Bicycles
- Housing Options
- Mobilesphere/Cell Phones
- Academic Support Services
- Tuition: Due Dates
- Tuition: How to Pay
- Cars: International driver's License
- Cars: Driving
- Cars: Buying
- Cars: Renting/Leasing
- Cars: Getting a driver’s license
- Bloomington Transportation: Bus
- Bloomington Transportation: Bikes
- Bloomington Transportation: Parking
- Money and Banking
- Budgeting–Tips for Saving Money
- Cultural Adjustment/Culture Shock
- Bloomington Worldwide Friendship
- US Classroom Culture
- Computing at IU
- Hoosier Guide
Bicycles
Many students find that biking is the easiest and cheapest way to get around Bloomington. Bikes can be purchased new at many local stores such as Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and bicycle shops. Check under “Bicycle” in the yellow pages of the telephone directory for stores that specialize in bicycles and bike repairs.
Additionally, used bikes can be found for sale throughout the year. Keep your eyes open for signs in dorms, classified ads in the IDS and the Herald-Times. Additionally, the IU Police Department holds an auction twice a year to sell confiscated bikes. Advertisements announcing the dates are published in the IDS.
Bike Registration
Once you buy a bike, you must register it and obtain a parking permit either at Parking Operations, located in the Henderson Parking Garage, 310 S. Fess Ave., or, if you live in a dorm, at your residence hall center desk. Once you have this permit, you may park your bike in designated parking areas. You may not attach your bike to trees or rails; if you do so, you will be fined and your bike may be confiscated by the IUPD.
Bike Rules and Tips
Bicyclists need to obey the same rules and regulations as drivers of motor vehicles. Remember the following safety rules, most of which are state laws.
- Wear a bicycle helmet.
- Obey the one-way street direction signs (i.e., ride in the same direction as cars).
- Ride on the right side, not the left side of the street.
- Do not ride on sidewalks.
- Come to a complete stop at stop signs and stop lights.
- Give hand signals before turning.
- If riding at night, wear reflectors and use head and tail lights.
- Park bikes only where they can be locked securely to an immovable object.
- For purpose of security, record in your files a careful description of the bike including the bike serial number and lock number. Also, register your bike with the campus Police (801 N. Jordan) so that it can be recovered more easily if stolen.
