allow biking on the sidewalks?”
By Chicago you mean U of C right? If yes then yeah. You should visit because your question would be answered quickly =)
But if you are going to “park” your bike then make sure you place it at a place with bike racks, not next to a sign.</p>
<p>“inconvenient if you need to use mass transit in addition to biking.”
Simple solution walk =). I mean U of C isn’t like a 50 mile wide campus. It’s in Chicago (hence the name) but that means you have 1) subway 2) bus 3)lots of places to walk and ride bike</p>
<p>“I also know that bikes often get stolen”
There are solutions like locks (make sure you lock the tires and the bike together, then they won’t really try to steal it, and make sure you get a good lock. </p>
<p>Really go visit, it will resolve lots of your questions. </p>
<p>Well, I’m going to be a student this fall. I did visit, but not when class was in session, and I couldn’t remember if I saw anyone riding bicycles.</p>
<p>For the practicality, I guess I meant to ask if it’s more practical to just walk or take the bus instead of biking. I’ll be moving in a compact car, and I don’t want to bring something I’m not going to use.</p>
<p>Does the rest of the city allow riding on the sidewalks? I know people ride along the lake shore when they go to the Loop, but then do they have to battle the downtown traffic once they’re there?</p>
<p>I get reports of lots of bikes on campus. Dorms have bike storage. My rising 3rd year uses his beat up old contraption daily when the weather allows ( and even when it doesn’t). Biking along the lake can clear your head.</p>
<p>Bikes are very common on campus, and useful if you live off campus.</p>
<p>And Mayor Daley has tried to make Chicago one of the most bike friendly cities in the country! (he has a way to go IMHO, though.)</p>
<p>None of the student oriented areas in Hyde Park are more than a 15 minute walk from the center of campus, so unlike many large state U, where it can take 20 minutes just to walk from the center of campus to the edge, UofC is rather compact. </p>
<p>But bicycles do allow you to get around more quickly. And during nice weather, a lot of students ride downtown along the lakefront - a wonderful 6 mile ride. </p>
<p>The biggest problem with bicycles is security. Bike theft is endemic, as my D discovered. Lock up the frame and rear wheel and they steal the front wheel. Better bikes even lose their seats. </p>
<p>In fairness, though, most of the theft takes place overnight and on holiday periods. Most of the dorms have bike rooms, but getting a bike in and out defeats a lot of the convenience of having the bike. By the time you get the bike out to the street, you could have walked most places.</p>
<p>I guess I’ll take it. It will be worth it even if I just ride along the lake a few times, and periodically explore Hyde Park. It sounds like it won’t really be practical to use it for everyday purposes such as going to class and to the library and whatnot. Does this sound right?</p>
<p>You say black, I say white
You say bark, I say bite
You say shark, I say hey man
Jaws was never my scene, and I don’t like Star Wars
You say Rolls, I say Royce
You say God, give me a choice
You say lord, I say Christ
I don’t believe in Peter Pan, Frankenstein, or Superman
All I wanna do is…BICYCLE!</p>
<p>Yes, bring your bike, and yes, don’t leave it overnight and don’t attach $500 to the seat. Chicago is flat, there are bike racks everywhere, and the CTA buses have bike racks on them so you can bike and bus, making downtown trips more fun and convenient.</p>