OPINION: A USF guide to biking on campus
If your means of transportation at USF is an electric scooter, go ahead and click out of this article.
On campus, biking can be intimidating at first because there’s so many glaring students constantly passing by.
With our narrow sidewalks, amount of crosswalks and lack of bike lanes, it’s hard to bike for pleasure without being hyper aware of nearby hazards.
What if I lose my balance and get sprawled out in front of my classmates? What if I accidentally run someone over when I’m riding and it isn’t my ex? A nightmare.
I refuse to hustle when I ride, I prefer to dilly dally on my bike. You will not catch me plowing over pedestrians to get to class on time.
For the leisurely rider, here are some of the best places to bike on campus.
Holly Drive
This is my favorite stretch of sidewalk to bike because it’s one of the entry points to campus. If you choose to continue straight forward, you’ll find yourself at The Hub for a filling but unappetizing meal.
It’s the perfect place for a relaxed and slow-paced ride since there are hardly any cars or pedestrians rushing you.
This spot is also goated because you’re able to bike a good stretch of sidewalk before having to use the crosswalk, which is rare for a university.
Walkway in front of the Social Sciences building.
During the afternoons on weekdays, this spot is super bustling with students coming in and out of the Social Sciences classrooms.
This spot is one of the best to find other bikers and sometimes even the frustrated skateboarder who can’t land a trick.
If you’re looking to make riding friends, this is the spot.
MLK Plaza
Whenever I ride through the shrubbery and flowered pagodas behind the MLK plaza, I enjoy having an escape from the stress of being a college student.
Who doesn’t love a good frolick?
Here, you can ride mindlessly while still participating in the busyness of campus life.
Simmons Park on Magnolia Drive
Because of its seclusion, this one is also a beloved place for hammocking.
This one is hands down the most scenic on this list. Any place with a bridge and ducks is automatically a five-star riding spot.
Joyriding at Simmons Park is a great way to end an evening, with friends or alone.
Castor Beach
I enjoy biking on the sidewalks surrounding Castor Beach because of its openness, it’s not too crowded with trees or people.
Its walkways also lead in all different directions, where will I end up next? Bay Coffee and Tea Company? Student Services? My friends’ dorm in Beta Hall?
On the flip side, if you’re looking for an anti-biking guide, here are some of the worst places possible to ride: in front of the Library, the Cooper Hall walkway, and Muma College of Business building.
And be sure to wear a helmet, those scooter drivers are ruthless.