<p>I’m wondering if any current students could comment on how big a problem bike theft is and how good a bike lock is needed. Is a cable lock fine or do theft problems drive students to buy bigger/heavier U shaped locks?</p>
<p>My son had a cable lock but felt he needed a U-shaped lock once he lived on campus for a bit. He bought one at a bike store in town. It seems as if bike thefts are relatively prevalent.</p>
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<p>[Bike</a> Theft | Mustang Daily - News for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo](<a href=“http://mustangdaily.net/tag/bike-theft/]Bike”>http://mustangdaily.net/tag/bike-theft/)</p>
<p>I suggest a cable lock for our bike racks. A U lock offers better security IF you have a pole to lock to, but it will only let you secure your front wheel on most racks. Cables also make it easy to anchor your bike to trees and other odd objects.</p>
<p>If someone wants your bike, they will have it. A performance bicycle should be kept inside, anyway. That said, the constant exposure to weather and rough-and-tumble of others parking/squeezing their bike next to yours is a larger concern than theft. Any bike will get you around campus so don’t splurge if you can help it</p>
<p>does anyone know the availability of bike racks and how hard is it to fight for the space and also racks near the Orfalea College of Business since I will be taking classes there. I am thinking of getting a bike, but am thinking about a scooter instead if bike racks are really limited in availability. thanks!</p>
<p>Yeah, the uni needs to put more racks around Orfalea. But you can always lock your bike at a nearby lot if the racks in front of your building are full. Finding a space for your bike isn’t as bad as some make it out to be.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. Where do students keep bikes at night? When not in classes?</p>
<p>same as Mariner116’s question, can we leave our bikes in our dorms.</p>
<p>Your scooter idea sounded good, so I looked it up. Unfortunately, they are not allowed: </p>
<p>[Parking</a> Regulations - University Police Department - AFD - Cal Poly](<a href=“http://www.afd.calpoly.edu/police/parking_services_regulations.asp#21]Parking”>http://www.afd.calpoly.edu/police/parking_services_regulations.asp#21)</p>
<p>Section 21: Skateboard Regulations</p>
<p>21.1 Regulation – The use of skateboards, motorized skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, coasters or similar devices on the Cal Poly campus is prohibited. </p>
<p>21.2 Violations – Violators of the President’s order regarding skateboarding on University property will be subject to citation and/or discipline as provided by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, sections 41301 – 41304. </p>
<p>[Parking</a> Regulations - University Police Department - AFD - Cal Poly](<a href=“http://www.afd.calpoly.edu/police/parking_services_regulations.asp#2121.3]Parking”>http://www.afd.calpoly.edu/police/parking_services_regulations.asp#2121.3) Exemption – Special events involving skateboards, motorized skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, coasters or similar devices which have been authorized by Student Life and Leadership and approved by University Police, are exempt from the above prohibition.</p>
<p>My son lived in Sierra Madre last year and kept his bike in the room at night. He used a U-lock during the day.</p>
<p>You can keep your bike in the dorms if space permits. But not all dorms have an elevator and carrying your bike up three stories can be a pain. Seriously, get a budget-end or used bike. It’ll get you around town and it’s unlikely that anyone will even attempt to steal it.</p>
<p>If you’re considering a road bike, you’ll likely save $$$$ buying used outside of SLO. The going price for road frames and “vintage” bicycles on slo.craigslist can be ridiculous. The cyclery shops here are well stocked and helpful, but not exactly affordable! Jumping topics, I suggest bringing a geared bicycle. A single speed on medium gearing will get you around campus but there are some hills downtown that can be a bear to climb (I run a SS @42/16). Lastly, if you are new to biking the road, please review the rules and basics of getting around. There are excellent videos on youtube regarding this subject. I see too much stupid stuff every fall, like folks biking against traffic and blocking turn lanes.</p>
<p>I understand putting a used or junky commuter bike outside your dorm/apartment, but a multi-thousand dollar road bike? That’s just a bad idea!
I plan on putting mine in my closet(Cerro Vista) all the time and leaving my junker locked outside on the racks.
If they really want your bike, no lock is going to save you.</p>
<p>There are LOTS of racks by Buildings 02 and 03. Take a look at that area near the clock tower. Plus, most of those are the ‘new style’ racks that allow you to use a U-lock to secure the frame very easily. (Interesting story: The new style racks are designed and built by a Cal Poly grad. Part of the reason for the lack of racks a while ago was that these new-style racks were back-ordered. So many people were buying them that the manufacturer couldn’t keep up. In last couple of years, the university vastly increased the number of racks around. In fact, at my old job I helped deliver and move a great number of them. ) </p>
<p>I personally prefer a long style U-lock. The one I have is very easy to stow into my rear-rack too. Far faster and easier than dealing with a cable lock. It can reach to the frame from the old-style racks too. Back when I was in the dorms, I kept my bike in the racks outside at night. So long as you park close to the dorms proper, I think you are relatively safe. I wouldn’t park out on Grand or other major thoroughfares. Theft isn’t a huge problem, but vandalism is. I had a friend get his rims trashed by drunk people my freshman year. Here in Mustang Village, the racks are not trustworthy in the slightest. Parts are stolen off of bikes all the time and there have been instances of folks stealing the whole rack.</p>
<p>bigxcman, my daughter will also be at Cerro Vista. Are the closets really big enough to fit a bike?</p>
<p>The Cerro Vista closets are very deep - there’s plenty of room for 2 bikes, as long as there’s not a lot of other stuff being stored.</p>
<p>Thanks vballmom. I looked at the floor plans and I think you are referring to the storage closets. There seem to be one or two per unit, depending on the floor plan. They definately seem big enough. Thanks again.</p>
<p>Cerro Vista: Are the storage closets outside of the rooms? You aren’t talking about the closet inside the room, usually in the kitchen are you? Most people use those for shelves and storing food. </p>
<p>If the closets are outside and store 2 bikes, what about the other 2 roommates? Just wondering. I would guess that all 4 roommates might not need a spot in the closet. My son will have a beach chair, but not sure about a bike yet.</p>
<p>There are 2 long, deep storage closets per 4-bedroom suite, one for each pair of rooms. In my son’s apartment, those were the only closets. The bedrooms didn’t have closets, just a wardrobe, and the kitchen didn’t have a closet either. </p>
<p>See if you can open the floor plan in this link (it won’t work in my browser): <a href=“http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/cerro_vista/[/url]”>http://www.housing.calpoly.edu/cerro_vista/</a></p>
<p>That is a great option if a student is on the first floor, or maybe the second. I think Cerro Vista has 3 floors? That would be a challenge to move a bike up and down. </p>
<p>Does Cerro Vista have any other inside storage areas for bikes, such as off the lobby?</p>