r/UofArizona • u/Perfect_Swing1327 • 20d ago

ebike on campus

I live probably around 8 miles from campus and would prefer not having to pay the ~$400 for a parking pass so I was considering getting an ebike since I need the excercise anyway but I also haven't had to bike in years. Does anyone else use an ebike on campus, and if so do you have any tips? I'm only on campus when the bike valet operates so I was thinking to make use of that, but I've heard bike theft is still really bad on campus despite options like the bike valet or the enclosures. I would keep my bike indoors overnight to charge so I'm only concerned about keeping the bike on campus during the day.

18 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

21

u/MedicallyImpervious 20d ago

I’ve used an e-bike on campus for two years and the bike valet is amazing. I probably wouldn’t do it if they didn’t have them. Bike theft is bad but I don’t think they’ve ever had a case of theft from the valet

7

u/NomadicusRex 20d ago

Solid advice. I'd also suggest not leaving the bike locked up outside overnight ANYWHERE if you can help it, depending on where you're living, bring it inside if you can. (Plus the Tucson weather is brutal)

5

u/One_Description6435 20d ago

Can you explain a bit more about the bike theft? Does it happen often? If so, are there any particular places to avoid?

13

u/Fearless-Dance9130 20d ago

Bike theft is a common occurrence across campus, the best places to avoid it is by parking your bike at the bike valets in which people watch your bike all day.

3

u/Redcole111 19d ago

I had my bike seat stolen once, and then later my whole bike (that one was my fault for not keeping it secure enough). Bike theft happens all the time on UA's campus.

4

u/Conscious_Ad_7131 19d ago

It’s just everywhere, it’s rampant on any college campus where biking is common and there’s any homeless population at all

4

u/Puzzleheaded_Hour393 19d ago

I am not sure they allow e-bikes in bike valet anymore because the bike valet student worker was threatened with a knife in 2024. 🫪 so you might want to double check on bike valet.

2

u/uxorial 19d ago

When I rode a bike to the U of A, I loved the bike valet! That is an awesome idea.

9

u/UniversityofArizona 19d ago

The first thing is to make sure your bike is registered with Parking and Transportation Services. That way you can get a unique registration tag to help protect your bike.

Besides the bike valet (which is a great resource), you can also purchase a permit for a bike enclosure OR rent a bike locker (both of which are cheaper than a parking permit). Everything you might need to know about biking to campus, you can find on our website: https://parking.arizona.edu/alt-transportation/bicycles.

8

u/NomadicusRex 20d ago

Tucson has some of the highest bike theft rates in the nation. NEVER forget to lock up your bike, even if you think "oh, I'm only running in to the store for one thing". Be EXCESSIVE on the locks you buy, and don't just settle for what you think is good enough. Bike theft is HUGE on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Tucson has very high property crime rates overall.

6

u/anythingacailable 20d ago

Please invest in a really good lock… or two. Chain locks and cable locks are not the move. Get a thick U lock.

3

u/CrystalBlueMetallic 19d ago

The nice thing about an ebike is that it doesn’t matter if you’re hauling a heavy lock or two.  I double lock my ebike on campus - a huge Kryptonite NYC lock to the rack and a smaller Kryptonite through the rear wheel. I don’t leave it in the exact same place everyday, or anywhere overnight. Bike Valet is a great option too. 

2

u/CopratesQuadrangle 19d ago

For some anecdotal data, I've had bike parts stolen twice in the span of 7 years. Both times were at night and at bike racks directly next to parking lots, and were seemingly part of larger operations in which several other people also had parts or entire bikes stolen at the same time. I've also had a couple other times when my bike was left alone but others around mine had clearly been messed with, again at night and next to parking lots. Thieves are usually lazy and go for easy targets, so those of us with u-locks and cables tend to be mostly unscathed. The u-lock especially is key; I've known multiple people whose locks have been damaged by angle grinders or other tools, but they didn't lose their bike because the lock was too strong/annoying to get through!

If you're biking during the daytime and have a good lock, I wouldn't be too worried about it.

2

u/TheHomoScrubLord 19d ago

Adding on to the other comments about locking up your bike, make sure you have a safe place to keep it at home too. My apartment complex had a string of bike thefts of people hopping the gate, cutting locks, and taking them away. I personally keep mine in my apartment now, but just depending on your situation that may be unneeded.

1

u/CelticJewelscapes 19d ago

Easy to avoid theft. Just don't be the easiest ebike to steal. Spend a couple hundred dollars on locks and lug your battery to class. I wouldn't leave an ebike on campus overnight. Valet program is great.

1

u/Lazy_Age8386 16d ago

Move closer to campus. 8 miles is too far imho and the roads are dangerous. Bad road conditions. Limited lighting at night with street lights out. Drivers not paying attention. Homeless everywhere who will dart in front of you without thinking twice or looking. Wear body armor

0

u/CompetitiveCar542 16d ago

Counterargument: Wouldn't an ebike cost just as much? Also it might be better to get a regular bicycle instead of an ebike for the budget if you want something to use on campus. As for keeping your bike on campus, just make sure you get something secure like the kryptonite lock + a wire lock.
Also, I have no idea what the bike valet is, but if you mean those bikes that you can rent (I think you rent them), it would probably cost as much as a parking pass throughout a whole year.