For someone who isn’t familiar with how Gainesville does things, biking is a sacred, silent club amongst us Gators. It allows us to navigate our way around our tiny town quickly, cheaply and easily. But as popular as the biking culture is, newbies still have a hard time comprehending the basic guide to entering the bike club.
Pull up those panties!
Okay, I’ll admit my idea of shorts is about an inch away from a big belt. But I learned my lesson as soon as I realized my ass sticks out of them as I ride carelessly through Gainesville. So keep your junk in your trunk and invest in leggings, because no one wants to see all dat ass on their way to class.
Don’t leave your bike on campus
Don’t leave your bike chained up at Jennings or Turlington for a semester or long break, because UF will confiscate your bike and sell it off. Find a storage unit, take it home or put it at your friend’s house. Leaving it on campus is a sure way to lose your bike.
Invest in a decent lock
“Theft is the number one crime problem at the University of Florida and bicycles are the number one target,” according to UFPD. You know those chained up wheels you see sitting in front of Broward? That could be you. Loop your chain through the frame and the wheels to avoid having your bike stolen. Also, invest in a decent lock. Nothing says “Steal Me!” more than some cheap plastic lock that can be cut with scissors. I suggest Kryptonite locks because, besides looking super intense, they’re pretty effective.
Register your bike
In an attempt to lessen the amount of theft that takes place at UF, UFPD offers the option of registering your bike.
Get a light
If you intend on biking around campus on the roads, you have to get bike lights. UPD will pull you over if they find you biking on the roads at night without lights.
Know your terrain
While some people may feel that grilling bikers in Turlington will get us to stop using this short, cut-through-campus route, we know that learning the ways of Turlington is an art that can only be achieved by the most experienced of bikers. Turlington biking can feel like The Hunger Games at times, but keep your eyes focused on the exit point and you’ll get there soon enough! And if you hit a few people on the way, well, they’re collateral damage.
Learning the ropes of the biking culture at UF can be a scary point in one’s college journey, filled with theft, battle zones and people in your rear view yelling at you to move over. But take a deep breath and thank the lord for your transportation that has free parking anywhere at UF.
