So, You Want to Bike on Campus?

Here are some tips on successfully navigating as a campus cyclist

As an Oregonian, I’ve experienced my fair share of cycling.

In fact, Portland, Oregon is the most bicycle-friendly city in the country.

I mean, hell—our bike lanes look like this!

More than anything, I especially know the commute to and through a college campus.

When I attended Oregon State University, my primary mode of transportation was my bike! Not only was this a great form of exercise, but it also allowed me to learn my town and my campus inside and out.

And through the years I’ve spent biking on campuses, I’ve encountered a number of issues I feel I should at least write about to inform folks about easy ways to survive as a campus cyclist.

Feel free to share this with anyone heading off to college for the first time!

I know it’s that time of year.

So hopefully this can save some folks a headache or two.

1. REGISTER YOUR BIKE

Year after year, what’s the NUMBER ONE most stolen item on a college campus?

You guessed it: Bikes.

At this point, most institutions offer a bike registry through campus public safety, or an office of the like. So, on the first day of school—or, whenever you bring your bike to campus—go to this office and register your bike!

It’s that simple.

And if you’d like some more information on this topic, checkout Mount Holyoke’s guide on Bike Theft!

This is step one in making sure you actually get to keep having a bike to ride on campus.

There is another essential way to keep your bike, which is…

2. INVEST in a good lock!

Buy a bike lock from KRYPTONITE 

OR USE THIS TO LEARN WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED

OR ENJOY GIZMODO’S LOOK AT THE BEST LOCKS

Protect your bike!

Some campuses even have bike safes!

Invest in that if you want your bike to be truly protected.

3. If you have multiple bikes, don’t ride your best bike to campus.

Like I covered in tip #1, bikes are constantly stolen on college campuses.

If you happen to have multiple bikes, commute with your cheapest bike—just on the off chance that it might be stolen.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have expensive bikes, or that you shouldn’t ride them to campus—but without a combination of #1 and #1, you are cruising for disaster.

PUN INTENDED

4. Buy a light, or two, or three. ALL OF THE LIGHTS!

Seriously, you cannot have too many lights.

Especially if you’re like me and you spend long nights at the library, you need to be seen when you leave campus. People need to know you’re on wheels.

Bicycles are dangerous. So make sure you are seen.

Go Oregon State for having a great bike safety campaign!

 5. Ride responsibly.

This means KNOWING THE LAW.
Any road rule that applies to a car ALSO applies to a bike.

You are not above the law.
Bike with traffic, NOT against.
Stop at stop signs.
And be aware of your speed.

Don’t swerve in and around people.

Don’t bike faster than you can control.

Learn how to use your brakes appropriately.

Time your route so you aren’t riding erratically.

6. DO NOT BIKE ON SIDEWALKS

Most campuses are made up of streets or paths—sidewalks are designated for pedestrians who are walking. Bicycles are not supposed to travel on them.

So don’t. This is my biggest cycling pet peeve.

Respect pedestrians and ride in the street or at a good distance while on a path.

And if you’re too afraid to bike on a street, you shouldn’t be biking in the first place.

Note: But that’s just my blunt opinion on the matter.

7. Invest in wheel fenders (guards).

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen people with pants that look like this:

I’d have a few dollars.

If you don’t know what wheel fenders are, click here. 

They will literally save your pants and protect your ass.

Protect your ass. Save your pants.

Buy fenders.

8. Bring a change of clothes.

Especially as the weather starts to turn in October and November, you might want to bring some extra socks with you, or a change of pants, or a shirt. I’ve practiced this for years. Yeah, it takes up some space in my bag, but I’d rather have dry clothes while I’m at work or class.

Also, biking can get REALLY sweaty—depending on your commute—so it helps to have a spare shirt just in case. Because you never know, you know?

9. Be aware of your surroundings.

This is an extension of tip #5.

What I mean here to be ever-conscious of the path you are biking on.

(Note: I know I wrote that in the present progressive—because I assume you are reading this while riding a bike. Obviously.)

Essentially, campuses are ALWAYS under construction, which means potholes, nails, glass, jagged rocks, etc. THEREFORE, you need to be aware of your surroundings so that you can spare your tires from exploding every day. My record is THREE popped tires in one week!

Note: Pack a spare tube.

10. Turn down your music—or, ride without it.

This is an important tip.

I know it landed at the bottom, but this is vital to being aware of your surroundings.

If I listen to music while I bike it is either instrumental music, or something turned down—something that won’t completely distract me while I’m operating my bike.

This is important because if someone—or a car—needs to get my attention, I can hear them and respond accordingly.

BONUS: Don’t be a Jackass.

Sure, this could have simply been said during point #5.

But I felt it deserved its own point.

Campuses get crowded and bikes can be highly dangerous.

So bike responsibly.

End of list.

Hope this helps!