I'm a university student and I'm looking for a good bike for commuting in a pretty large city. I'm looking for something within the <$250 range and I'm a complete newbie when it comes to purchasing a good bike. Thanks in advance.

You can do that on pretty much any bike. Important questions to ask yourself...

Do you care if it's new? That won't buy much of a new bike, it will be either very simple or low quality (need not be both). But it will buy a pretty good used bike.

Do you want it to be racy or tough or comfortable?

Will there be hills, so you need more gears?

Campuses are always a high bike theft area. I would look for a quality used bike, an old mountain bike from any bike shop brand is a great place to start. If you have one, a local bike shop that sells used bikes can be really helpful. You would me much better off with a good condition 15 year old quality bike than something from a department store like walmart or target.

I second the idea of an old mountain bike; look for one with a rigid (not suspension) fork. Those work really well as road bikes once you change out the tires to slicks. They also tend to be reasonably priced and tend to hold up well (because of the fat tires). I recently bought a used mtb for my daughter to go to college and fixed it up for her. It was in pretty good shape when I bought it and pretty inexpensive. If you don't have much in the way of skills fixing up a bike that can be an issue. You could also check out your local bike co-op if there is one where you live. They'll help you fix up your bike and can sell you something 2d hand as well.

Buying a quality bike within your price range can be exceedingly difficult. Buying used will require some prior bike knowledge, unless you buy from a reputable bike shop.

You should first consider your terrain, after deciding your budget. If you have mostly a flat landscape, then a single speed would be more suitable for you. That's only because they are usually less expensive and require less maintenance. For the Dawes SST single speed, go to the following:
www.bikesdirect.com.
(Talk to their customer service dept. about sizing, before ordering)

OTOH, if you do have hills or long inclines to contend with, a used CROMO steel road or mountain bike from the 80's era should do just fine.

*In any case, if you have doubts about the fit, don't buy it!

U of KY by chance? If so, I'd contact the Office of Sustainability, which runs the Wildcat Wheels bike library (part co-op, part rental fleet). https://www.sustainability.uky.edu/node/115.

If not UKY, contact the Campus Police/Security. They usually know where the unclaimed/abandoned bikes are at and some schools run auctions on these from time to time.

Used

https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/4207053677.html

https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/4224092725.html

https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/4183474719.html

https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/4190326191.html

https://lexington.craigslist.org/bik/4206321753.html

If you share your bike with friends who are trustworthy, you could call that communing. The trick is to build the best community you can build.

Where I work, we have a bike system where students can "rent" a bike with lights, helmet, lock and get storage in a shared bike locker for just a deposit of £10 per academic year. They tend to be Raleigh mountain bikes and I believe that we have a fleet of roughly 500 bikes (mostly used by international students).

It helps us stay green as a campus, which is important.

What Uni or what is the terrain like? How long will your trips be each way? Do you want something thats easy to just hop on and ride regardless of what you're wearing or will you nearly always be in shorts? How much stuff do you want to be able to carry (eg, will you walk to grocery or ride)? Will you be on bike paths or riding with traffic?

Unless you're planning lots of long trips over about 5 miles I'd try to find a good used upright bike with fenders and chain guard and internal gears and brakes. Easy to ride, more comfortable than a mtn bike, no worries about what clothes you have on, no maintenance worries. If it's flat, a single speed, if hills then 3, 7, or 8 speed.

Sitting upright is also much better for communing with others than if you're leaning over on a road, mtn, or hybrid bike.

I try and commune with all my bikes.

Seriously though, Craigslist something 20 years old. Add new cables, housings, and brake pads.

Yup. I'm a big fan of used bikes. I've owned dozens of bikes. Maybe a hundred or more have slipped through my hands, though I didn't intend to keep many of them. In the last ten years, I've bought only one new bike, and I don't foresee doing it again for another while. A used bike might be ready to ride, and it might need major changes, but it's a great starting point. Some are dirt cheap, when you get lucky.

Absolutely, but I think we could expand our concept of community here. For example, I commune with nature on my bike.

Is this what you need a bike for?

RubeRad, that's precious.

Craigslist is the way to go. You might even find some gem from the 70s or 80s. Otherwise, kilo tt. It has its own fan club, granted its a bit above your budget: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...quila_xiii.htm