Bikes are awesome modes of transportation on college campuses! They are eco-friendly, you get exercise, and you don’t have to pay money for insurance or gas. Be careful selecting which bike to buy for college, though. Different bikes were made for different things. Never spend a lot of money on a new bike for college. They get stolen all the time when they look brand new. Get something new and decent, or get something used and nice.

Mountain Bikes. Mountain bikes are great for a rocky campus. If you have a lot of unpaved roads, bumpy asphalt, or anything of the sort, you are going to want a mountain bike with shocks to absorb your rocky ride to class. They’re also provide you with a moderate pace to get to class in time.

Road Bikes. These are best for speed. They allow you to pedal fast without too much effort. They’re hard to steer, and if you crash, you’ll probably get really hurt, but they are extremely lightweight and allow you to get to class in a flash. I personally have a road bike, because my campus is all flat, not a hill in sight. It’s also all paved so I don’t have to worry about any bumps in the road.

Cruisers. Cruisers are stylish. They have large handlebars, and usually come equipped with a basket for your items. They can be a pain in the butt sometimes because when you have to find parking, you have to squeeze your bike into a spot and the handlebars can get in the way. They have wide seats, which provide a lot of comfort. They aren’t very speedy, though. They’re very sturdy, but because of their weight, you may lose your balance once in a while.

Bike Accessories.
If you’re riding at night, make sure you have both a front light and back light. If you live in a town that has a lot of cops, they will ticket you for not riding with a light. Not to mention, it’s dangerous when you’re riding at night in a college town.

Helmets? I know the right thing to do would be to tell you to wear one. But let’s be honest, nobody wears helmets.

Baskets. These things are awesome. They are perfect if you go grocery shopping or simply want to take a cute purse to class but can’t bike with it. Just toss anything you have into your basket and you’re good to go!

Locks. Depending on how expensive your bike is, you should have a sturdy lock that would be hard to cut through. If you have a bike that has “easy-off” tires (aka, you push a lever and your back wheel pops off), then you have to get a chain or something the put around your bike tire or it will get stolen.

Fenders. If it rains on your campus, fenders are a must. Unless you want a big stripe of mud up your back.

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