Northeast - Recommendation for female student in NYC?

My daughter's starting college in NYC this fall. I was considering getting her a bike for getting around as an occasional alternative to the subway. Myself, I've never ridden in NY but assume it's like Boston with dangerdrivers, potholes, high theft and the like- all these things are putting me off getting her something. She's not a big rider but might become one if NY is conducive to riding.

What's the take on riding in NYC from the natives- do it- avoid it, recommendations, etc. She'll be in the Washington Square area and her dorm is about 12 blocks from campus but there are buses etc.

I thinks she should go for it! I bought a bike as soon as I got to NYU five years ago, and if your daughter is interested in it (i.e. the desire is coming from her, not you) think it's a great idea.

I would recommend getting her a used bike on Craig's List, especially if she's never ridden before and will just be using it to get around. Something mellow with an upright riding position, maybe some baskets, and maybe a single-speed. I think I spent around $150 for my first bike, and it served me well until I got more seriously into cycling.

There are a ton of shops in the city that can help her with things like helmets, locks, and lights. I'd recommend NYC Velo (www.nycvelo.com), right near Washington Square on 2nd Ave. and 4th St. They are awesome and super helpful, and can get her set up with a helmet, a lock (IMO a sturdy U-lock is plenty if the bike isn't too nice, won't be locked up outside over night, and won't be in any terrible neighborhoods-most NYU dorms have bike rooms or will let her keep it inside), and some lights if she'll be riding at night, and can answer any questions she has about riding in the city and can hook her up with ride maps and all that.

Let me know if you have any other questions, and feel free to send me a PM. As long as she rides carefully and uses common sense I think she'll do great on a bike in NYC. It's the best way to get around and it's certainly the most fun!

Biking is great but as a freshman new to NYC, where would she actually need to go by bike? Then there are the inevitable theft and accident worries. Maybe freshman year she should settle in and get familiar with the City and then see if she really needs one? Btw, I'm not saying this just to be contrary, I'm responding to OP's question as if I am discussing my daughter.

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Used to live and work in NYC, but never rode there (was out of biking at the time).

Here's my $.02 -- there are lots of places to ride there with relative safety. Not every street is bumper/bumper traffic all the time. Once she learns her way around, and can get to Central Park, I would say it's definitely worth having a bike there.

As for theft - don't spend a ton of $, and don't have too pretty a bike. Heavy locks and chains.

Go for it - but start her slow, and find others to ride with to learn the streets.

Will she be a student at NYU? I think they may have anew bike share program where students get the use of bikes, for free.

If not there are plenty of ways to get relatively inexpensive bikes and plenty of students use them. Sure New York City was a dangerous place for cyclists, with plenty of potholes and high bike theft thirty years ago but things have improved. We have plenty of miles of bike lanes, included some dedicated cycle tracks. If you have doubts why not spend a day in the city on rented bikes. That will help give you and your daughter a feel for what it's like riding in the city.

+1 on waiting till she gets here and decides whether she even needs one. As Stacy said, renting a bike once or twice will give her a taste of whether or not she is comfortable in traffic.


Eventually she may realize, as many of us have, that bike is probably the best way to get around NYC (fastest, most fun, etc.). But yes, a lot of defensive riding mixed with assertiveness is needed. A sturdy inexpensive bike (old MTB, for example) that looks ugly is best and ideally the lock should cost as much or more than the bike it's securing.

But that's putting the cart before the horse - we have a pretty decent mass transit system here (despite my constant whining about it:o) and most stuff needed daily is within walking distance.

+1 on waiting till she gets here and decides whether she even needs one. As Stacy said, renting a bike once or twice will give her a taste of whether or not she is comfortable in traffic.


Eventually she may realize, as many of us have, that bike is probably the best way to get around NYC (fastest, most fun, etc.). But yes, a lot of defensive riding mixed with assertiveness is needed. A sturdy inexpensive bike (old MTB, for example) that looks ugly is best and ideally the lock should cost as much or more than the bike it's securing.

But that's putting the cart before the horse - we have a pretty decent mass transit system here (despite my constant whining about it:o) and most stuff needed daily is within walking distance.

She's in a pretty central area so she doesn't necessarily need a bike, but if she likes to ride around then I would recommend it just make sure she's the one interested. I've ridden all over NYC by bike and never found it that dangerous but as a native I'm used to it I suppose. The Midtown area is probably the worst in terms of traffic and the heightened state of awareness required to ride safely in it, but a quick ride west through side streets will find her on the greenway where she can take it easy and ride up to the northern part of Manhattan if she's so inclined.

I wouldn't want to live anywhere without a bike, but that's just me.

Folding bikes work especially well in the city; takes up less space in a small apartment, so less danger of theft overnight. Best is that it's easy to take on subways and other trains, so it gives the rider access to a huge area.

Just to be clear you can bring a full size bike on subways, it's just crowded - and rather impossible during rush hour (LIRR and Metro North, you need an inexpensive pay once pass, not sure about NJ transit or PATH trains) but a folder is probably the only bike you can bring on a bus - unless they don't let you bring that on either?

I went to NYU...didn't bike at all. I chose to walk most of the time. Most people use the NYU buses and they are reliable. But then I started biking about 2 years out and wished I had done so sooner.

Will she need a bike? Definitely not, but will it be convenient? Yes. I'm guessing her dorm is in Union Square area? (That's all that comes to mind as 12 blocks away from campus) That's definitely a short and easy walk which I did daily.

If you two do decide on a bike, I would go for a cheaper/beater bike. I wouldn't leave anything too expensive locked up outside during class. Additionally, I don't remember whether there were bike rooms in the dorms (I'm sure there were)...but if not, I would go with a folding bike because the dorms are tiny without a bike taking up room.


In terms of safety, as long as she can ride a bike well/steadily/straight, it isn't bad. She'll quickly acclimate to city biking. If she has difficulties, there's plenty of nyc bike clubs who have nyc-biking-safety-training-things (no idea what goes on, but I assume they cover the basics of how to stay safe, what the best/worst places/streets to bike are, etc).

if she does take the plunge and you need more info come back here and we'll hook you up. As mentioned there are resources here that will help her ride safely and enjoy her time in NYC.:)

here are two of the best:

http://www.transalt.org/

http://times-up.org/

NYU does have a new bike sharing program and secured bike parking that requires an ID swipe to access (behind the b-school). Don't know about bringing bikes into the dorms, security won't allow them in offices.

If she does get a bike, spend the money on a GREAT LOck, such as a kryptonite fagetaboutit chain and lock. THEN TEACH HER HOW TO LOCK IT UP. many people have great lockas and fail to use it properly.

Bicycle habitat is near bye and very helpful.

Good luck

As a native NY'er and a former NYU student, I can say that she'll do best with something used and with a heavy duty lock or a folding bike that she can take with her indoors. Bike theft is rampant around NYU (like other colleges). Nothing worse than getting a shiny, expensive new bike and having it stolen 5 minutes after locking it up outside your dorm....

Let her get here and decide whether or not she wants, or even needs, a bike to get around. If she does, do NOT get anything brand new and/or flashy. Get a used bike off of Craigslist (or elsewhere) with a rack and/or a basket then get a really good lock (or two). I highly suggest a Kryptonite Evolution Mini u-lock, a Kryptonite NYFU "mini" u-lock or a Kryptonite NYFU chain and make sure she knows how to lock the bike properly!!

Also, make sure there are no quick release ANYTHING on the bike or you'll have to make sure she remembers to lock down any of those easily stolen parts too. Everything should be bolted down.

Get a bike that's easy to maintain like an Internal Gear Hub bike with 3 speeds (a Schwinn or Raleigh, for example) or a single gear/fixie.

I've been biking the streets on NYC all of my life. Things have definitely improved over the last few years but NYC isn't a cake-walk for cyclists. You still need to have your wits about you, practice defensive riding and know what you're doing.

She should get settled in and acquainted with the NYU area first before trying to take off on a bike into NYC traffic not knowing where she's going or how to deal with the zoo that can be NYC streets.

Best of luck to her. :)

Uh, no. And tell her to be REALLY careful just walking around. See: http://www.crashstat.org/

I had a niece that went to NYU and a bike was never a thought. My D went to college in rural OH, and didn't have or want one. When she went to school in Japan, everyone used them, and she had one.

Like others have said, let her decide after she gets there - and then tell her "No!". ;)

riding in the city isnt dangerous as long as you know what youre doing and have the proper lighting to increase visibility. I agree with the others on waiting until she wants one and get something no more than 150 used.

Cycling in Manhattan isn't for the faint of heart. But it can be rewarding. I grew up in Manhattan and started cycling for transportation when I was 14. It's very freeing, since you're not at the mercy of MTA breakdowns or schedules.

I live in the suburbs and go into Manhattan often. Until recently, I would drive in or take the train and then the subway. But now when I go in, I put my bike on the train and ride in Manhattan. It's still fun and exciting. Part of that is because of the danger, but part is that it's just fun.

If your daughter is adept at cycling in Boston, she'll learn the differences and adapt.

She can get tips here in the Northeast section for tips specific to riding in Manhattan.

My daughter's starting college in NYC this fall. I was considering getting her a bike for getting around as an occasional alternative to the subway. Myself, I've never ridden in NY but assume it's like Boston with dangerdrivers, potholes, high theft and the like- all these things are putting me off getting her something. She's not a big rider but might become one if NY is conducive to riding.

What's the take on riding in NYC from the natives- do it- avoid it, recommendations, etc. She'll be in the Washington Square area and her dorm is about 12 blocks from campus but there are buses etc.

Although public transportation in NYC is great, a bike adds an extra level of convenience, and is just more reliable than the bus or train. As anyplace, there are dangers but so many people do it, drivers are at least aware of us, which is not always true in smaller places.

Get her a cheap, sturdy, used one or three-speed (no big hills around here). Probably best to shop on your home craigslist rather than NYC because of the prices (although I'm sure Boston isn't the cheapest around), or at a yard sale.

Plan to spend almost as much for the lock as the bike. One Kryptonite U-Lock should do fine, provided she doesn't have quick release anything. If the bike is attractive, you might even give it a bad spray-can job, or adorn it with odd decals and things. I don't know but a wire basket up front might deter thieves a little too.

[QUOTE=40 Cent;9363083 I don't know but a wire basket up front might deter thieves a little too.[/QUOTE]

if it is a decent basket that adds incentive for thieves. esp. if it is a mtb, hybrid or city bike. a three speed not so much...

Tell her to check NY craigslist.

In NYC Bicycle Habit offers classes in bicycle repair aka the gift of knowledge.

Female oriented bicycle co-op.
http://times-up.org/

A bicycle is a tool, let her chose her own tools.

Thanks very much for the times-up reference- she's in a scholarship program at NYU which encourages volunteer work and that seems like a good local candidate with lots of activity.

She will be fine If she leans to sticking with the the bearded 4eyed bikers teachin the classes/Kenneth

she should arrive and see what others are riding so she can blend in.

reg NYC in general ... I'm sure you'll tell her to be careful and stay away from the Upper West Side parks after dusk