Touro-MI: Living in Vallejo

[mrd5003]

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Hey,

I'm fishing for a current Mare Island student's opinion. Is Vallejo bicycle-friendly enough where I could ride my bike to campus everyday? Do a lot of students live on Mare Island? What is the best neighborhood in Vallejo for a single 22 year old male medical student? I haven't applied to any osteopathic schools yet (still working on primary), but when I do, I'm going to be applying to MI, PCOM, UNECOM, and the school in Downer's Grove, IL. Thanks for your help!!

 

[CoverMe]

During excellent weather, 15+ people bicycle in... during poorer weather, there are about 5 hard core bikers. Perhaps one of them will chime in (I keep saying I"m going to do it, and then don't) but the numbers tell me that it's pretty do-able. Last year there were people that lived in the city and would bicycle over from the ferry terminal... managing to live in awesome areas, exercise and STILL not drive a car!

As far as neighborhoods, I'm a fan of anything north of Tennessee, and west of Sacramento... the closer to the water the better. Although there are some cute houses in the "heritage" district (streets named after states and counties), they are interspersed with a whole lot of section 8 and... well... plenty of residents that put the "ho" into Vallejo.

Best of luck!

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Someone posted on here a while ago that there is a prof who leads group rides on the weekends? Is this right? That would be sweet.

 

[nerdgrrl]

Hey,

I'm fishing for a current Mare Island student's opinion. Is Vallejo bicycle-friendly enough where I could ride my bike to campus everyday? Do a lot of students live on Mare Island? What is the best neighborhood in Vallejo for a single 22 year old male medical student? I haven't applied to any osteopathic schools yet (still working on primary), but when I do, I'm going to be applying to MI, PCOM, UNECOM, and the school in Downer's Grove, IL. Thanks for your help!!

you could ride your bike every day, depending on where you live. there are folks without cars that do bikes every day. the only thing you need to consider is that there's a fair amount of rain in the fall/winter/spring, and that's not the most fun on a bike. I live across the causeway from the island, and it's a 20-25 minute ride for me. it's an easy ride, although the railroad tracks are treacherous if you're not paying attention (I have the scars to prove it).

quite a few students live on the island, but I wouldn't do it personally. there's nothing on the island except houses, the college, and a few businesses. I agree with the other poster. north of tenessee, west of sacramento is good, and the heritage district has some adorable places. also, east vallejo and glen cove are good if you're looking for suburbia, but those aren't bike-rideable. I have a friend in an apartment right downtown, and she loves it. I know a few people living in in-law apartments, definitely a good option.

 

[mrd5003]

Thanks for the help! As I've never been to California, it's comforting to know that parts of it aren't sunny EVERY day of the year. My pasty whiteness doesn't hold up well under that.

From what I've read about Vallejo, it seems like a great fit for me. What are some of the things that you guys, as students, like and dislike about Vallejo and Touro?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

you could ride your bike every day, depending on where you live. there are folks without cars that do bikes every day. the only thing you need to consider is that there's a fair amount of rain in the fall/winter/spring, and that's not the most fun on a bike. I live across the causeway from the island, and it's a 20-25 minute ride for me. it's an easy ride, although the railroad tracks are treacherous if you're not paying attention (I have the scars to prove it).

quite a few students live on the island, but I wouldn't do it personally. there's nothing on the island except houses, the college, and a few businesses. I agree with the other poster. north of tenessee, west of sacramento is good, and the heritage district has some adorable places. also, east vallejo and glen cove are good if you're looking for suburbia, but those aren't bike-rideable. I have a friend in an apartment right downtown, and she loves it. I know a few people living in in-law apartments, definitely a good option.

This past summer was very rainy here, so I did some serious training rides in the rain, including a 60+ miler in a huge downpour. I actually kind of liked it, considering that I'm in TX, and it would have typically been 100+ for those rides.

 

[nerdgrrl]

This past summer was very rainy here, so I did some serious training rides in the rain, including a 60+ miler in a huge downpour. I actually kind of liked it, considering that I'm in TX, and it would have typically been 100+ for those rides.

I get that... but sitting through 8 hours of lecture when you're soaking wet is a little different than going for a ride, and coming home and taking a hot shower. also, the road to campus is COVERED in railroad tracks, and the bridge to the island is metal, which means very slippery in the rain. the tracks will throw a bike without any effort- I have a friend that crashed her car because of wet tracks.

I was in texas for the rains this summer- my girlfriend had no car and rode her bike to work every day, and was generally miserable!

so, it can be done. it's even kind of fun sometimes. but only sometimes!!