I have counted approximately 21 scrapes and bruises on my legs, possibly more. I have been through many (let’s just say) ups and downs with my new campus vehicle, the beach cruiser.
Getting around on some type of wheel is almost essential on the Tempe campus. I decided to leave and retire my hand-me-down van at home and buy a bicycle for my campus journeys.
I tried to remember the last time I rode a bike; I mean longer than around my neighborhood, and without a Barbie helmet and pink tassels. I knew that I was in for a lot of mishaps.
I decided to buy the infamous beach cruiser; just like every other (50,000+) student. I also picked a not-so-common color and decor— light purple, with a white seat and white basket, and beige fenders. I thought by having a color that stood out would help me find my bicycle in the sea of cruisers, though my plan failed.
I could hardly wait to really ride my bike on the first day of classes. However, after math class my new excitement turned into, well, disaster.
As I rode my bike down the pathway — there must have been thousands of people there — I struggled to stay straight on my cruiser. Before I knew it, a skateboarder came from nowhere, caught me off guard, and left me no choice but to smash my poor bike into two guys walking alongside me. Being a very awkward moment, I rode away as fast as I could.
Whether you choose to ride a speed, cruiser, or mini bike, skateboard, longboard, rollerblades, or the old-time favorite scooter, your treks across campus will be a 100 times easier.
There are also other affordable and easy options to getting around campus. ASU offers a really cool service called the Flash bus. The bus goes around the entire campus, and is really convenient for those who have classes far apart, or if someone wants a tour of campus in just a few minutes. I have even used the Flash bus to go down to Mill Avenue. And the best part about it is the entire ride is free.
If you want to venture out further, like the ASU Downtown campus, the METRO light rail is perfect for that journey. The rail does have a student rate, so buying a pass might be a worthwhile investment.
The Orbit bus is next in line, and will take you to a variety of places like Tempe Marketplace, free of charge. The little blue bus is hard to miss and really does orbit around Tempe.
There are many ways to get to your destinations both on and off campus. When the weather feels like it is at least 200 degrees, it can be challenging for even a Sun Devil to survive just by walking.
Even after all of the cuts, bruises, scraped heals, black tire marks on my legs, and now scars and a grand total of four human-bike crashes, I can still say that my cruiser has been the best means of transportation.
So keep your eyes on the road, and away from texting and walking, and make sure you don’t crash into me.
"Get Fresh" Tips:
- If you choose to ride a bike, make sure to get a hefty lock. No one wants to be caught off guard by a stolen bike.
- Give your back a rest from your heavy backpack and get an inexpensive basket for your bike.
- Park on the outside of a bicycle rack or farther away from other bikes, to avoid all of the bruises.
- Make sure your longboards, scooters, or rollerblades are ready for long distances.
- Check out the light rail, and other public transit schedules online, in order to make your long journey even shorter.
- Caution is key. Make sure to plan out your route and avoid the congested paths; take it from me and my bruises.
Hello fellow Freshmen, and others who have stumbled upon this blog. My name is Marlee Bever. I will be your number one stop for advice during our crazy freshmen lives. I’ll help you survive in this overwhelming jungle of Sun Devils, one step at a time. As I make it through each week of my freshman year, I will write about my experiences and give advice on how to survive the Sun Devil way. So stop searching Google for advice; all of the raw, “Get Fresh,” advice is right at your pitchforks. Don’t hesitate to email at mbever@asu.edu, or find me on Twitter @lilMarMarBev.
