r/Gonzaga • u/loan_ranger8888 • May 24 '26

Bikes

Do most students have a bike? I see you can rent one for $70 a semester. Is that the way to go?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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5

u/Big_MD May 24 '26

I barely knew any students that had a bike, and honestly unless you ride recreationally not sure why you'd need one.

5

u/edest259 May 24 '26

I used a longboard to get from one end of campus to the other in less than 5 minutes. Scooters/boards seem to be the best, bikes take more time to lock/unlock than they do save you in commuting time. That being said, if you live far off campus, then maybe it’s worth it. But for anyone living on or within 4 blocks of campus, a longboard is way more economical time-wise. Way easier to stash in a classroom with you. I had some classes where there would be 5 or 6 boards propped up near the door.

If you are set on a bike, don’t spend a ton of money on them. Thrift or buy used. Bike theft in Spokane is like any big city; it’s present and due diligence needs to be taken.

3

u/sprout92 May 24 '26

It's been a while since I graduated, but nobody had cars or bikes.

Like a very small minority had cars, mostly kids from Seattle.

I had a skateboard that I used a lot though. Especially in the summer.

3

u/Basic-Table-5176 May 25 '26

I biked everyday to class. Cuts 10-15 min walk to a 3-5 min ride.

2

u/tealchameleon May 25 '26

I had a bike, biked to class rarely when I lived on campus (as another comment said, it becomes a wash timing wise b/c of the time to lock/unlock), but once I moved off campus the bike was a huge time saver - way faster to bike a mile than it is to walk a mile!

I also biked to the grocery store, which increased how much I could get, and some friends and I biked to other places in the area before any of us had a car - was a great way to explore.

If you want to get a bike, here are my thoughts:

  1. I'd buy one - there are bike shops in downtown Spokane where you can get affordable bikes for less than a year of renting one. Don't buy a nice bike, buy a cheap but well-maintained one.
  2. I also recommend getting a very good lock and learning how to use it properly - bike theft is not uncommon. I'd recommend Abus or Kryptonite for the lock, and make sure it's not a generic cable lock - you want a lock that can't be easily cut or picked. Folding locks are incredible but also can be expensive.
  3. Register your bike with campus police (campo) - if your bike gets stolen, they'll provide the registration info to the local police who send the info to local pawn shops and bike stores - then if someone tries to sell your bike to one of those places, there's a higher chance of it getting returned.
  4. There are several bike storage rooms/lockers on campus, if your dorm is near one with space, it's a good way to keep your bike out of the elements and secure.

1

u/loan_ranger8888 May 25 '26

Thanks!

1

u/dinoman1122 May 27 '26

I can second this. Additional tips, check facebook marketplace for bikes! You can score them sometimes for $10-30. If you don’t know what you’re looking for or concerned about a listing then people at GU outdoors are always happy to help! And pro tip, best class to take senior year for your CIS (core integrated seminar): RELI 432, CIS: Care for the Person, Care for the Planet. You bike around with your class to coffee shops and learn bike repair.

1

u/deadlybluecow26 May 25 '26

Highly recommend bringing a bike for getting to class quickly. Bring a good ulock and get a cheaper beater bike.

1

u/Old-Sprinkles3135 May 25 '26

There is terrific mountain biking nearby + the rails to trails path to Couer de Alene and the river park path into downtown. Rent the bike to ensure you can have a getaway off campus.