Originally Posted by twahl
I haven't really gotten into my opinion, which would be to steer away from Schwinn or similar brands and buy a quality bike. Reality for a college student looking for basic transportation, and asking such basic questions here, is that they aren't serious about riding, they can't afford a lot, and riding a bike is just a little more convenient than walking. In most cases the end up outside, and before they could possibly wear a tire out they've either been stolen, had a wheel tacoed by someone that was mad that they couldn't steal it, or left to rust because the owner scrounged up enough to buy a beater car.
If they're college students, the last thing they want is a shiny new bike. As you've just described. I mainly only see beaters and junkers at our university bike shop - as expected. Especially here in Toronto, theft is rampant. A nicely tuned beater bike from a dept store that has been reassembled before being ridden is a good campus-er.
People have broken locks just to steal inner tubes around here (whilst leaving the rest of the bike).