u/Acrobatic_Yak8546

Hello, I'm currently looking for off-campus housing options, and I've found myself in a situation (I assume others have as well) where the options closer to campus are decent, but sometimes the reviews online and comments about the neighbors aren't that great.

On the other hand, some options farther away (around 54th–56th and Lakeshore) seem to offer really nice apartments for the same price range.

My questions are:

1. For people who have lived farther away, did you ever feel isolated or disconnected from campus?
2. I'm thinking about getting a bike, and some of these places would be around a 6-minute bike ride from campus. Is that feasible during the winter?
3. What about safety? Has anyone lived in that area and can share their experience?

Context: I'm looking for a 1 bed / 1 bath apartment, with a budget of $1,300–$1,800/month.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated!