We all know that leaving your UNF apartment and driving to campus can be a hassle. Trying to navigate the traffic coming in and out of the UNF parking lot can be frustrating. Driving around the parking lot trying to find a parking space that isn't a long hike to your class can cause more stress than any student needs. Not to mention gas prices today. All the starting and stopping you will do, from the time you leave your apartment near UNF to get to campus, can soak up a lot of gas. Living and commuting from the different UNF apartments in Jacksonville should be a good experience and RentJax.com totally wants to help make you happy.
Being environmentally friendly while being economic is big in today's society. It is a common occurrence now to see co-workers, peers, even people you don't know, biking to and from work, or riding public transportation. You can save money on gas, reduce traffic, and be environmentally friendly. With Jacksonville being such a large city, is it easy to commute to school from your apartment near UNF by bicycle. Of course!
The first thing to consider when thinking of commuting to UN from your apartment is where you live in relation to the campus. Ask yourself these questions:
- How long of a drive is it?
- What time do I need to arrive at school?
- What is traffic like at that time of day?
Most UNF apartments are about a 10-20 minute drive from campus. You want to make sure that you have asked all the questions before making the decision to ride your bike to campus.
While most of the roadways around UNF now have bike lanes, some of the roads are very busy. Apartments near UNF are located on some of the busier roads in Jacksonville, such as Beach Blvd, Southside Blvd, and the St. Johns Parkway. Thanks to those bike lanes, biking from your UNF apartment to campus will make it nice, keeping you off the sidewalks and off the narrow shoulders of the roads. The nice thing about biking from your apartment near UNF is that you don't have to wait in the traffic through stop lights. You can cruise right to the light, and cruise right on through without sitting through multiple lights. While the bike time might seem a little longer, when you factor in the large number of intersections that you have to stop at while in a car, it can save you a lot of time biking.
Biking from your UNF apartment can be exhausting, especially during the spring and summer months. Florida can get extremely hot during those months along with the rainy season of Florida. That is definitely something to keep in mind when making your decision. Jacksonville has also been known to freeze a few times during the winter months, though that isn't as common. Biking wouldn't necessarily be your best option during these times, unless you have clothing to protect you from the elements.
Here are some final tips to remember as you decide if biking from your apartment near UNF to the campus is the way you want to go:
- Make a trial run before you have to make the real drive to campus for class. Time how long it takes you to arrive. Notice the traffic. How comfortable are you riding in the bike lanes with the traffic on the roadway? Plan to leave around the same time you would need to, to be at class and judge your time that way. You might have to make a couple of trips to get the time down right. You don't want to be late to class, especially on your first day.
- Make sure you abide by the laws of the city. Don't ride on the sidewalks. Always wear a helmet. Always be cautious of the roadway. Riding side-by-side with cars can be risky. Wear protective gear to keep yourself safe and always abide by the laws of the road. If in doubt, check out the Department of Transportation website for the rules of bike safety.
- Make sure your bike is in perfect working order before you leave. Make sure your tires are full, your gears are greased, and your seat is comfy. You would hate to slip a gear while trying to get to class.
- Have fun! Enjoy the scenery! The area around the UNF campus is beautiful. Use the time to catch up on books on your iPod or listen to your favorite radio station while biking. Most importantly, be safe!