<p>How large is the Stanford campus? I know Freshman can't have cars and that there are lots of bikes on campus, as well as a free shuttle. If you do not want a bike is it easy to get around just by walking or is it necessary to rely on other forms of transportation?</p>
<p>You can not survive at Stanford without a bike.</p>
<p>You can definitely survive without a bike. It is much easier with a bike or long board, but you can get from your dorm to classes within 15-20 minutes without a bike from almost any residence on campus (lived on the far far west side of campus for multiple years with and without a bike).</p>
<p>camomof3 - What if you have two classes a mile apart with 10 minutes to spare? Are you expecting OP to jog from class to class?</p>
<p>Stanford is one of the world’s largest campuses, with over 8,000 acres of land. It’s so big and so “well-equipped” (containing academic buildings, graduate/undergraduate residences, athletic facilities, plenty of open space, hiking trails, restaurants, and even a shopping mall) that it’s its own city (Stanford, CA). Unlike Harvard and Yale, it’s all in one place and is very suburban. You should definitely invest in a bike, as a vast majority of Stanford students use them.</p>
<p>S never really learned to ride a bike when he was younger and got through his freshman year just fine without one, so I don’t think it’s a necessity. He lived on the far west side of campus last year and planned his classes so he didn’t have to go a mile between classes in 10 minutes (how is that possible anyway texaspg?). Campus Drive encircles much of the main part of the campus and it’s a little over half a mile from one side to the other and the main quad where many classes are is almost right in the middle.</p>
<p>to texaspg:</p>
<p>Lol that’s what I did. I survived on one year without a bike, and in Winter Quarter I had to run from Huang Engineering to Sweet Hall. Not recommended for everyone, but it’s definitely possible, and hey it keeps me fit! ;)</p>
<p>@ texaspg-- Students do have control over what classes they schedule and when. Obviously if you do not have a bike or long board, don’t schedule classes in opposite sides of the campus with 10 minutes to spare. Most students will have classes clustered in the main quad area of campus, or clustered in the engineering part of campus. </p>
<p>If you decide on a schedule like texas suggests, then be prepared to run/jog without a bike/board—or borrow a friend’s bike/board for those times. </p>
<p>It really isn’t a big deal and requires only minor planning to get around on foot. And, it is good exercise when you aren’t even trying to fit it in :)</p>
<p>Bikes aren’t required, but are certainly more convenient.</p>
<p>Lots of students don’t have a bike, instead choosing to walk (which is manageable), and many choose to walk even though they do have a bike. Longboards are also popular. The Marguerite isn’t used to get around the main part of campus (e.g. to get from your dorm to a class) - its main purpose is to shuttle people to the Caltrain station, the San Antonio shopping center, SLAC, the medical center, etc.</p>
<p>No two classes at Stanford are separated by a mile. The longest distance that a student would have to travel is from the upper row to Mudd or the stadium, etc. but only a handful of students live that far up the row. </p>
<p>Here’s something I posted before that you might find informative:</p>
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<p>Yes, it’s possible to survive without a bike, but having one certainly makes life a lot easier. If you don’t have one, be prepared to do a lot of walking and plan to leave for classes and activities earlier. (Having a bike makes it a lot easier to sleep in a little while longer and then zip off to class 
). The campus shuttle, the Marguerite, is mainly for going off campus and to outer parts of the Stanford campus (SLAC, etc.) - students don’t rely on it to get to classes. IMHO, I would highly recommend a bike to all incoming students - I’ve never met anyone who regretted purchasing a bike. </p>
<p>Just curious, OP, but is there a particular reason why you don’t want a bike?</p>