<p>Similar to the car question. I'm used to riding my bike to and from school and to anywhere else. However, I've heard that bicycles are stolen more frequently than in other places because of the crime rate. Should I bring a bicycle to Berkeley? Will it be convenient? Is it better to walk?</p>
<p>Bicycles are pretty convenient and there are a lot of bike racks around campus. What I don’t know is the rate at which bikes are stolen. I’d be interested to know that as well.</p>
<p>i’m pretty sure that as long as you have a good lock (i hear the U-locks are the best) and a crappy bike, then you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>how convenient would be a folding bike at berkeley?
have u seen people bring these and does anyone know if we can bring them into class?</p>
<p>hmm… a crappy bike. what’s considered a crappy bike? i just recently got a new bike, which isn’t crappy (though it’s not any of the top brands either). are there any decent bike shops in berkeley?</p>
<p>There’s a bike shop on University and another off Telegraph, both overpriced imo.</p>
<p>First year I had bike and the front wheel got stolen (my fault, I only locked the back). Last year, I didn’t bring one but think I will next year. Even though I probably won’t use it getting around campus (takes too much time to unlock and relock), I’d like to use it to get around the city.</p>
<p>Are the cheap bikes they have at Target any good? (~$120)</p>
<p>My daughter wants a bike for her second year at Berkeley, but she did not want one as a freshman. She lived in Foothill last year and went down the hill for everything–didn’t relish the idea of having to go back up the hill on a bike. Now she’s off campus in a flat part of Berkeley and she does want a bike–a crappy one.</p>
<p>@JteH</p>
<p>If you’re smart about where you leave your bike, you’ll be fine. Don’t leave it overnight near campus or in a bad neighborhood. Try to keep it behind a locked gate or inside your flat at night. I really don’t know how so many people have their bikes stolen.</p>
<p>Bikes made my commute to campus incredibly easier (it takes me 20-30 mins to walk from my flat to Barrows and 7 minutes to bike).</p>
<p>@jbtheeunknown</p>
<p>I sort of agree with this, but don’t find the ****tiest bike you can so it doesn’t get stolen. The trick is to find a bike that looks terrible, but is actually quite nice. Also, don’t clean your bike, you’re only going to attract attention (of course, you should clean the gears so they don’t rust or become to mucked, but let the frame get muddy)</p>
<p>@sushirave</p>
<p>My flatmate had a folding bike, he was embarrassed at first, but then stopped caring. Not a lot of people have them, and you shouldn’t bring them to class, just locked them up outside like everyone else (they aren’t razor scooters).</p>
<p>@Beatchick</p>
<p>Those bike shops are moderately priced I would say. If you want to find a better deal, you can venture south near Oakland and there are a few less expensive, more local bike shops (recycle bikes, etc).</p>
<p>@20LEGEND</p>
<p>No. Those things are worse than huffys.</p>
<p>@Schmoomcgoo</p>
<p>Make sure the bike is not so crappy that it isn’t worth having.</p>
<p>With all this being said, I am selling my bike I bought for 400 dollars last fall and buying a fixie. They’re nice bikes, they’re cheap to build, and they can look however you want. Disguising 6-700 dollars worth of parts as a 300 dollar bike is great. Unless you live in the Berkeley Hills, none of the “hills” in Berkeley really warrant a 21 speed–assuming you’re not horribly fat–so a fixie or a one-speed is in my opinion one of the best choices at Berkeley.</p>
<p>What other options do you have for sub $150 then?</p>
<p>Save your money.</p>
<p>walking is better</p>
<p>^ good for health too! :)</p>
<p>@Ektaylor: since you’re talking about >$400 bikes, will my $240 bike be less likely to be stolen? I’ll be living in a Unit triple next year, and I’ve noticed that there are bike racks in the courtyards of the dorms. Are those racks safe for bikes?</p>
<p>Cycling ain’t too bad either + it’s quicker.</p>
<p>I used to be walking in my freshman year, but after a year of biking around Berkeley, now I cannot live without the convenience of a bike. It’s like going from dial-up to broadband: you didn’t feel terrible when dial-up was the norm, but once you go broadband, you never want to go back. =)</p>
<p>Get an average bike and very good locks. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>@Orochi: in your opinion, how much does an average bike cost? </p>
<p>Also, can anyone talk about those racks that the dorms provide? Are they safe?</p>
<p>@Jteh</p>
<p>I’m not really sure about those bike racks. I’ve never really parked my bike at the units. I’ve always parked it overnight at ihouse or my own flat. I would assume they’re safe, unless they have a gated area.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, when bikes are stolen, it’s usually the owner’s fault?</p>
<p>@JteH: I think mine is about average: it’s worth $300 but I got it on Amazon for $200. Locks cost me nearly another $100, though. That’s the price to pay for security in Berkeley.</p>
<p>The racks are not very secure, because from what I’ve heard, people have had their bikes stolen from the dorm racks. If you live in an apartment, leaving your bike in the apartment is the safest choice. Otherwise, it’d be very inconvenient because dorm rooms are small and they don’t allow you to leave bikes indoors (fire hazard).</p>