It is getting close and we are discussing getting to classes on time. My son has to get from Nielsen Hall to Felgar hall with 10 minutes between classes. Do you have to have a bike to get there on time or is waking fine? My son didn’t think he wanted to bring his bike but we are looking for opinions on the matter. He is from GA so he hasn’t been there very much to be familiar with the campus yet.
@Stinamom Nielsen to Felgar isn’t too far of a walk. He should be able to make it in 10 minutes, no problem.
I’ve never regretted having a bike on campus. As WoolScarves said, it’s an easy walk but i suspect there will be other times when your son needs to get around faster than walking speed allows.
Will your son bring his car?
Thanks, he will not bring a car for the first year at least.
Then he should bring a bike.
My S had a car but I think he rode his bike from the dorm to classes every day (even if not between classes). It is quite a walk from the dorms to the engineering quad. And a bike meant 10 more minutes of sleep every morning 
Make sure the bike is inexpensive and the components can be locked or carried along. As with anywhere with public access to your stuff, people will steal things. S1 has had his seat and other parts stolen off of his bike on campus. It was a Wal-Mart special, so more annoying that financially burdensome.
Can any one clarify the following?
•For your convenience, you may reserve your bike locker prior to your arrival by calling 405- 325-6153. The cost is $55/semester or $100/year.
Assume, any one can use any bike rack with a lock at their own risk. Or avail this special option (is it some closed space or what exactly?) to keep the bike safer. What I am trying to understand, is it mandatory that every bike owner must pay the $100/year fees to use bike in OU? Thanks.
Just to feel better: Last week helped a friend D to move in UC Davis. The campus is close to 4500+ acres and it is recommended to have a bike. They have 34000 students and have 40000 bikes. The biggest crime in the campus is nothing but bike theft. It is pretty serious it seems and they recommend get a bare bike which can take you from point a to b, but get a good quality bike lock. That is their mantra!
What I was finding hard to understand, when they have 40000 bikes (almost every one has 1 bike), why they keep stealing others bike?
@GoldenRock bike lockers are an option. It a like a big box to keep your bike in, not only for added safety but for storing the the bike out of the weather. The bike lockers are near the dorms so people that use them keep their bike locked up inside them at night and then use bike racks at classes. We toured in February after an ice storm and saw all the bikes covered with ice, that was enough to convince me to pay the $100 for the locker as if you have a yearly lease you don’t have worry about transporting the bike during the summer.
@3scoutsmom Thanks for the fine point (which I would have overlooked). It is best to pay the yearly fees so that we don’t have to worry on what to do in summer when she is not there.
@scoutsmom @GoldenRock I think there’s an additional $40 for leaving it over the summer… but still worth it.
@oneundecided I’ll a have to check on the summer fee but it’s still worth it. I also don’t like the idea of leaving the bike at a bike rack during Christmas and Spring Break. Do you remember where you saw the $40 fee?
@3scoutsmom – they mentioned it when I called.
Ah - thanks! @oneundecided
You can’t leave a bike over winter break unless it is kept in either a dorm or possibly a bike locker. It will get confiscated by OUPD and possibly sold for $20. However, no off campus apartments confiscate over winter break.
I will say that I don’t think bike theft is nearly as common at OU as other schools. I used to ride a brand name, somewhat pricey bike (resale value is almost 4X more expensive than a new Walmart one), and the combination of a solid U lock and locking skewers in lieu of a quick release probably helped keep me free of bike theft in Norman.
When buying a U lock, do not get a Masterlock brand one. Also stay clear from most chains locks other than the super thick (13mm and above).
@Goldenrock It isn’t necessarily students stealing bikes. We were told that in Arizona, especially over breaks, thieves pull up to ASU in Tempe in trucks, steal several bikes, transport them to Tucson for sale to UA students, then steal UA bikes for sale in Tempe in a continuous cycle.