Bicycles at UEA

junjie1989

hi guys, i'm an international student, never been to uk before. i see loads of bikes in the UEA prospectus. i suppose the distance to travel from campus to the city makes it cost effective to cycle rather than to take a bus.

any ideas how much it costs to get a 2nd hand bike in norwich? are there places to hold the bikes in town? also, is it actually cheaper to get a bus pass instead?

thanks in advance

Reply 1

Bhodie Chick

My advice is if you like to cycle definately get a 2nd hand bike!! I am pretty certain you can pick them up cheap from Mr Bike who comes onto campus once a week to do repairs! There are heaps of places to lock your bike up on campus and on town but i'd certainly invest in a D-lock as you do hear of a few thefts on campus. A yearly bus pass is £180 so cycling is the way forward, i'd say it was 15 mins to city centre on a bike. Loads of people do it!

Reply 2

Flubi

1

mr bike sells good used bikes for £100 on campus.

Reply 3

junjie1989

OP

mr bike? interesting name.

so how can i find mr bike? is he like always on campus some day of the week or something?

Reply 4

Bhodie Chick

I think he is in one day a week, (Tuesdays???) He is usually up by the Hive in the square or near the turning circle, you cant miss him. He's a really nice bloke! :-)

Reply 5

junjie1989

OP

wow but £100.. looks like a week's wages to me.

Reply 6

Suffolkb

http://www.uea.ac.uk/bug/cycle-uea.html
If that link worked, you can buy a second hand bike and sell it back if you decide it`s not for you.

Reply 7

Bhodie Chick

That link is amazing! I never knew all of that, it's really cool! Thanks Suffolkb x

Reply 8

junjie1989

OP

wow Suffolkb, thanks a lot! that settles my transportation woes at UEA. =)

Reply 9

wellisntitfor

12

It's actually "Dr Bike", haha.

Also there's a really friendly man who sells second hand bikes, just at the junction between Avenue Road and Maida Vale (look it up on your favourite mapping website).

Reply 10

dappleddawndrawndauphin

3

I got a decent second hand bike from Dr Bike for £60. Plus, I'm pretty sure that you can sell them back to him when you finish (for less than you paid though obviously). I'd recommend getting a bike in the second and third year when you're living off campus; invaluable for getting to lectures on time! I never used mine in the first year though, as no one really cycled into the city or anything...

Reply 11

junjie1989

OP

no one cycles into the city? i was hoping to do that. save on transport.

Reply 12

Bhodie Chick

junjie1989

no one cycles into the city? i was hoping to do that. save on transport.

You still could anyway? I think people do cycle in, just not when going out drinking.... for obvious reasons :yep:

Reply 13

dappleddawndrawndauphin

3

junjie1989

no one cycles into the city? i was hoping to do that. save on transport.

You can if you want to, it's perfectly do-able - it's just that no one I knew ever did in the first year, and I only remember it happening twice in the second year... Probably because there's a very convenient bus route and it's not the most fun trek ever on a bike from campus. But if you want to save on transport (which is certainly a good idea) then there's really nothing to stop you :smile:

Reply 14

Suffolkb

Posters have been stuck up saying that there will be a police auction of bikes next Tuesday. Think it is on campus, but can`t remember. Will check later.

Reply 15

wellisntitfor

12

Yea, I saw those. I'll definately be attending! These things can vary a lot - sometimes you get complete junk bikes on offer that are really not worth buying even for £5.