UC Santa Barbara students can all attest to one fact: biking here is more than just way of transportation. Biking at UCSB is a lifestyle. Biking is competitive sport. Biking is intense. My freshman year, I was so terrified of the bike lanes at rush hour that I would just park my bike at a central spot and then walk every where from there. I remember the first time my friends from home visited me my freshman year, they were more amazed by the bike racks in front of FT than probably anything else. It suddenly became clear to me that biking was and continues to be an essential part of my college experience. Whether it was biking to a sunset along Sands, or home from the worst final of my life, my dingy Kmart bike has been there for me through it all. Coming from a person who didn’t know how to bike their entire childhood before coming to college, I can at least say if anything, college taught me how to bike marginally well. So, here are some things other UCSB students will understand about biking at UCSB: the good, the bad and the ugly.
1. The insanity that are the bike lanes during “rush hour.”
Forever beware of the 10 minutes to the hour.
2. When people don’t yield in bike loops.
3. The first time you accidentally didn’t yield when entering the bike loop.
4. Witnessing your first bad bike crash.
Ambulances are not outside of the norm.
5. Trying to keep up with your friends on your beach cruiser / Kmart bike.
6. When you get stuck behind two people taking up the entire bike lane, talking.
While it makes for great eavesdropping, could you please just move over?
7. The feeling of accomplishment when you bike on the left side of the lane the entire way to class.
8. Because nothing beats arriving to class damp from the sweat of your bike ride there.
9. Taking 15 minutes just to leave somewhere because you forgot where you parked your bike.
I still have continuous nightmares of the FT bike racks.
10. Trying to bike home after a night out.
11. Always being able to recognize the “Where did I park my bike?” face on other people.
A gentle blend of fear, confusion and deep thought.
12. The mid class panic attack when your brain starts question whether you locked your bike or not.
13. The random adult cyclists who aggressively cut you off on your way to class.
14. Attempting to bike against the wind of spring quarter.
Maybe this is why every one here is so fit.
15. Being so amazed by other schools and their lack of bike lanes and parking spots.
Even better is hearing your friends tell you how much they hate bikers on their campuses.
