How’s the commute around FSU? Can I ride my bike to campus?

Driving to campus can be a hassle. I know how it feels to get stuck behind the bus and not finding parking on time for class. It's the pits…especially when you spend so much on gas to be driving around in circles and stopping every 15 seconds. Living and commuting from the different FSU apartments in Tallahassee shouldn't be so difficult and we at get that.

Being economically and environmentally friendly is a big deal in today's day and age. It's no longer a rare sight to see co-workers, peers and strangers biking, carpooling or using public transportation. You can save money on gas, reduce traffic and be easy on the planet. So why not try the new alternative?

If you're thinking of commuting to FSU from your apartment, consider where you live in relation to campus. How long of a drive is it? What time do you head to school? How bad is the traffic at that hour? FSU apartments in Tallahassee can be up to a 15 to 20 minute drive away, depending on where you live. You've got to make sure that all these factors are understood before deciding whether or not bike to campus.

Is your FSU apartment in between the FSU and FAMU area? The Tennessee Street area is much busier than North or Southeast Tallahassee due to the abundance of students, young professionals, the bustling nightlife and strips of shops and restaurants. Biking through this traffic means you have an advantage, thanks to those sweet bike lanes. Your commute doesn't have to be as long as it would be if you stayed driving your car. Do however, add extra time for your bike ride as you might not be as fast as the guys in the Tour de France.

Apartments by FSU, but near Downtown, are still pretty far from campus in terms of riding your bike. Biking would be exhausting and you'd have to leave an hour or more before your class started to get to campus. Also consider the weather: Spring and summers in North Florida can be fierce and the winters, even for Florida, are freezing. Biking wouldn't necessarily be your best option because of the weather during these seasons and because of the long commute via bike.

Here's some extra tips if you're going to ride your bike to campus:

  • Record your commute time to campus on a day before classes start. The weekend is a great time to see how long it'll take you to get there. If you have class early in the morning, just add a few minutes just in case traffic slows you down. But in this case at least you know how long it'll take you to get there.
  • Wear a helmet and abide by the city laws for bikes. You may be the next Tour de France winner, but that doesn't mean you can't get a ticket or get hurt. Riding your bike side-by-side cars in traffic can get a little risky.
  • Make sure your tires are full of air and all your gears are working fine. Hate to catch a flat on your way to class!