<p>I will be living on campus and won't have a car, so I will be using the shuttles and possibly biking. Is it worth it to bring a bike or is it better to just walk? Also, if I do bring a bike where do I keep it when I'm in my dorm?</p>
<p>Lots of students have a bike. Most are locked up outside the dorms – there are bike racks all over the place. You do need a great lock as bike theft is a problem.</p>
<p>Longboards are for the cool kids.</p>
<p>eh, skateboards are cooler than longboards</p>
<p>I just walked several times from Jester to Kinsolving and back at the Family orientation.
It is a nightmare. Seriously.
If you live close to your classes you can walk, but if you have to cross the campus several times a day you have to use shuttle or bike.</p>
<p>
I have to disagree with the assertion that walking from Kinsolving to Jester is a “nightmare.” I attended UT, lived in Kinsolving my freshman and sophomore years, and walked daily to McCombs (business school catty-corner from Jester). Keep in mind that these kids are 18 years old and have better stamina than those of us in our 40’s or 50’s. That said, I attended parent orientation this week and didn’t find the walking bad at all–it was just hot and muggy. </p>
<p>To the OP–a bike is great if you want to bring one. There are plenty of bike racks in front of dorms and other buildings. Just make sure you bring TWO locks–a U lock with an orange handle to lock the front wheel to the bike frame, and a second Kevelar lock to secure the back wheel to the bike frame. This will deter thieves from stealing your bike (the second most popular item for thieves to steal at UT). But, it is not a necessity.</p>
<p>This might be a stupid question, but why does the U lock have to have an orange handle?</p>
<p>txex86
I said I walked several times. It was a long walk. It was very hot.</p>
<p>
It is the latest (4th generation) U lock and it has better theft resistance than the previous U locks according to the UT PD.</p>
<p>Honestly, there are very few people who ride their bikes to class. Almost everybody walks, youll get used to it. The walks seem far at first but after a week or two it doesnt seem that way anymore. You can pretty much get anywhere you want in 15 minutes by walking. Unless you live really far off campus like up in N campus than there really is no need.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips. I don’t think I’ll be biking to class everyday, but I am thinking about bringing my bike for especially hot days and biking to things besides class.</p>
<p>@texex86 Is the U lock it’s own brand or is there a specific brand I should consider?</p>
<p>Thank you txex86!</p>
<p>Meredith–The Kryptonite brand comes highly recommended by UT PD.</p>
<p>so long as you’re not leaving your bike out overnight or in an unattended area any kryptonite u-lock should suffice. there are some that cost upwards of $100, but the security you will need for daytime bike parking can be provided by a lock for half the price. just lock the frame, tire (if it’s quick-release - bolted tires are tough to steal), and your seat if possible. people will steal your bike seat if it comes off easily.</p>
<p>Thanks txex86 and mnaacd. Is there a place to keep your bike overnight?</p>
<p>Biking is a lot more efficient than walking. I lived on campus (kinsolving) my first year and walked half the year. I didn’t find it too bad, although many of my classes were in the middle of campus so I didn’t have to walk more than 12 minutes to class. It got tiring though, and I had no leeway to leave late. </p>
<p>When I got the bike things changed dramatically. I could get most places on campus in 5 minutes or less. If I left something in my room I could easily zip back and get it. When I moved off campus, the bike came in even more handy. Walks from west campus on 28th street to McCombs can be 20 minutes or more on foot at a brisk pace, but I can make the trip in 5 minutes on a good day (green lights on guad) on my bike! </p>
<p>If you still don’t want a bike, buses are good, but only when it’s raining. Otherwise it’s quicker to walk! My roommate leaves 30 mins in advance to make sure she gets a bus and to class on time. I leave 10 minutes before my further class and get there with minutes to spare. </p>
<p>If you don’t have a car, a bike is definitely the next best thing in Austin. You don’t have to rely on buses to get to other parts of Austin. You can easily bike downtown or down to Zilker park or further. Bikes are also the best transportation for events. You don’t need to find a spot or pay for parking!</p>
<p>As far as thefts go, I’ve used a regular $25 U-lock (kryptonite brand) for 3 years and nothing’s happened. I’ve even left it on Guadaloupe several nights and in some shady places. I park all over the place- sign posts, light poles, whatever my lock fits around, and it’s been safe.</p>
<p>Longboarding is efficient, but only if you don’t have a bike. I use my board only when I have a flat or can’t ride for some reason. The trick to biking is knowing which roads to take. I’d advise getting acquainted with campus before biking on the busy streets. The amount of pedestrians during passing periods can be overwheming if you take certain roads (ahem, speedway).</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the helpful advice samster_72!
I’ll probably wait a few weeks before bringing my bike to get a feel for the campus.</p>
<p>Why is biking better than long boarding? I’m considering having both.</p>
<p>Good idea to get both! </p>
<p>I find the bike to be more reliable for longer distances and on busy roads. Also, Austin doesn’t have the best sidewalks so I ride on the road. However, roads in West Campus are pretty busy with cars and bikes so I tend to only board when I know it’s going to be quiet (night time and weekends are the best; definitely not friday afternoon when the traffic is crazy!).</p>
<p>I mostly used the board for fun, and used it for serious transportation only when my bike was unavailable!</p>
<p>If you live on campus, either a bike or longboard should suit you, but it will make a difference when you want to go further!</p>
<p>I don’t think you really need it to get to class. I lived in Duren last year and walked to all of my classes, many of which were in McCombs or the UTC. To get to other places, I think taking a bus would really be best…</p>