Biking Through Oxford During Study Abroad

Finding Myself in Motion

When I studied abroad in England, every morning in Oxford started the same way: the soft click of my bike wheels, cold air on my hands, and the hum of possibility. It wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B—my bike became my way of exploring, of understanding, of belonging to a city that felt at times like it existed outside of time itself.

It began with practicality. I needed a bike to make it to my 9 a.m. lecture in economics. My college was tucked into one part of the city, while the Economics department was halfway across town. My first ride was chaotic. Cobblestones made the wheels bump, buses came too close, and I kept checking Google Maps to make sure I was on the right road. But soon, as days passed, I learned how the streets worked, and my rides became smoother. I was finding my rhythm in the city.

Riding in Oxford is its own kind of magic. Mornings, I passed through Christ Church Meadow. The grass was covered with soft mist, runners stretched and moved, and other students quietly walked to early classes. It was my favorite way to start the day—peaceful, open, and calm—before heading into the busy parts of town.

How Biking Helped Me Gain Independence

But my bike was not only for getting to lectures. It became part of my everyday life. I would use it to go to Aldi to buy groceries, balancing a backpack full of pasta, vegetables, and milk. I would ride to Jericho, sit by the meadow, and watch boats moving slowly on the canal. Some days, I rushed across the city to Spanish class, my mind on verb conjugations and trying not to fall in a pothole. Other days, I had no plan. I simply rode through the streets, letting myself get a little lost and discovering new places.

There’s freedom to biking in Oxford that I never expected. It’s in the way you weave through the narrow alleys, passing spires, and college walls that have stood for centuries. It’s in the way you learn shortcuts, like Radcliffe Square instead of the long way around. And it’s in the unexpected surprises, like the street musician you pass on High Street, or the bakery you stumble across when you make a wrong turn.

Biking also taught me how to be present. There’s something about gliding through the streets, feeling the weight of your day in the bag slung across your shoulder, but also feeling light because you’re moving. In those moments, I wasn’t just a visiting student. I was a part of Oxford and I felt like I truly belonged. The city, with its layers of history, academia, and vibrant life, started to reveal itself to me. Biking gave me the freedom to explore at my own pace—to slow down and notice small details. It made Oxford’s vastness feel smaller, more personal, and, in some ways, more mine.

If I could explain my experience in Oxford, I would say it was like learning to ride a bike. In the beginning, unsteady and unfamiliar. But with each ride, it became smoother, and by the end, it felt exhilarating and entirely unforgettable—the best adventure I’ve ever had.

Sebastiano Voicu | Trinity College | University of Oxford, Worcester College Partnership | Fall 2024