Too tired to walk around campus? Ride your bike!

The University of Connecticut's Storrs campus is a massive place, sprawling on around 4,000 acres to be exact. Although most students manage to fit everything they need to do into less than 4,000 acres, what if you don't live near the recreation center or want to visit downtown Storrs but are a mile away? While a mile seems doable on the surface, backpacks can get heavy and schedules can be tight, meaning optimal transportation options are essential for those who don't want to spend their days staring at the same trees on the way to class. There's a simple solution, though: That's right, I'm a bike guy.

If you've ever used Apple or Google Maps to calculate how far to walk to another building on campus, you'll be surprised at how much faster you can get there by bike. In fact, with the heavy traffic in downtown Storrs that occurs several times a day, it's almost always faster to ride a bike than to drive.

Think of this two-wheeled mode of transport as a happy medium between walking and riding, which is also a great way to build leg muscles. I have the advantage of having my first and only Schwinn bike from ten years ago, which is in dire need of grease and maintenance. If the whole thing can't be taken apart (again), it's harder to pedal and therefore requires more physical effort. I also learned to ride on this bike (late considering I'm 21), which might explain my fixation on still using it; nonetheless, I'm progressing faster than most people here.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I apologize to the person I “hit” last semester at the School of Business Building. It was a hard but light bump and she didn't fall over, but seriously, riding a bike across campus requires responsibility and attention. I tend to swerve into the grass to make sure I don't make another bad mistake and hit someone again. However, bike wheels are delicate to a certain degree and the AAA won't save your blown tire (it's a hassle enough to get your car's tire replaced there), so don't ride over sharp objects. And please wear your helmet.

An alternative to biking raises a good question: what about the bus system? As much as I despise walking, I would personally choose anything over the bus. I got sick of it during elementary school, even though my bus was top-notch then. The thing is, elementary school students all go to the same destination, albeit from different places, but buses here have the added problem of taking people to different areas of campus. Don't get me wrong, it's wonderful that they exist at UConn — during the winter months, that is — but if you're also a travel optimizer, the bus isn't it.

I can't guarantee the quality of the bike you'll get if you opt into the Rec's Cycle Share program, but $70 for a full semester of cycling is a steal; I bought my bike for double that! Plus, you don't have to strap a bike to your car and potentially lug it across the country or, even worse, take it on a plane. Coincidentally, reservations for the program began on August 28, so head over to the Rec's website to learn more and get in on the deal!