<p>I'm from California, and I'm debating whether or not to ship my car to Duke. Is it worth the trouble, or should I just rely on the buses? </p>
<p>Also, do a lot of people bike in Durham? I could just bring my bike instead. </p>
<p>Hmm</p>
<p>People bike on campus... not as much in durham as just around campus i would say. </p>
<p>I think its basically a toss up... you dont need it for on campus and you can get to everything you really NEED without a car... for the few things that it would be really useful for (going to the mall etc.) it would probably be better for you just to become good friends with someone with a car and avoid the hassle. </p>
<p>Just a personal choice though: nice to have, in no way a necessity.</p>
<p>I am from san diego and my final decision was that getting a car to college was not worth the trouble. Sure, it is a pretty useful thing to have around especially where Duke is, but I am sure you will be able to find someone in your hallway that is going to have a car, so rely on them :)</p>
<p>About the bike... my roomate had three bikes.... the first two were stolen and the third one, a car ran into him while riding it on a corner of east campus... so I am a little biased.... </p>
<p>However, it is a useful thing to have if you have classes on west during times when the buses are crowded (right before intro chemistry/biology/econ classes) but no way a necessitate</p>
<p>I too am from San Diego....and I didn't have a car my freshman year. You will more than survive.</p>
<p>The main reason I wanted a car here this year was because I'm involved quite a bit with music and nrotc - and save a ton of time driving vs. taking c-2's at night/on weekends. Also, it's useful for day/weekend trips. That being said, my family was lucky enough to have an extra car around to allow me to have out here - again, it's not necessary to survive. More a "want" than a "need." And with the price of gas (yeah, 2.89 a gallon, even here), keep that in mind.</p>
<p>I also have a bike which I bought my freshman year. I invested in a good quality, lightweight bike so I could trot it upstairs to my 3rd floor room. I have it this year too, and also live on the 3rd floor. I store it in my room so I don't worry about it getting stolen at night. Just talk to the guys at the bicycle chain - they'll hook you up with good locks (and tell you that anything other than a U-Lock can be cut). As a PPS major who also has multiple classes in Trent (yeah, don't ask), I often had to jet far across campus - and it's fun to toss in a little East-West ride for a little workout. I've never been hit, nor really came close. You just have to be wary of everyone, and try to avoid busy intersections. Plus, a ride over to the gardens from east as a freshman was a great change of scenery for studying. It also places 9th street more within reach.</p>
<p>what part of sd are you from lex?</p>
<p>The people I talked to at Duke while I was there said that some of their friends with cars were constantly bothered by the sheer numbers of people wanting to borrow their cars. On my overnight, someone called the guy who was hanging out in our room and said that he needed the car to buy birth control for his girlfriend.</p>
<p>Also, parking seems to be a b!tch at the eateries and stuff.</p>
<p>It's really not a big deal getting around. I think the bus system only really bites on the weekends.</p>
<p>I live in PB and went to La Jolla High...how about you?</p>
<p>Oh, and seeing as I'll be abroad/need to ship my car out in the winter (no thank you for driving across country), I was quoted $772 to ship an SUV from terminal to terminal (you drop the car off at one place, pick it up at another terminal). That should give you a rough idea of the cost. And it also depends whether or not your friends have cars. Honestly, most of my friends do this semester - I haven't lent it to anyone all year. It's more likely you'll help give rides than have to lend it to tons of people....but again, it depends on the car situations of your friends and how willing they are to ask to borrow it (I was someone who only borrowed a car as a last resort - I hated forcing it on my buds)</p>
<p>pri430-- Yeah, borrowing a car is a problem you have if you keep a car on campus. I know people who refuse to let anyone drive their car unless they are in it, and I also know someone who has made spare keys to make loaning out the car easier. People are really generous and trusting sometimes, especially if you need the car to pick up medicine and aren't just using it to go shopping on a school night. My roommate used to loan out her car to everyone since she hates saying no to people. I think if you really need something, though, someone with a car would be willing to take you to get it. (who wants to tell a friend they can't go to the drug store?)</p>
<p>I have a car on campus and it really isn't a problem. For liability reasons, I don't lend my car out, but I'm not hampered with requests or complaints or anything like that. I'd say that having a car is really useful for weekends if you want to go out to different restaurants or go to a movie or something like that, but, by no means is a car a necessity.</p>