so dropped some cash on a new bike and was wondering if anyone here has (or has thought of getting) insurance on their bike? how much does it cost? where'd you go to get it?

You should be able to get a rider on your homeowner policy or renters policy to cover damage to the bike from fire or burglary. If you're in an accident that involves the police, the other person's vehicle insurance will likely cover the damage, as long as you're following the rules of the road.

i don't have renter's insurance, so i was wondering if this kind of policy was available separately?

Not to go off topic from bikes, but it's very unwise to rent without renter's insurance. You may be the most careful person in your building, but one of your neighbors' idiocy could cost you everything you own, and your landlord's insurance won't pay for any of it.

Renter's insurance is cheap (a couple hundred a year), and well worth the peace of mind it gives you.

I have never seen a bicycle-specific insurance policy. You are probably better off saving a set amount per month so that you have the cash cushion to take care of problems.

A renter's insurance is a good idea to consider no matter what. The deductable of a reasonably priced policy would probably make it cost ineffective to reimburse your expenses (if your bike was < $1500 or so). But the key benefit of renter's insurance is that it should cover your liability if you cause damage to a car (of course, check with an agent before buying to verify that this is true where you live). You'd be surprised how much it can cost to fix a scratch or a dent.

if you have homeowner's insurance, make sure your rides are listed in the policy. They covered it when my homebuilt commuter was swiped from the parking garage of my apartment building. Still sucks, but I had approval to by a replacement within a week...

I had a long talk with a man who set up a company in Colorado years ago just to insure bicycles. He planned to sell only to bike club members with higher end bikes as surveys had shown they were more careful with their bikes. He found that as soon as people were covered they got careless with their bikes and he had to shut down the business in a few years. Renter/homeowner policy sounds good. Have someone else call your agent and ask. These days even asking about claims against your own policy can cause problems .

Before making a homeowners/renters claim for a lost/damaged bicycle, remember that they will likely recoup that money (and possibly then some) by increasing your premium. If you can afford insurance, you should also be able to set aside some money for a bike repair/replacement fund. Call that self-insurance.

Make sure that YOU have insurance for the commute, esp 3rd party cover in case you cause accidental damage to a car or person.
Bike insurance is so expensive, it is more cost effective to buy a good lock and put aside some money for a replacement.